A rematch from the last Final Four, a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague home debut, a first-time Russian derby and a showdown between the reigning and most-crowned continental champions will give fans all they could wish for sooner than ever in the first round of the new 2021-22 season!

The initial steps on the season include five games on Thursday, September 30, marking the very first time this century that Europe's most elite teams play official games before October.

The honor of opening the new season with that night's first tipoff will belong to a unique EuroLeague debutant, AS Monaco. Last season's 7DAYS EuroCup champion, representing a French Riviera principality of fewer than 40,000 inhabitants, will host a neighbor from across the Mediterranean, Panathinaikos OPAP Athens, whose six continental titles are the most of Final Four era. It will be the first game ever between them.

Later that night, AX Armani Exchange Milan hosts CSKA Moscow in a rematch of their third-place game at the 2021 Final Four in Cologne, Germany. After both had lost late in the semifinals, Milan snatched its first Final Four victory this century in their consolation game against CSKA, the club with more Final Four appearances, 19, than any other in history.

Six more teams start their seasons that same Thursday, with last season's runner-up, FC Barcelona, hosting German champion ALBA Berlin, Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv hosting FC Bayern Munich and Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz visiting Olympiacos Piraeus in the 43rd edition of one of the most prolific international rivalries in basketball.

Four more Round 1 games fall on Friday, October 1, starting with two Russian opponents who have never before met on the EuroLeague stage, UNICS Kazan and visiting Zenit St Petersburg. It will be the first national derby of 14 that pepper the regular season calendar going forward.

The first games of the season in Turkey and France come next, with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul hosting Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade while LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne takes on visiting Zalgiris Kaunas.

The opening round ends with a Friday night thriller as Real Madrid, the most decorated club in EuroLeague history, welcoming first-time and reigning champion Anadolu Efes Istanbul to the Spanish capital in their 38th meeting together this century.

The anticipation will be building for the next three months until the day that all 18 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague giants take their first steps on the stairway to glory that awaits them!

The stairway to glory commences on Thursday, September 30, marking the first time this century that Europe's most elite teams play official games before October.

September start heralds hot EuroLeague opening round

AS Monaco strengthened its froncourt weeks ahead of its Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut by re-signing forward Ibrahima Fall-Faye to a one-year deal, the club announced Tuesday

Monaco re-signs forward Faye

Faye (2.07 meters, 24 years old) finished the 2020-21 season with Monaco, averaging 8.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in 25 games, but not could help the team in the 7DAYS EuroCup. He started the 2020-21 campaign with another EuroCup team, Telenet Giants Antwerp, averaging 15.1 points and 6.8 rebounds in 10 games and tying for second place in blocks (1.7 bpg.) at the end of the Regular Season. Faye started his professional career with Chalon-Sur-Saone of France and also played for Leuven Bears of Belgium before joining Antwerp, to which he helped win the Belgian Cup title in 2020. He is also a member of the Senegalese national team.

"I have adapted very well, but at a club like Monaco it was really not difficult," Faye said. "Here, the team, we are like family. It doesn't stop at simple basketball games on the court. We go out, eat together, and get along very well in everyday life. All the players in this group made it really easy for me. Even though I didn't arrive until March, we did it every three days, and that made my adjustment even easier. It is going to be an intense season. We have good players to annoy a lot of teams in the EuroLeague. We will play this competition to win the most matches."

<div style="display: grid; place-items: center;"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">✍️ 𝗜𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗺𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹-𝗙𝗮𝘆𝗲 prolonge avec la <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RocaTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RocaTeam</a> ! 💥 Adepte de contres et alley-oops spectaculaires, le pivot international sénégalais (2,06 m, 24 ans) va continuer d’apporter sa puissance et son efficacité 💪<br>🔂 𝗜𝗯𝗼𝘂 𝙥𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙩 𝙡’𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 🇲🇨 <a href="https://t.co/8Ng81Hp4hW">pic.twitter.com/8Ng81Hp4hW</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1414830734368464896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

AS Monaco strengthened its froncourt weeks ahead of its Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut by re-signing forward Ibrahima Fall-Faye to a one-year deal, the club announced Tuesday.

