SPORTS BET BLOG

2025-26 EuroLeague Round 21 Valencia vs. Monaco Preview:
Can Taronja defend their home-court against La Roca?

January 8, 2026 by Marc Jerbs

Valencia hosts Monaco on January 8, 2026, at 7:30 PM GMT at the Roig Arena in a crucial Round 21 matchup of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season. With playoff positioning starting to take shape, this contest pits Taronja's defensive structure and home-court intensity against La Roca's star-studded, attack-minded roster.

Team Form and Season Outlook

Valencia Basket
Valencia will look to maximize their home advantage, where their physical defense and up-tempo transition game—often referred to as their “fastbreak formula”—have traditionally been most effective. However, the 2025–26 campaign has been disrupted by injuries that have tested their depth and consistency. Despite those setbacks, Valencia remains a tough matchup, especially when they can dictate tempo and force opponents into low-efficiency possessions.

AS Monaco
AS Monaco arrive as one of the EuroLeague's premier contenders after reaching last season's final. The addition of Nikola Mirotic has further elevated their offensive ceiling, giving Monaco a reliable scoring option who can both stretch the floor and punish mismatches inside. Mike James, a two-time EuroLeague MVP, continues to anchor the offense, while shooters like Nemanja Nedovic add spacing and shot creation. Defensively, Monaco will rely heavily on the energy and versatility of Alpha Diallo and Jaron Blossomgame to balance their offensive firepower.

Valencia vs. Monaco Head-to-Head

• March 22, 2024: AS Monaco 90–84 Valencia Basket
• October 17, 2025: AS Monaco defeated Valencia again, led by Alpha Diallo's 16 points, with Mike James adding 9 points and 8 assists

Monaco have controlled the recent matchups, but meetings between these two sides are typically physical, closely contested, and decided late.

Valencia vs. Monaco Sports Bet Odds

Taronja are the favorites to win the game. Here are our latest odds:

• The Taronja are favored by 1.5 points, with money line odds of 1.76.
• La Roca are the underdogs by 1.5 points, with money line odds of -2.00.
• The Total is set at 177.5 points. Over odds are 1.86 while Under odds are 1.86.

Injury Report

Valencia Basket

• Jean Montero: Recovering from finger surgery; could be in line for his season debut.
• Xabi Lopez-Arostegui: Returned in Round 4 after missing time with a fractured finger.
• Brancou Badio: Recently back from a muscular injury; previously scored 18 points against Monaco.
• Yankuba Sima: Missed the opening EuroLeague rounds and remains sidelined.
• Braxton Key: Dealing with a minor knee issue suffered in Round 13.

AS Monaco

• Yoan Makoundou: Missed early-season action and was also absent in Round 18.
• Elie Okobo: Recently sidelined; recorded 4 points and 6 assists in a previous meeting with Valencia.
• Jordan Loyd and Vitto Brown: Missed a recent game against Partizan.
• Nemanja Nedovic: Has not played since Round 14; scored 8 points in a prior matchup versus Valencia.

Final Thought

This game shapes up as a clash of control versus creativity. Valencia's best path to victory lies in slowing the pace, winning the physical battles, and feeding off the Roig Arena crowd. Monaco, meanwhile, will trust their scoring depth and late-game shot-makers to maintain their recent dominance in the head-to-head. How well Valencia contain Monaco's perimeter threats could ultimately decide this Round 21 showdown.

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2025/26 Premier League MW20 Everton vs. Brentford Preview:
Can the Toffees outlast the Bees in this crucial showdown?

January 2, 2026 by Marc Jerbs

The Premier League resumes with a finely balanced Matchweek 20 encounter as Everton welcome Brentford to Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, January 4, 2026, with kick-off set for 3:00 PM GMT... read more »

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Stadium of Light Shakedown - Sunderland vs. Leeds:
European Dreams vs. Survival Surge

December 26, 2025 by Marc Jerbs

Forget the mid-table clutter; the real drama this Sunday is in the Northeast. Sunderland (6th) is the Premier League's "Cinderella Story," but they're about to host a Leeds United (16th) side that has suddenly remembered how to play like a top-flight outfit... read more »

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2025/26 Premier League MW17 Tottenham vs. Liverpool Preview:
Can Tottenham halt Liverpool's resurgence?

December 18, 2025 by Marc Jerbs

A compelling Premier League showdown awaits as Tottenham Hotspur host Liverpool in a crucial Matchweek 17 clash of the 2025–26 season. Set against the backdrop of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, December 20, this evening encounter kicks off at 5:30 PM GMT and carries significant implications for both sides as the campaign approaches its midpoint... read more »

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MORE BLOG ENTRIES

St. Leger Stakes

The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards (2,937 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.

Established in 1776, the St. Leger is the oldest of Britain's five Classics. It is the last of the five to be run each year, and it is raced over a longer distance than any of the previous four.

The St. Leger is the final leg of the English Triple Crown, preceded by the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby. It also completes the Fillies' Triple Crown, which begins with the 1,000 Guineas and continues with the Oaks. In recent decades, however, the St. Leger has rarely featured a Triple Crown contender.

The event was devised by Anthony St. Leger, an army officer and politician who lived near to Doncaster. The race did not initially bear his name - it was first referred to as "A Sweepstake of 25 Guineas". It was restricted to horses aged three, and its original distance was two miles. The rules stipulated that colts were to carry 8 st, and fillies 7 st 12 lb.

The inaugural running was held at Cantley Common on 24 September 1776. The first winner was an unnamed filly owned by the event's organizer, the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham. The filly was later named Allabaculia. The event was moved to its present location, Town Moor, in 1778... more St. Leger Stakes info »