Aurélien Canot, Media365: published on Friday, March 20, 2026 at 11:07 p.m.
Despite a very strong first half, ASVEL once again lost (89-85) on Friday night at the Astroballe during the 32nd round of Euroleague, against Maccabi Tel-Aviv, whom they haven’t beaten at home for six years. The Villeurbanne team remains last.
It was almost too good to last. And despite a very good period that suggested ASVEL would finally achieve success against Maccabi Tel-Aviv, whom they haven’t beaten since 2020, Villeurbanne once again succumbed (89-85) to the Israelis on Friday night at the Astroballe for the 32nd round of Euroleague.
In order for the bottom-ranked team, already beaten in Israel (92-84) by Jaylen Hoard’s teammates (8 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists), to finally triumph over their Achilles’ heel in the competition (only 2 wins out of 13 defeats since 2000), the players of Pierric Poupet had to continue their first 24-minute festival after the break (52-38 for ASVEL).
The euphoria, especially from long distance with Glynn Watson almost perfect behind the line (3 out of 5), of the first half unfortunately gave way to the Rhodanian team falling back into their old habits after the break and suddenly losing their accuracy again while also unable to regain their rhythm from the first period.
Blatt, nightmare for ASVEL at the end of the match
Roman Sorkin, brilliant (23 points), and Maccabi took advantage to come back within a few lengths and then take the lead for the first time in the game against an ASVEL team unrecognizable compared to the first half.
Fortunately for Pierric Poupet and his men, Villeurbanne regained momentum in the final quarter, paradoxically without their best player Watson, who had to leave due to injury. This allowed them to stay close and keep hope of winning until the end despite the breathtaking end of the match by a ruthless Tamir Blatt (14 points, 13 assists), both from long range and with some magic, where he shined.
Down by three points with 20 seconds left, ASVEL definitively lost grip after Edwin Jackson (4 points, 2 assists), ineffective in this regard in the money time, missed one too many free throws. It was destined that Maccabi would once again play a nasty trick on their favorite victim in the Euroleague.