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On Tuesday afternoon, 7DAYS EuroCup runner-up and Turkish Airlines EuroLeague returnee UNICS Kazan announced that big man Artem Klimenko will stay with the team one more season with an option for another. Klimenko (2.14 meters, 27 years old) averaged 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds in 14 EuroCup games last season. He already played the EuroLeague with UNICS in 2016-17 and then he played three more EuroCup seasons with the Kazan team. Aside from UNICS, Klimenko only played with his club of origin, Avtodor Saratov of Russia, where he made his EuroCup debut in 2015.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ru" dir="ltr">⚡️Артём Клименко остаётся с нами<br>⠀⠀<br>БК УНИКС и центровой Артём Клименко подписали новое соглашение, рассчитанное по системе 1+1. <a href="https://t.co/KlgaSRix0e">pic.twitter.com/KlgaSRix0e</a></p>&mdash; BC UNICS Kazan (@unicsbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/unicsbasket/status/1414979910569971718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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UNICS, Klimenko stay together

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Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz brought back a familiar face to the team, none other than point guard Jayson Granger, who signed a one-year deal with an option for another season on Tuesday

Baskonia brings back playmaker Granger

Granger (1.89 meters, 31 years old) arrives from ALBA Berlin, where he averaged 8.1 points and 4.9 assists in 28 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games last season. He helped ALBA win the German League title, earning Finals MVP honors. He already played for Baskonia in the previous three seasons in which he had two severe injuries - ankle and knee - that kept him sidelined for the best part of two years. Granger could not help Baskonia in the 2019-20 EuroLeague but returned to action in time to win the Spanish League title. He started his career with Estudiantes and played for another Spanish team, Unicaja Malaga, and for Anadolu Efes Istanbul of Turkey before joining Baskonia in 2017. In 176 EuroLeague career games with Unicaja, Efes, Baskonia and ALBA, Granger averaged 9.0 points and 4.1 assists. He is also a regular member of the Uruguayan national team.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jay is 🔙!<br><br>🏀✍🏻 Jayson Granger returns to Baskonia on a two-year deal! <br><br>👋🏻 Welcome back home, <a href="https://twitter.com/jaygranger11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jaygranger11</a> 💙❤️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoazenBaskonia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoazenBaskonia</a> <a href="https://t.co/Qnuai9osbq">pic.twitter.com/Qnuai9osbq</a></p>&mdash; Baskonia (@Baskonia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia/status/1415020268376952832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz brought back a familiar face to the team, none other than point guard Jayson Granger, who signed a one-year deal with an option for another season on Tuesday.

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Real Madrid strengthened its backcourt by inking point guard Nigel Williams-Goss to a two-year contract, the club announced on Tuesday. Williams-Goss (1.91 meters, 26 years old) arrives from Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar, where he averaged 17.0 points on 50.0% three-point shooting, 5.2 assists and 2.3 steals in six 7DAYS EuroCup games this season. He split in the 2019-20 campaign between Utah in the NBA and its G-League team, Salt Lake City. Williams-Goss appeared in 10 games with Utah in limited capacity, but averaged 15.3 points, 5.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 17 games for Salt Lake.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">🙌 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BienvenidoWilliamsGoss?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BienvenidoWilliamsGoss</a> 🙌 <a href="https://t.co/HoF93X5h0t">pic.twitter.com/HoF93X5h0t</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1414892181513547802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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He made his professional debut with Partizan NIS Belgrade in the 2017-18 season. His first EuroCup campaign lasted for only nine appearances as Partizan failed to reach the Top 16, but in that regular season Williams-Goss ranked fourth in average PIR (20.1) and second in assists (6.7 apg.). He also tied for fifth in scoring (17.0 ppg.) and averaged 1.6 steals. Williams-Goss then moved to Olympiacos Piraeus where he averaged 9.2 points, 4.2 assists and 2.0 rebounds in the 2018-19 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. "It's wonderful to be on this team and in a club with the most titles in Europe," Williams-Goss said. "It's an honor, and for that reason, I have to be in the best shape. I am a team player who likes to win above all else, which is why I think this is the perfect place for me."

Real Madrid signs playmaker Williams-Goss

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CSKA Moscow got more size in the paint by signing big man Vladimir Ivlev to a one-year deal, the club announced Monday. Ivlev (2.07 meters, 31 years old) arrives from fellow Russian side Parma Basket, where he averaged 4.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in VTB League aftion, while also posting 6.2 points and 6.0 rebounds in FIBA EuroCup last season. Ivlev returns to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague where he made 17 appearances with Nizhny Novgorod in the 2014-15 campaign. Ivlev also has seven 7DAYS EuroCup seasons under his belt, making 102 appearances in that competition, having made his debut with Dynamo Moscow, the club he grew up with. Ivlev also played two EuroCup seasons with Nizhny and four others with Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar. He has EuroCup career averages of 3.3 points and 2.7 rebounds. During his career, he also played a season with Ryazan, and has been a member of the Russian national team.

