Can Crvena Zvezda Replicate Their October 2025 Miracle? Red-and-Whites Sit at 0-2 Ahead of James and Šarić Clash, with a Grueling Month Ahead

Back-to-back home defeats at Belgrade Arena against Žalgiris and Hapoel have derailed the much-anticipated start to the new Zvezda era, leaving the red-and-whites needing a response by any means necessary. A similar scenario unfolded at the start of the 2025/26 campaign, when opening losses to Armani and Bayern saw them concede a staggering 189 points combined. That slump triggered the dismissal of head coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos, with assistant Tomislav Tomović stepping in as interim before Saša Obradović took the helm. What followed was nothing short of miraculous—Zvezda dismantled heavy favorites Fenerbahçe in Istanbul to ignite a sensational 7-0 winning run that stretched from October 10 to November 11 before finally being halted in Dubai.

Today, if anyone offered Ibon Navarro a 7-2 record, the Spanish tactician would celebrate across the entire city. In reality, though, Zvezda's new boss would gladly settle for a modest 1-2 start right now. Zvezda have already squandered much of a dream opening schedule that featured four games at the Arena in the first six rounds—mostly against opponents considered outside the elite tier of favorites like Panathinaikos, Olympiacos, and Fenerbahçe.

Navarro took full responsibility for the sluggish start and joked that not understanding Serbian has shielded him from the inevitable media noise and fan chatter.

Just a few days ago, many would have expected Zvezda to roll past Efes comfortably. Now, expectations must be tempered. While Pablo Laso's side stumbled in their opener against Barcelona, they bounced back in style with a home triumph over Real Madrid. Looking at the talent Laso has at his disposal—Mike James, Jordan Loyd, Dario Šarić, PJ Dozier, and Matthew Strazel, to name a few—it is clear the Turkish giants present a monumental challenge.

Zvezda's first road test comes on October 8 against Dubai, a venue where they have never won, holding an 0-2 ABA League record (86-84 and 114-91) and an 0-1 EuroLeague mark (102-86). Xavi Pascual's team is playing at a blistering pace reminiscent of the OKC Thunder, especially at home, where they opened the season with two commanding wins. After Dubai, Zvezda head to ASVEL on October 13—fresh off an opening-round upset against Maccabi—before returning to the Arena on October 16 to face fellow French outfit Paris.

The defining clash that could shape the entire campaign arrives on October 22 against arch-rivals Partizan, who will hold home-court advantage in front of their fervent supporters. Joan Peñarroya has assembled a formidable squad, making Partizan early favorites for the Eternal Derby. Before the month wraps up, Zvezda face another double-game week, hosting Maccabi on October 27 and Bayern just two days later.

That makes nine rounds before November arrives. After an 0-2 start, finishing above .500 in this stretch would be a massive achievement. Crucially, Zvezda's EuroLeague trajectory hinges on this showdown with Efes. If they can replicate last year's heroics against Turkish opposition, that improbable 7-2 turnaround might just be within reach once again.