Last season's ULEB Cup winners Real Madrid got their Euroleague campaign off to a winning start with a 80-72 win over Fenerbahçe Ulker on Thursday evening.

Both sides were forced to play without key men, with Madrid travelling without Felipe Reyes and losing Louis Bullock midway through the opening quarter, while Fenerbahce missed star guard Will Solomon, out with a last-minute injury.

After a poor start, the home side managed to claw back the deficit to just four points at 68-64 in the final quarter before Madrid regained their momentum.

Five-from-seven three-pointers meant Axel Hervelle top-scored for Madrid with a Euroleague career-best 23 points, while Charles Smith added 17 and Alex Mumbru had 10.

Mirsad Turkcan led Fenerbahce with 18 points and 10 rebounds, with veteran Damir Kaan adding 17 points on his 37th birthday.

Real Madrid head coach Joan Plaza was thankful for a strong start from his side: "At the beginning of the match, we didn't let Fenerbahce organise its offense. We put on big pressure and had a respectable difference at the end of the first quarter.

"We were able to keep the advantage until the end of the game. We came here with full of problems of injury and tiredness. But we motivated ourselves very well, challenged very well and deserved to win."

Meanwhile, Olympiacos started with a fine 95-90 win over Tau Ceramica, although it was a see-saw battle at the Peace and Friendship Stadium.

With an 18-point lead, Olympiacos seemed to be in control at half-time, but a third-quarter blitz by Tau made it an even game the rest of the way until the a late spurt took the Reds home.

Lithuanian outfit Lietuvos Rytas had a pleasant return to the Euroleague after a one-year absence by as they earned an impressive 83-76 road win over Armani Jeans Milano.

Final Four regulars Maccabi Tel-Aviv struggled to a 74-71 win at home to Le Mans.

While, French champions Chorale Roanne had a massive 64-61 away win at German outfit Brose Baskets in their first match in Europe's top competition for almost 50 years.

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport