Bayern Munich edged Hapoel Tel Aviv 86-84 in a tense EuroLeague Round 1 clash in Tel Aviv, spoiling the Israeli club's long-awaited return to Europe's elite competition with a two-point road win built on clutch fourth-quarter shot-making. In a game that swung back and forth through all four quarters, the visitors held their nerve down the stretch to hand Hapoel a heartbreaking opening-night defeat in front of a sold-out Drive In Arena.

Match Overview

The final scoreline of Hapoel Tel Aviv 84, Bayern Munich 86 tells only part of the story. This was a game decided in the final 90 seconds, when Bayern turned a one-point deficit into a two-point victory with back-to-back baskets and one decisive defensive stop. Neither team led by more than eight points at any stage, and the lead changed hands 14 times, underlining just how evenly matched the two sides looked on opening night.

For Hapoel, it was an evening of nearlys: a raucous home crowd, a strong start, a battling third quarter, and a finish that slipped through their fingers. For Bayern, it was precisely the kind of gritty road performance that coaches build seasons on — a win earned without a dominant shooting night, ground out through rebounding, free throws, and poise in the closing minutes.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

• Q1: Hapoel Tel Aviv 22 – 18 Bayern Munich
• Q2: Hapoel Tel Aviv 18 – 24 Bayern Munich
• Q3: Hapoel Tel Aviv 21 – 20 Bayern Munich
• Q4: Hapoel Tel Aviv 23 – 24 Bayern Munich
• Final: Hapoel Tel Aviv 84 – 86 Bayern Munich

Hapoel came out firing, riding the energy of the home support to a 22-18 opening quarter. Bayern responded in the second, tightening their pick-and-roll defence and finding rhythm from beyond the arc to take a 42-40 lead into the locker room. The third quarter was a tactical grind, and a Bayern three late in the period kept the German side narrowly ahead at 62-61 heading into the final ten minutes.

How the Fourth Quarter Unfolded

The decisive stretch arrived with just under four minutes to play. Hapoel had clawed their way to a one-point lead at 80-79 when Yam Madar split two defenders and finished at the rim, sending the arena into a frenzy. Bayern's response was immediate and clinical: a well-worked set play freed Andreas Obst in the corner for his fourth three-pointer of the night, swinging the lead back to the visitors.

From there, the game became a free-throw contest. Hapoel had two looks to level in the final 20 seconds, but a contested mid-range jumper rimmed out and a follow-up tip-in attempt was swallowed up by Bayern's interior defence. When the final buzzer sounded, the visitors celebrated a two-point escape while the home bench stood stunned.

Tactical Story: Pace vs. Power

The game was a clear clash of styles. Hapoel Tel Aviv wanted to play fast — pushing the ball after makes and misses alike, attacking early in the shot clock with dribble penetration from their guards. That approach worked brilliantly in the first quarter, generating easy looks at the rim and forcing Bayern into rotation mistakes.

Bayern, by contrast, slowed the tempo and leaned on their size. Their big men dominated the glass, particularly on the offensive end, and the German side repeatedly punished Hapoel's switching defence with high-low actions and second-chance points. The rebounding battle, ultimately won comfortably by the visitors, proved to be the quiet difference-maker in a game decided by a single possession.

Bayern's ability to defend without fouling in the final five minutes was equally important. Hapoel attempted only four free throws in the fourth quarter, a remarkably low number for a home team chasing a game late.

Standout Players

• Carsen Edwards (Bayern Munich): 24 points, 4-of-9 from three-point range. Edwards was Bayern's go-to scorer whenever the offence stalled, and his pull-up jumper in transition midway through the fourth was arguably the game's biggest basket.
• Andreas Obst (Bayern Munich): 15 points, including four three-pointers. His spacing opened up the floor for Bayern's interior game all night.
• Johannes Voigtmann (Bayern Munich): 14 points and 9 rebounds. A steadying presence on both ends, he anchored Bayern's defensive rebounding in crunch time.
• Yam Madar (Hapoel Tel Aviv): 19 points and 6 assists. The floor general kept Hapoel in front for long stretches and was the best player on the court for three quarters.
• Johnathan Motley (Hapoel Tel Aviv): 18 points and 8 rebounds. He gave Bayern's frontcourt real problems with his mobility around the rim.