Beşiktaş return to EuroLeague action Wednesday looking for their first win of the season when they face Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv in Belgrade, where the Israeli club is playing its designated home games because of security concerns linked to the ongoing regional conflict.
The Round 2 game will tip off at 9:05 p.m. Türkiye time at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall, also known as Pionir Hall.
Maccabi are using the Belgrade venue for their home games after EuroLeague Basketball approved the relocation of Israeli clubs' home fixtures outside Israel amid security concerns. The arrangement has allowed Maccabi to remain in the competition while avoiding games in Israel.
The policy has drawn criticism and protests from groups and officials calling for Israeli clubs to be excluded from international competitions over the Gaza genocide.
EuroLeague Basketball has continued to allow the clubs to participate while moving selected games to alternative or neutral venues when security concerns arise.
For Beşiktaş, Wednesday's game is an opportunity to respond after a narrow defeat in their EuroLeague return.
The Istanbul club returned to Europe's top competition for the first time in 13 seasons and opened its campaign with a 96-94 home loss to Valencia Basket on Sept. 25. Beşiktaş stayed within striking distance throughout the contest and pushed Valencia late, but could not complete the comeback.
Jaylen Nowell and Eugene Omoruyi led Beşiktaş with 17 points apiece, while Caleb Morgan added 15. Valencia were powered by TJ Shorts, who scored 26 points.
Maccabi also enter the matchup looking for their first victory. The Israeli side opened its campaign with an 84-74 road loss to LDLC ASVEL on Sept. 24.
The Belgrade setting will be familiar territory for Maccabi. The club has used Aleksandar Nikolic Hall as its primary EuroLeague home venue in recent seasons after relocating games outside Israel because of the security situation. The venue, which holds roughly 8,000 spectators, has become an established part of the club's European schedule.
Wednesday's meeting also revives a EuroLeague rivalry that dates back to Beşiktaş's previous appearance in the competition.
The teams met twice during the 2012-13 season, with Maccabi winning both games comfortably. Maccabi prevailed 77-55 in Istanbul before completing the sweep with a 101-58 victory at home.
Beşiktaş have not faced Maccabi again in the EuroLeague since, with their absence from the competition stretching across 13 seasons.
Now, with Beşiktaş back on Europe's biggest club basketball stage, they will try to end that head-to-head losing streak while earning their first win of the new campaign.
Maccabi, meanwhile, will be seeking to recover from its opening-round defeat and take advantage of its unusual home surroundings in Belgrade.
The game is part of a demanding 20-team EuroLeague regular season that will run through April 2027, giving both clubs plenty of time to find their rhythm but little room for complacency in the opening rounds.