The first phase of the Basketball Champions Leaguewhich is closing this week in its 8 groups, has been worth absolutely nothing. Well, yes, to show that there are 8 very favorite teams, among them Unicaja, which are the ones that are going to fight for the 4 places in the next Final Four in May, and that the other 24 participants are light years away from those 8 best.
Leaders and champions
And in the absence of this last day, 7 of the 8 teams that were seeded in last summer's draw have already ensured that they become champions of their respective groups and, therefore, qualify directly for the second phase.
Rytas (Group A), Joventut (Group C), La Laguna Tenerife (Group D), Galatasaray (Group E), AEK Atenas (Group F), Unicaja (Group G) and Dreamland Gran Canaria (Group H) They are already champions without needing to play this sixth and final day of the league. The only thing left to know is the champion of Group B, in which Alba Berlin is the leader and depends on itself, against the French Elan Chalon, who still has mathematical options to finish first, but depends on the Germans losing at home against CB Sabah of Azerbaijan.
36 wins in 40 games
The truth is that the favorites have given their rivals little margin. ORnicaja, Dreamland Gran Canaria, Joventut and AEK add a total of 5 victories in the 5 days already playeds, while Rytas, Alba Berlin, Tenerife and Galatasaray all have a 4-1 record in the standings. That is, the 8 favorites to win this BCL 2025/2026 have won 36 games of the 40 played before the matchday, which will be held between Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.
Unicaja, champion and rival to beat
Unicaja is the rival to beat for everyoneafter winning this competition the last two seasons consecutively. Their dominance in the first phase has been imperial, although it is true that the group has been undemanding, with Turkish Mersin, Greek Karditsa and Filou Oostende from Belgium. Unicaja wants to continue being the king of FIBA ​​Europe, although it will not be easy for them with the quality of the rivals they will encounter starting in January.
Galatasaray, the runner-up that wants more
They were Unicaja's rival in the 2025 final and want to once again be a serious contender for the FIBA ​​continental basketball crown. He is playing good basketball and has the weapons to dream of everything. It will be necessary to see if he does not lose players in these coming weeks, due to offers from Euroleague teams. which would weaken your options.
AEK, a growing project
AEK is the only non-Spanish team that is currently 5-0 in the standings. If the Greeks maintain their current squad, without any player “leaks” (center Chris Silva sounds like a target for several teams), they will be one of the great rivals to beat for Unicaja and the rest of the contenders towards the title of this Champions League.
La Laguna Tenerife, more aspiring than ever
The Txus Vidorreta team returns to play the BCL, being a contender for everything. It has a great squad, improved compared to last year and His aspiration is not only to be in the 2026 Final Four, it is to win it. Of course, they surprised last day with one of the news of the course, by ending their very long streak of victories at home, after losing to the Italian Trapani (80-83).
Joventut, undefeated, uncomfortable team and possible host of the Final Four
La Penya has arrived from the Eurocup to the BCL without complexes: 5-0 and group leaderwith a direct place now for the Round of 16. The green and black are a great team, led by Ricky Rubio. Although it is not official, the Palau Olimpic in Badalona has positioned itself before FIBA ​​to be the venue that will host the Final Four on the second weekend of next May. They will be a rival to Unicaja starting in January in a Round of 16 group that aims to be terrible.
Dreamland Gran Canaria, irregular in ACB, unstoppable in Europe
Jaka Lakovic's team is another of the undefeated (5-0). It is a team that, if it reaches the quarter-final play-off section healthy, can become enormous due to its great competitive capacity. It is true that Not all the favorites fit in the Final Four, but the Canaries are very serious contenders.
Alba Berlin, from less to more
Coming directly from the Euroleague to the BCL, Alba is the only one of the favorites that will need to confirm its pass to the Round of 16 on the last day of this week. He depends on himself and plays in Germany against the bottom of his group, Azerbaijani Sabah. They lost their first league match against French side Elan Chalon, but have been a rocket since. It gives the feeling that each party is better and that makes him a candidate for everything.
Rytas Vilnius, el eterno “outsider”
Also leader of his group (4-1) and with a powerful scoring profile, led by Jerrick Harding, his great reference. They have just been left without Gytis Radzevicius, signed by Baskonia, which will make them lose strength on the perimeter. Perhaps they are the least glamorous candidate of the 8 that will play this BCL. But be careful because, especially in their environment, they are almost impregnable.
Starting in January, the good things begin
Once the play-in qualifiers are played and the final configuration of the 4 groups of The second phase will start the “real” BCL 2025/2026. It will be a six-match league in which each result will determine the future of each team. By hierarchy and by winning habit, andl Unicaja is the enemy to beat for everyone, but this BCL 2025/26 smells like an edition of many traps and with too many teams with sufficient level to turn any bad match or match into an early farewell.
