Hapoel Tel Aviv Suffers Narrow Loss to Bayern Munich Amidst Offensive Woes

Hapoel Tel Aviv experienced a disappointing start to their 2026/27 European campaign, narrowly losing 86-84 to Bayern Munich in their opening game on Thursday. The defeat, considered a significant upset by European media, highlighted major offensive struggles for the Israeli team. Despite a late surge, Hapoel Tel Aviv ultimately fell short, with European outlets noting the ineffectiveness of player Elijah Bryant.

Commentary from European sports media pointed to Hapoel Tel Aviv's slow start and difficulty finding offensive rhythm. While acknowledging a remarkable comeback attempt, including a 14-0 run fueled by Antonio Blakeney's quick scoring, publications like Baskeball Sphere emphasized that Bryant "failed to make an impact." The Serbian site noted a general lack of energy from Hapoel Tel Aviv, despite their surprising rally, and identified significant offensive problems.

Bryant's performance was particularly scrutinized, as he finished the game with only eight points on seven shots, along with three assists and two turnovers. Eurohoops recognized the strong performance of Hapoel's Autoro but concluded it was insufficient to secure a victory, as Bayern Munich managed to hold onto their lead despite Hapoel's impressive comeback attempt.