EL: Crvena zvezda Meridianbet grab first EuroLeague win of the season

Crvena zvezda Meridianbet have opened their winning account in the 2026/27 EuroLeague season, as the red-and-whites defeated Anadolu Efes 77:72 in Belgrade Arena in Round 3 of the Regular Season.

It was a close battle right from the opening tip. Anadolu Efes had a narrow 21:19 lead after the opening quarter, with Jordan Loyd causing plenty of problems for the home side. However, Crvena zvezda Meridianbet raised their defensive intensity in the second period and managed to turn things around, taking a slim 37:36 advantage into the halftime break.

The third quarter belonged to Chima Moneke. The Crvena zvezda Meridianbet forward caught fire from long range, knocking down three three-pointers and scoring 13 points in the period to push his team forward. The red-and-whites entered the final ten minutes with a 56:53 advantage.

Crvena zvezda Meridianbet then opened the fourth quarter strongly and finally created some separation, but Anadolu Efes refused to surrender. The visitors responded with a 6:0 run to bring the game back into the balance and set up a tense finish in Belgrade Arena.

With the game on the line, Tyson Carter stepped up for the hosts. His crucial points in the closing stages helped Crvena zvezda Meridianbet survive the Efes comeback and secure a much-needed 77:72 victory – their first of the new EuroLeague campaign.

2026/27 EuroLeague, Regular Season, Round 3, Thursday, October 1, 2026:

CRVENA ZVEZDA MERIDIANBET – Anadolu Efes 77:72 (19:21, 18:15, 19:17, 21:19)
Moneke 18, Nwora 12 | Loyd 14, Šarić 13.

Friday, October 2, 2026:

Fenerbahçe – Dubai Basketball (19:45)

Bayern Munich – Partizan Mozzart Bet (20:00)