European Cups
Italians in action
2015 DenizBank Champions League
First appearance in the Champions League in 2015 this week for the three Italians taking part in the competition. On Tuesday, Treia will be in Paris as they fight for the second qualifying position of their group (the top 5 seconds, maybe 6 go through). The first place has already been secured by the Russians of Belgorod. Treia will be without Jiri Kovar, who will be substituted by the Chilean Bonacic. This will be a crucial game before the last one home against Fenerbahce.
At the same time, Piacenza will play host to Knack Roeselare in a game that could be key too. A three-point win would guarantee the second place to the Italians given the advantage they currently have on the Belgium side.
Finally, on Thursday it will be Perugia’s turn. They already have their ticket for the Playoffs 12 as they take on the French team of Tours VB. Grbic’s men will try to consolidate their first place and obtain a first victory in 2015. Indeed they have conceded three defeats so far, two against Trento and one against Modena.
Standings after 4 rounds
2015 DenizBank Champions League
POOL A
Standings: Tomis Constanta (ROU) 10, Copra Piacenza (ITA) 7, Knack Roeselare (BEL) 6, Dragons Lugano (SUI) 1
POOL B
Standings: Lokomotiv Novosibirsk (RUS) 12, Jastrzebski Wegiel (POL) 6, Cai Teruel (ESP) 4, Marek Union-Ivkoni Dupnitsa (BUL) 2
POOL C
Standings: Asseco Resovia Rzeszow (POL) 8, Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) 8, Budvanska Rivijera Budva (MNE) 5, ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO) 3
POOL D
Standings: Zenit Kazan (RUS) 12, VfB Friedrichshafen (GER) 7, Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) 3, Posojilnica Aich/Dob (AUT) 2
POOL E
Standings: Belogorie Belgorod (RUS) 12, Fenerbahce SK. Istanbul (TUR) 4, Cucine Lube Treia (ITA) 4, Paris Volley (FRA) 4
POOL F
Standings: PGE Skra Belchatow (POL) 12, Precura Antwerp (BEL) 9, Hypo Tirol Innsbruck (AUT) 3, Jihostroj Ceske Budejovice (CZE) 0
POOL G
Standings: Sir Safety Perugia (ITA) 11, Halkbank Ankara (TUR) 9, Noliko Maaseik (BEL) 2, Tours VB (FRA) 2
Fixtures
2015 DenizBank Champions League – 2a giornata di ritorno
POOL A
Tuesday January 20 at 8.30pm
Copra Piacenza (ITA) – Knack Roeselare (BEL) Differed on Fox Sports 2 HD (Sky channel 213) at 10.30pm
(Kolarevic-Twardowski)
POOL E
Tuesday January 20 at 8.30pm
Paris Volley (FRA) – Cucine Lube Treia (ITA) Live on Fox Sports 2 HD
(Nederhoed-Cambre)
POOL G
Thursday January 22 at 8.30pm
Sir Safety Perugia (ITA) – Tours VB (FRA) Differed Fox Sports 2 HD at 10.45pm
Evgeniou-Kozlova)
2015 CEV Cup
3-0 winners in Romania against Craiova in the first leg of the CEV Cup quarter-finals, the Trentino stars will only need two sets at home to go through to the Challenge Round. Trentino are hot favourite to qualify as they seem to have put the disappointment of the cup final loss behind with a great performance in the league against Perugia.
Quarter-finals return leg
Thursday January at 8.30pm
Energy T.I. Diatec Trentino (ITA) – Scm U Craiova (ROU)
(Stanisic-Marques Ferreira)
2015 CEV Challenge Cup
Ravenna spent an awful lot of energy, maybe too much, in two consecutive road games in the Czech Republic and Latina. Besides, the long trips, there were also two tie-breaks played. They will try to recover mentally and physically as quickly as possible for this Challenge Cup 8th of final return leg against Liberec. In spite of last week’s victory, Ravenna has to win to go through. If the Czechs were to win 3-0 or 3-1, they’d go through, while a tie-break would tie it and send it to a Golden Set to 15 points.
8th of finals return leg
Wednesday January 21 at 8.30pm
CMC Ravenna (ITA) – Dukla Liberec (CZE)
(Sirakov-Globacnik)