"We are bringing to our team a big man who has plenty of experience playing in the VTB League. I talked to Vladimir and I see that he is motivated and thrilled, he understands his role, and he's ready to make the next step in his career," CSKA head coach Dimitris Itoudis said after the agreement. "He is aware of the responsibility, expectations and amount of work he has to do here. We are looking forward to working together and welcome Vladimir to our team."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Russian National Team center Vladimir Ivlev (31 years old, 207 cm) signed a one-year contract with our club. <a href="https://t.co/f5jIW3wJLe">pic.twitter.com/f5jIW3wJLe</a></p>&mdash; CSKA Moscow (@cskabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/cskabasket/status/1414858933026557953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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CSKA adds frontcourt depth with Ivlev

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FC Bayern Munich and versatile forward Paul Zipser are set to keep working together until the end of the 2023-24 campaign, the German powerhouse announced Tuesday. Zipser (2.03 meters, 27 years old) averaged 9.1 points on 43.8% three-point shooting and 3.0 rebounds in 39 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games last season. He helped Bayern become the first German squad to reach the EuroLeague Playoffs this century and take the German Cup last season, but missed the domestic finals after suffering a brain hemorrhage. Zipser is "slowly working back after his operation in June due to a brain hemorrhage and has made a clear decision" to stay with Bayern "regardless of the undefined comeback time," the club said in its official release.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%F0%9D%90%99%F0%9D%90%88%F0%9D%90%8F%F0%9D%90%92%F0%9D%90%84%F0%9D%90%91%F0%9D%9F%90%F0%9D%9F%8E%F0%9D%9F%90%F0%9D%9F%92?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#𝐙𝐈𝐏𝐒𝐄𝐑𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒</a><br><br>Pauli bleibt! Der Nationalspieler unterschreibt einen neuen Dreijahres-Vertrag bis 2024! 😍<br><br>🔗 Mehr dazu: <a href="https://t.co/auSHhniYV6">https://t.co/auSHhniYV6</a> <br><br>🎥 Checkt auch die Zipser-Playlist auf YouTube: <a href="https://t.co/OLvtomhIhD">https://t.co/OLvtomhIhD</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBB2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Zipser2024?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Zipser2024</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kaderupdate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kaderupdate</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/paulzzip?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@paulzzip</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/1414872379986259978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Zipser is in his second stint with Bayern. He previously played for the club from 2013 to 2016, helping it win the German League title in 2014. Zipser went on to play for Chicago of the NBA, Windy City of the G League and San Pablo Burgos of Spain before returning to Bayern in 2019. He also played for USC Heidelberg of his native German. Zipser has also been a member of the German national team. In 85 EuroLeague career games with Bayern, Zipser averaged 8.0 points and 3.0 rebounds.

Bayern, Zipser stay together through 2024

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Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul announced on Monday extending guard Ekrem Sancakli and forward Ismail Karabilen on two-year deals. Sancakli (1.94 meters, 20 years old) has spent last season with Afyon Belediyespor where he averaged 3.6 points and 1.5 rebounds in the Turkish League action. He previously appeared in one Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game, when he scored 5 points in 6 minutes in a big road loss at FC Barcelona. Sancakli grew up with Fenerbahce, just like Karabilen (1.06 meters, 20 years old) who also spent time with Afyon last season, making five appearances in limited fashion. Both players have been members of the Turkish national teams in youth categories, and both now continue with Fenerbahce.



Fenerbahce extends youngsters Sancakli and Karabilen

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Real Madrid bolstered its frontcourt with the signing of power forward Guerschon Yabusele on a one-year deal, the club announced Monday. Yabusele (2.02 meters, 25 years old) played for LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne last season and averaged 11.0 points and 4.2 rebounds in 30 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games. He also helped ASVEL win the French League and Cup double. "I am very grateful to be in such a great club with so much history", Yabusele said. "It is something very important to me. Everything that Real Madrid has, the titles, the history of the club… It is very special and being part of it is also very special for me and my family. I really want to start playing with the team."

Yabusele came to ASVEL from Nanjing Tongxi Monkey Kings, where he averaged 17.9 points and 7.2 rebounds in 15 Chinese League games in the 2019-20 season. He started his career with French side Chorale Roanne. Yabusele has also played for SPO Rouen Basket of France, Shanghai Dongfang Sharks of China, Maine of the D-League and Boston of the NBA. Yabusele has been a member of the French national team, too.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">🙌 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BienvenidoYabusele?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BienvenidoYabusele</a> 🙌 <a href="https://t.co/bxUJfNOo5T">pic.twitter.com/bxUJfNOo5T</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1414524634603655168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Real tabs power forward Yabusele

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