European cups 2014-2015
Five Italian teams in action
2015 CEV DenizBank Champions League
Perugia will be out first on Tuesday away from home against Noliko Maaseik. Grbic’s team is top of its group on the eve of this second consecutive road game following the win in Tours. They had started off with a brilliant victory over Ankara.
On Wednesday, Treia will try to add to their victory over the last CEV Cup winners of Paris as they host the European champions of Belgorod. The Russians are top of the group, two points above Treia, who will try to make the most of the court advantage to leapfrog their opponent.
Finally, Piacenza will entertain Lugano on Thursday with a needed victory following two tie-break defeats against Constanta and Roeselare, who are tied in first place. The Swiss of Lugano are bottom of the group without a point, a good opportunity for Zlatanov and co to register their first Champions League win and brush aside a looming crisis as they have failed to win in all competition since November 5 (3 league losses and 2 in Europe).
Standings after two rounds:
POOL A
Tomis Constanta (ROU), Knack Roeselare (BEL) 5, Copra Piacenza (ITA) 2, Dragons Lugano (SUI) 0
POOL B
Jastrzebski Wegiel (POL), Lokomotiv Novosibirsk (RUS) 6, Cai Teruel (ESP), Marek Union-Ivkoni Dupnitsa (BUL) 0
POOL C
Asseco Resovia Rzeszow (POL) 6, Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) 4, Budvanska Rivijera Budva (MNE) 2, ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO) 0
POOL D
Zenit Kazan (RUS) 6, Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) 3, Posojilnica Aich/Dob (AUT) 2, VfB Friedrichshafen (GER) 1
POOL E
Belogorie Belgorod (RUS) 6, Cucine Lube Treia (ITA) 4, Fenerbahce SK. Istanbul (TUR) 2, Paris Volley (FRA) 0
POOL F
PGE Skra Belchatow (POL) 6, Precura Antwerp (BEL) , Hypo Tirol Innsbruck (AUT) 3, Jihostroj Ceske Budejovice (CZE) 0
POOL G
Sir Safety Perugia (ITA) 5, Halkbank Ankara (TUR) 3, Noliko Maaseik (BEL), Tours VB (FRA) 2
2015 CEV Cup
On Thursday, Trento will take on Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 8th of finals of the CEV Cup following their victory over the then leaders of Treia in the league. Unlike in the previous round against the Serbians of Novi Sad, Trento will play the opening game at home. The PalaTrento arena has been a tough place to go for anyone thus far this season, even the Italian champions had to go home with a defeat.
2015 CEV Challenge Cup
Ravenna’s European adventure kicks off this Wednesday in the 16th of finals of the Challenge cup. Waldo Kantor’s men will start off with a trip to Estonia to take on Bigbank Tartu.
