The fifth and penultimate round of the CEV Volleyball Champions League could be decisive for many clubs.
Zirat Banka is visiting French Tour and has a chance to secure first place in Group A and a direct place in the quarterfinals. In the same group, a big match is played in Ljubljana – Igor Kolakivoć's ACH welcomes the powerful Trentino and wants a surprise that could bring it closer to the knockout phase. The Montenegrin coach's team, in a strong group with Zirat Banka and Trentino, dreams of being the best third-placed team from five groups and advancing to the round of 16 – how realistic this is, could be shown by the duel that will be played on Thursday evening in Ljubljana's Tivoli Hall.
The excellent Lublin also has a chance to secure first place and a quarter-final, but they will have a pleasant away game – it is not very common, namely, for a team from Turkey, such as Halkbank, to occupy last place and fight hard for a place in the next round. The clash in Ankara will therefore have a special charm, just like the duel between Rosellar and Galatasaray in a group in which each team still has a chance to advance.
This is not the case in groups C and D, where Perugia and Berlin, or Zavjerce, have already secured their place in the knockout phase. Perugia will mathematically advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday if they win in Prague, while European vice-champion Zavjerce is the only team completely secure in first place – and the Polish derby against Rešovija is played solely for prestige.
Lube Citanova is also one step away from directly qualifying for the last eight in Group E, while Warsaw and Montpellier are fighting for second place and the round of 16.
Pairs of the 5th round
GROUP A
Tour – Zirat Bank (Wednesday, 20 p.m.)
ACH Ljubljana – Trentino (Thursday, 20 p.m.)
Table: Zirat Banka 12, Trentino 8, ACH Ljubljana 3, Tur 1.
GROUP B
Roselar – Galatasaray (Tuesday, 8:30 p.m.)
Halkbank – Lublin (Thursday, 5:30 p.m.)
Table: Lublin 10, Galatasaray 6, Roselar 5, Halkbank 3.
GROUP C
Prague – Perugia (Thursday, 18 p.m.)
Las Palmas – Berlin (Thursday, 20 p.m.)
Table: Peruđa 11, Berlin 8, Las Palmas 3, Prag 2.
GROUP D
Sporting – Luneburg (Tuesday, 8:30 p.m.)
Rešovija – Zavjerće (Wednesday, 18 p.m.)
Table: Zavjerće 12, Rešovija 6, Luneburg 6, Sporting 0.
GROUP E
Montpellier – Lube Civitanova (Tuesday, 20 p.m.)
Leuven – Warsaw (Wednesday, 8:30 p.m.)
Table: Lube Cittanova 12, Warsaw 7, Montpellier 5, Leuven 0.
Bonus video:
