Soccer and Basketball: The Dates of Rome’s Four Derbies and the Specter of Scheduling Conflicts

One of the major topics on Monday, when Legabasket officially announced the 2026/2027 Serie A schedule, inevitably centered on the first, highly anticipated Rome derby. It was natural to wonder whether Maxima and BC SPQR would face off on a particularly significant date. Not to mention another aspect: the fact that the capital will host at least two other city derbies next season—the Serie A soccer matches between the Giallorossi and Lazio.

Well, all things considered, there were no surprises or dangerous clashes. As for basketball, the two Rome teams will face off during the 3rd round (October 11, 2026) and the 17th round (January 24, 2027) of Serie A. The two games, which are part of a symmetrical schedule in basketball just as in soccer, will not conflict even with the big matches at the Olimpico. In fact, next season’s Rome derbies will take place in the 15th round (December 13, 2026, the day of Lazio vs. Roma) and the 32nd round (April 18, 2027, with the Giallorossi in action) of the league.

There will be no scheduling conflicts regarding next year’s other major event in Rome either: the Italian Open. Following the massive controversy of 2026, the Foro Italico will host the tennis tournament from May 5 to 16—dates well removed from Rome’s derbies, whether in soccer or basketball. Postseason permitting…

Before thinking about the derbies, however, the two Roman teams will have to face their all-time debut in Serie A. Their baptism by fire is set for the weekend of September 27: Maxima will open the doors of its home court to host Napoli Basketball, while BC Roma SPQR will take the court on the road against Nutribullet Treviso. Two debuts with contrasting characteristics, which will already provide an early indication of the strength of the two Roman projects.

As for roster construction, both clubs are still working to finalize their squads ahead of the season opener. At Maxima, the story surrounding Mirza Alibegovic is dominating the headlines: the 34-year-old son of Teo, fresh off three seasons with APU Udine—where he had also become captain—is very close to signing with Paul Matiasic’s club. The only remaining hurdle is the buyout with the Friuli-based club, which insiders consider a mere formality. For Alibegovic, in addition to the athletic challenge of playing for a new and ambitious team, there is also the appeal of the EuroCup, Europe’s second-most important competition. Furthermore, his Italian passport represents a significant added value for Maxima, which will thus be able to manage the slots reserved for foreign players with greater flexibility.

On the coaching front, the hottest name for the Maxima head coaching position is Sergio Scariolo. According to reports in *Corriere dello Sport*, the Brescia-born coach, following his departure from Real Madrid, is the Roman club’s top target. For BC Roma SPQR, on the other hand, the choice has reportedly already fallen on Igor Milicic, former coach of Napoli: the Polish coach’s appointment is just awaiting official confirmation. These are two coaches of the highest international caliber, reflecting the ambitions with which the two clubs are approaching their first season in Italy’s top league.

The 2026–2027 season promises to be packed with highly anticipated matchups, even beyond the Roman derbies. Among the most anticipated matchups in the LBA are the two games between Olimpia Milano and Virtus Bologna, the only Italian teams also competing in the EuroLeague: they will be played on October 25, 2026, at the Forum in Assago and on January 24, 2027, in Casalecchio di Reno. Also worth marking in red on the calendar are the regional derbies: Cantù vs. Varese (December 6 and February 7), Napoli vs. Scafati (November 8 and February 14), Treviso vs. Venice (October 25 and January 24), and Udine vs. Trieste (December 6 and January 31). The regular season will tip off on September 27, one week after the LBA Super Cup scheduled for September 19 and 20 at the Nova Arena in Tortona, and will conclude on Sunday, May 9, 2027.