European Cups
2016 CEV DenizBank Champions League
Trentino, Civitanova and Modena are ready to play in the Champions League second round following their excellent debut games.
Trentino swept Maaseik 3-0 and now will travel to Greece to take on Thessaloniki after two league wins that will give them some momentum. The Greeks are led by former Corigliano coach Nikolay Jeliazkov. They were defeated in the opening game by the French of Tours.
Taste of revenge for Civitanova as they travel to Belchatow, a team that had defeated the Italians twice last season and knocked them out at the Playoffs 12 stage. Podrascanin and co are determined not to lose any point in this group phase as they are firing on all cylinders in the league, still unbeaten and just a point from the leaders Modena. The Pols have many players who used to be in Italy like former Macerata star Facundo Conte, spiker Michal Winiarski (Trentino) or Argentine setter Miguel Angel Falasca (Bologna, Ferrara and Modena).
On Thursday, Modena will make its home debut after their road win in Ljubljana. Top of the Italian league and top of their group, they will entertain Gdansk. The Polish side won their opening game too against Novi Sad. They are led by the former coach of the Italian national team, Andrea Anastasi. Some of their stars are Italian setter Marco Falaschi, US spiker Murphy Edward Troy and German spiker (Sebastian Schwarz (played in Italy with San Giustino, Padova and Perugia, as well as Crema in the A2).
Fixtures:
CEV Champions League – Round 2
Wednesday 18 November at 6pm (Italian time)
POOL C
Paok Thessaloniki (GRE) – Trentino Diatec (ITA) Live on Sky Sport Plus
(Skudnik-Marin)
POOL E
PGE Skra Belchatow (POL) – Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) Live on Fox Sports HD
(Mezoffy-Markov)
Thursday 19 November at 8.30pm
POOL F
DHL Modena (ITA) – Lotos Trefl Gdansk (POL) Live on Sky Sport 3
(Krticka-Evgeniou)
2016 CEV Cup
Three wins in five games in the SuperLega, Perugia is back in the CEV Cup after the bitter league loss against Civitanova. They are on their way to the Czech Republic to take on Karlovarsk. The Italians won the first leg 3-0 and will just need to take 2 sets to go throw to the next round.
16th of finals return leg
Wednesday 18 November at 6pm
CEZ Karlovarsko (CZE) – Sir Safety-Sicoma Perugia (ITA)
(Lagierski-Petrovic)
2016 CEV Challenge Cup
Winner of the first leg in straight sets against the Portuguese of Fonte Bastardo Azores at home, Verona has the Challenge Cup 16th of finals in sight. They travel to the Portuguese city of Praia de Vitoria to take at least the two sets that separate them from qualification.
2nd Round return leg
Wednesday 18 November at 10.30 (Italian time)
Fonte Bastardo Azores (POR) – Calzedonia Verona (ITA)
(Frigne-Richter)
