Hapoel Tel Aviv Suffers Narrow EuroLeague Opening Loss to Bayern Munich

Hapoel Tel Aviv began their second EuroLeague season with a dramatic 86-84 defeat against Bayern Munich in Sofia on Thursday. Despite a strong finish, the Israeli team couldn't overcome a significant deficit built by the German club.

Bayern Munich established control in the second quarter, building a lead that extended to 18 points early in the fourth. However, Hapoel Tel Aviv mounted a furious comeback, fueled by strong performances from Dan Or-Tov, Elijah Bryant, Vasilije Micic, and Antonio Blakeney, who scored his first points of the game during the rally. Hapoel even took a brief lead late in the game.

Ultimately, Bayern Munich secured the win with a clutch three-pointer from Johannes Voigtmann, making it 86-84. Hapoel had a final opportunity to tie or win but failed to convert, with the ball being stolen from Dan Or-Tov just before a potential dunk.

Dan Or-Tov led Hapoel with a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Andreas Obst was the top scorer for Bayern with 19 points. Hapoel's coach, Itoudis, acknowledged the team needs to elevate its performance to handle a demanding schedule, including upcoming games against Crvena Zvezda and Real Madrid, and a domestic cup quarterfinal against Hapoel Be'er Sheva.

This loss marks a disappointing start for Hapoel Tel Aviv, who reached the playoffs last season and had a strong opening to their domestic campaign.