The best volleyball in Europe is back on the scene - the Volleyball Champions League will start tonight, and it will also have an authentic representative from Montenegro.
Igor Kolaković returned to the bench of ACH Volej from Ljubljana, multiple champions of Slovenia and winners of the MEVZA league, in May after 13 years. Domestic and regional trophies are a given, it's time for a European mission, and the Slovenian giant has ambitions in the Champions League.
In May, when he agreed to return to the bench of the "orange dragons", Kolaković stated:
ACH Volej has embarked on a project, which has also been supported by Zoran Janković, the mayor of Ljubljana. The wish is that in the future the Slovenian national team players will not go abroad, but will be satisfied in their own country. Both in terms of playing on the field and participating in competitions, as well as in terms of their income. They have now brought back four players. The plan is for the club to play a significant role in the new project, especially in the Champions League, said Kolaković, who will be assisted in his work by Dragan Kobiljski, a former player of Buducnost.
ACH Volej had to go through three rounds of qualifications to reach the final stage, and they did it in the best possible way – the Dutch Orion Star, Dinamo Bucharest and Radnički from Kragujevac did not have much of a chance.
Kolaković said before the start of the season that it was easier to play in the group stage than to "mine" through the qualifications, and even earlier, based on the results in the ACH, he expressed hope that the Slovenian champion would soon have a guaranteed place in the elite.
However, the club from Ljubljana is where it belongs – in the Champions League, and a difficult mission awaits it right from the start.
A visit to the Italian Trenin, four-time European champions, winners of the 2024 CEV Champions League, a club that has the greatest ambitions this season, is certainly the best possible opportunity, but Kolaković's boys at the foot of the Alps, in the "Pala Trento" hall, have nothing to lose. And, relieved, they will try to put up the best possible resistance.
Group A, a strong group, also includes Turkish Zirat Bank from Ankara and French Tours – the two first-place teams advance to the knockout phase, as do the four best third-place teams from six groups.
Trentino and ACH Volej have played five times in the Champions League so far, in three different seasons, the Italians have won every time, including the semi-finals of the 2010 Final Four, and every time they have met – Trentino has won the Champions League that season! Is tonight's match also an announcement? Kolaković will try to spoil these "projections" with ACH Volej, even though it is only the first round.
Defending champions Perugia are placed in Group C and are absolute favourites at home against Prague in the first round. Berlin and Las Palmas are also rivals of the current European champion.
The Polish derby between Zawiercie, the European vice-champion, and Reżowia in Group D is without a doubt the most exciting and exciting duel of the entire season. Just a few weeks ago, Zawiercie's volleyball players were dominant in their away match in the elite Polish championship. It remains to be seen whether history will repeat itself, now that they are playing in front of their own fans.
It is interesting that they are meeting for the first time in the Champions League, not in Europe – they clashed in 2024 in the quarterfinals of the CEV Cup, and Rešovija advanced with a golden set victory.
Pairs of the 1th round
GROUP A
Zirat Bank – Tur (Wednesday, 17 p.m.)
Trentino – ACH Ljubljana (Thursday, 8:30 p.m.)
GROUP B
Lublin – Halkbank (utorak, 18 h)
Galatasaray – Roselar (Wednesday, 18 p.m.)
GROUP C
Perugia – Prague (Wednesday, 8:30 p.m.)
Berlin – Las Palmas (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.)
GROUP D
Zavjerće – Rešovija (Wednesday, 18 p.m.)
Luneburg – Sporting (Wednesday, 19 p.m.)
GROUP E
Lube Civitanova – Montpellier (Tuesday, 8:30 p.m.)
Warsaw – Leuven (Wednesday, 8:30 p.m.)
Bonus video:
