Joventut Badalona - Unicaja BCL Preview & Where to Watch

• → Game to take place at Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona, Badalona on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 19:00 local time (GMT+1)
• → Form check: Joventut blasted out of the blocks in Game 1; Unicaja held off Würzburg. At home, Unicaja just won an ACB overtime grinder; Joventut split their week.
• → Context: A Spanish derby dropped into Round-of-16 week two. The Olímpic will be loud; both clubs started 1–0 and want the inside lane to the quarters.
• → Unicaja dominated against Joventut in the ACT on December 30 with a 105-83 win.

Joventut Badalona vs Unicaja: derby noise, early leverage

Joventut opened this phase like a team in a hurry, racing past Chalon and taking all suspense out of the fourth. Cameron Hunt’s confidence jumped off the floor, and the building fed off Ricky Rubio’s tempo and leadership.
Back home at the Olímpic
The hosts feel different in Badalona. Rubio’s control lets everyone breathe: Sam Dekker gets cleaner looks, Ante Tomic picks spots, and Simon Birgander’s effort shifts momentum on the glass. If they stack early stops, the crowd tends to carry them through the choppy stretches.

Málaga’s many answers

Unicaja’s start wasn’t flashy, but it was solid: close the door late, move on. The spine is familiar: Kendrick Perry’s punch, Alberto Díaz’s experience, and size with Aleksander Balcerowski. Add James Webb III’s instant offense and a new spark from Chris Duarte, and Málaga arrive with scoring in a lot of pockets. That depth is why they ride out rough patches.

This one feels like “who finds calm first” wins. If Joventut keep the ball moving and get Tomic touches to settle the game, they can ride the building. If Unicaja’s guards steady things and their shooters space the floor, they’re built to make a noisy night feel routine.

Stakes

Both are 1–0 in the group. Bank a second win here and you control the conversation, and the tiebreak math, before the return in Málaga. Drop it and you’re chasing.

How to Watch Joventut Badalona vs Unicaja

Watch Joventut Badalona vs Unicaja from the Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona on Courtside 1891. You can watch free with a Courtside 1891 Plus account. Regional availability and geoblocks may apply.