Lyon-Villeurbanne vs Maccabi Tel Aviv: ASVEL Secure 84-74 EuroLeague Win

LDLC ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne opened their EuroLeague campaign with a composed and physical 84-74 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv at LDLC Arena on Friday, September 25, 2026. The home side led for long stretches, survived a second-quarter push from the visitors, and then broke the game open with a decisive third-quarter run that turned a tight contest into a ten-point win.

The final score of Lyon-Villeurbanne 84, Maccabi Tel Aviv 74 gives ASVEL an important early win in the EuroLeague standings and hands Maccabi a road defeat in a building that has become increasingly difficult for visiting teams. It was not a perfect performance from either side, but Lyon-Villeurbanne’s balance, defensive discipline, and late-game execution made the difference.

Match Overview

Lyon-Villeurbanne set the tone early with an aggressive first-quarter display. The French club attacked the paint through Neal Sako and used Theo Maledon’s pace in transition to build a 22-18 lead after ten minutes. Maccabi Tel Aviv answered in the second quarter, with Tamir Blatt and Roman Sorkin finding rhythm against ASVEL’s switching defense, but the home team still carried a 41-38 advantage into halftime.

The third quarter was where the game tilted for good. ASVEL opened the second half with a 10-2 run, forced Maccabi into contested mid-range shots, and limited second-chance opportunities with stronger defensive rebounding. By the end of the third, the hosts had stretched their lead to 64-54, and while Maccabi never fully went away, they could not close the gap below seven points in the final five minutes.

Key Moments That Decided the Game

• Opening burst: ASVEL scored the first eight points of the game, forcing Maccabi into early turnovers and setting the emotional tone in front of the home crowd.
• Maccabi’s second-quarter response: A 9-0 run midway through the second quarter briefly gave the visitors the lead, but ASVEL closed the half with back-to-back baskets from Maledon and Nando De Colo.
• Third-quarter separation: The decisive stretch came between the 7:12 and 3:40 marks of the third, when Lyon-Villeurbanne outscored Maccabi 14-4. Sako controlled the glass, and Paris Lee’s perimeter defense created two transition scores.
• Fourth-quarter composure: Every time Maccabi threatened, ASVEL had an answer. De Colo hit a step-back jumper with 4:10 remaining, and Maledon converted a three-point play with 2:18 left to push the lead back to 80-69.

Tactical Story: ASVEL’s Defense Wins the Night

Lyon-Villeurbanne’s game plan was built on forcing Maccabi Tel Aviv to play in the half court. The Israeli club prefers to attack early in the shot clock and generate open threes from drive-and-kick actions, but ASVEL’s guards fought over screens, big men dropped intelligently, and the help defense arrived on time. Maccabi finished with a lower shooting percentage from beyond the arc and never found a consistent offensive rhythm.

On offense, ASVEL leaned on their pick-and-roll chemistry. Maledon repeatedly turned the corner, Sako rolled hard to the rim, and De Colo punished smaller defenders in switch situations. The home team also won the rebounding battle, which limited Maccabi’s transition chances and gave Lyon-Villeurbanne extra possessions in a game where every run mattered.

Standout Players

• Theo Maledon (Lyon-Villeurbanne): 19 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists. He controlled tempo, made big shots in the fourth quarter, and finished with only two turnovers.
• Neal Sako (Lyon-Villeurbanne): 15 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks. His interior presence changed how Maccabi attacked the paint.
• Nando De Colo (Lyon-Villeurbanne): 13 points, 4 assists. The veteran delivered calm, efficient offense whenever the game tightened.
• Tamir Blatt (Maccabi Tel Aviv): 17 points, 6 assists. Blatt kept Maccabi within striking distance with deep threes and smart pick-and-roll reads.
• Roman Sorkin (Maccabi Tel Aviv): 14 points, 8 rebounds. He was Maccabi’s most consistent frontcourt threat, scoring inside and stepping out for mid-range jumpers.
• Jaylen Hoard (Maccabi Tel Aviv): 12 points, 7 rebounds. Hoard brought ener