FMP and Crvena zvezda Meridianbet meet in Belgrade city clash

2026/27 AdmiralBet ABA League Regular Season Group A, Round 2, Sunday, 4 October 2026:

FMP - CRVENA ZVEZDA MERIDIANBET

Where? FMP Sports Hall, Belgrade

When? 18:00

Story of the Game: Sunday evening brings a clash in Belgrade, where FMP will host Crvena zvezda Meridianbet in Round 2 of the 2026/27 AdmiralBet ABA League season.

For both teams, this will be their first appearance of the new regional campaign, and they will therefore be eager to open their AdmiralBet ABA League accounts in the best possible way.

FMP enter the new season determined to take another step forward after coming close to reaching the postseason last year. Head coach Saša Nikitović remained at the helm, while the Panthers kept an important part of their core with Filip Rebrača, Aleksa Stanojević, Petar Grojić, Nikola Gašić, John Ojiako and Petar Ostojić staying with the team. At the same time, several new faces arrived in Železnik, including Brandon Rush, Jamiya Neal and Nikola Rebić, giving FMP a fresh look ahead of the new campaign. The early signs have been encouraging, as the Panthers produced several very good performances during preseason.

On the other side, Crvena zvezda Meridianbet begin another AdmiralBet ABA League campaign with the highest ambitions. After their 2025/26 journey ended in the Semi-Finals, the 7-time regional champions enter the new season determined to return to the fight for the trophy. Ibon Navarro took over as head coach during the summer, while the red-and-whites retained an important group of players including Ognjen Dobrić, Chima Moneke, Jordan Nwora, Semi Ojeleye and Tyson Carter, among others. Their already deep roster was additionally strengthened by the arrivals of Chris Jones, Nick Weiler-Babb, Johnathan Motley, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and several other newcomers.

Zvezda will also arrive in Železnik with confidence following their first EuroLeague victory of the season. The red-and-whites defeated Anadolu Efes 77:72 on Thursday evening.

Can the Panthers use their home-court advantage to start the new season with a major win, or will Crvena zvezda Meridianbet carry the momentum from their EuroLeague victory into their AdmiralBet ABA League opener? We are about to find out this Sunday’s evening.

Match-up in Focus: Jamiya Neal vs. Jordan Nwora.

Two explosive scoring wings could have an important role in deciding Sunday's Belgrade clash.

Jamiya Neal is one of FMP's most interesting summer additions and has already shown during preseason that he can become an important offensive weapon for Saša Nikitović's team.

Across the court will be Jordan Nwora, one of the key offensive weapons of Crvena zvezda Meridianbet. After remaining with the red-and-whites for another season, Nwora enters the new regional campaign as a player capable of changing the rhythm of a game with his scoring ability and versatility.

Head-to-head in score in ABA: In total 8:26; At FMP home court: 4:12.