The Volleyball Champions League continues this week with third-round matches that could have a decisive impact on the final standings in most groups, writes odbojka.me.
The focus is on the big European derbies in Ankara, Warsaw and Perugia, where teams with maximum performance meet, and a very important match is also played by ACH Ljubljana, managed by our Igor Kolaković, who are chasing their first victory.
In Group A in Ankara, Zirat Banka and four-time European champions Trentino meet. Both teams have two wins each - the leading position and a crucial step towards the quarter-finals are on the cards. The former meet for the first time in the Champions League, but they clashed last season in the semi-finals of the CEV Cup, when Zirat overcame the defeat in Trento and won the final on home soil - later the trophy. Of particular interest is the performance of Turkish ace Nimir Abdel-Aziz - the top scorer in the Champions League in the 2020/21 season - against his former club, Trento.
In the same group, Kolaković's ACH plays against Tur in Ljubljana in a decisive match for survival in the race for the knockout stage. To record their first victory in the Champions League this season, Kolaković must change history, as the French team has won all six of their previous meetings. The Slovenians, however, are hoping to break their negative streak in front of their home crowd in Tivoli, and bookmakers say they are slight favorites.
In Group B, the most crowded and uncertain, with all four teams competing for a place in the next round, debutant LUK Lublin, led by Wilfred Leon, will host Galatasaray in Istanbul. The Polish team arrives as group leaders and “fresh” Polish Cup winners - ten days ago they beat Resovia 3-0 in the grand final in Krakow.
In Ankara, Halkbank welcomes Roeselar and hopes for a victory that would launch them into the second phase. The Turkish team has a star-studded lineup at its disposal: Joandi Leal, Aleksandar Šljivka, Matej Kazijski, Cvetan Sokolov and others, but the Belgians are not without a chance either.
"We have to stay patient and disciplined. Roeselar knows how to stay in the match," said Kazijski.
In Group C, two undefeated teams meet in Perugia - the host, the current European champion, welcomes the volleyball players from Berlin. The Italians have a perfect performance against the German clubs and are looking to extend their streak, while Berlin is hoping to break a negative tradition.
Group D brings a clash between Germany's Luneburg and Poland's Zawiercie, finalists of last season's Final Four. Home team coach Štefan Hibner warns about the difference in physicality:
Polish teams have world-class players. This is a big challenge, but also an opportunity to progress.
In the second match of the group, Rešovija plays against Sporting Lisbon, who are hoping for a worthy resistance in, as the Portuguese themselves say, a "hostile atmosphere".
Group E in Warsaw brings one of the derbies of the round: the host team plays against the two-time European champions, Luba Civitanova's team. The Italians come after two convincing victories and with great confidence.
This is probably the toughest match in the group. Serving and minimizing errors will be key, said Marko Podraščanin, middle blocker for Lube.
The round closes with a duel between Montpellier and Leuven, in which the French will try to confirm a big victory over the Warsaw Project from the previous round.
The third round brings volleyball of the highest level - and could clearly separate the favorites from the teams that will chase sensation and advance to the next round.
GROUP A
Zirat Banka - Trentino (Wednesday, 18 p.m.)
ACH Ljubljana - Tour (Thursday, 20 p.m.)
Table: Trentino, Zirat Bank 6, Tur, ACH Ljubljana 0.
GROUP B
Halkbank - Roselar (Wednesday, 15 p.m.)
Galatasaray - Lublin (Thursday, 18 p.m.)
Table: Lublin 5, Galatasaray 3, Halkbank, Roselar 2.
GROUP C
Perugia - Berlin (Wednesday, 8:30 p.m.)
Las Palmas - Prague (Thursday, 20 p.m.)
Table: Berlin, Peruđa 5, Prag, Las Palmas 1.
GROUP D
Luneburg - Zavjerće (Tuesday, 19 p.m.)
Rešovija - Sporting (Wednesday, 18 p.m.)
Table: Zavjerće 6, Rešovija, Luneburg 3, Sporting 0.
GROUP E
Montpellier - Leuven (Tuesday, 20 p.m.)
Warsaw - Lube Civitanova (Wednesday, 8:30 p.m.)
Table: Lube Cittanova 6, Warsaw 4, Montpellier 2, Leuven 0.
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