SuperLega UnipolSai
Round 7 preview
Hardly time for the previous results to sink in that all the teams have to get back in action for the midweek round.
It all starts on Tuesday night with Perugia home against Monza. Perugia is coming off a road win in Padova, while Monza won two in a row and six points at the expense of Milan and Molfetta. Alberto Elia will face his former club, he was indeed in Monza from 2013 to 2015. Thomas Beretta is just one point from 1000 in regular season.
On Wednesday, Molfetta entertains the Italian champions. Fifth in the table, Molfetta wants to bounce back from its defeat against Monza, while Trento is coming off a victory against the former league leaders Modena.
Romagna will be back in the Pala De Andre arena, where the club played for many years, as it plays host to Latina. Kantor’s men won their last one in Piacenza, while Latina enjoyed a tie-break win over Milan. A win for the hosts would allow them to move above Latina in the table.
Defeated at the tie-break in Trento, Modena is keen to bounce back against a Piacenza team who will be as motivated to turn things around and come out of a crisis as it fails to win since the opening round of the season. Zlatanov has just overcome the 9500 points in the last encounter.
Unbeaten in the league, Civitanova will travel to Lombardy aiming to keep this hundred percent record against Milan. Serbian middle blocker Podrascanin is just 4 points away from the 2000 in the league. Milan is still looking for its first win of the season.
On Thursday, the Verona players will try to redeem themselves from the straight set defeat in Civitanova when they take on Padova, stuck with three points and in need of points to turn things around. Verona won this fixture 9 times out of 14.
SuperLega UnipolSai Round 7
Tuesday 24 November at 8.30pm
Sir Safety Conad Perugia – Gi Group Monza Live on RAI Sport 1
Live streaming on www.raisport.rai.it
(Zavater-Cesare)
Wednesday 25 November at 8.30pm
Exprivia Molfetta – Diatec Trentino Live on RAI Sport 1
Live streaming on www.raisport.rai.it
(Florian-Lot)
In Ravenna: CMC Romagna – Ninfa Latina Live on Lega Volley Channel
(Rapisarda-Piana)
DHL Modena – LPR Piacenza Live on Lega Volley Channel
(Cipolla-Santi)
Revivre Milano – Cucine Lube Banca Marche Civitanova Live on Lega Volley Channel
(Goitre-Braico)
Thursday 26 November at 8.30pm
Calzedonia Verona – Tonazzo Padova Live on RAI Sport 1
Live streaming on www.raisport.rai.it
(Sampaolo-Pasquali)
League table
Cucine Lube Banca Marche Civitanova 16, DHL Modena 15, Diatec Trentino 14, Sir Safety Conad Perugia 12, Calzedonia Verona 11, Exprivia Molfetta 10, Ninfa Latina 8, Gi Group Monza 7, CMC Romagna 7, LPR Piacenza 3, Tonazzo Padova 3, Revivre Milano 2.
Sir Safety Conad Perugia – Gi Group Monza
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 6 (4-2 Perugia)
Emanuele Birarelli (Sir Safety Conad Perugia): “It’s really strange to play another game just 48 hours on. I’ve been playing for years and I don’t remember it ever happening, maybe in the playoffs. This will therefore be complicated because of the tired legs. But this is the same thing for both teams, so there won’t be any excuses. As far as we’re concerned, only the win will do it. In this period, we might not always play brilliantly but it’s the win that matters. We cannot lose points on the way”.
Andrea Galliani (Gi Group Team Monza): “We know it won’t be easy. Our last two wins over Milan and Molfetta gave us confidence, the team is in good spirit and the players believe more in themselves. We proved we could play some good volleyball when it mattered the most, which is something important for the future. Our main goal is to keep working patiently, without forgetting the good things done thus far, and trying to get something out of this game against Perugia”.
Exprivia Molfetta – Diatec Trentino
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 6 (5-1 Trento)
Fernando Hernandez Ramos (Exprivia Molfetta): “We have to redeem ourselves from a poor performance against Monza. I think we can do it given that we have always had good games at home. Such defeat sends you back to earth but we will give our best home and away for those superb supporters who follow us every week. We will give everything we have”.
Simone Giannelli (Diatec Trentino): “This first part of season is extremely intense, shame we don’t even have time to enjoy the superb victory over Modena on Sunday, which was extremely important in terms of mental aspect too. We are aware of our capacities, but now we’ll face another test in Molfetta, where it is always difficult to win”.
CMC Romagna – Ninfa Latina
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 8 (5-3 Romagna)
Andrea Bari (CMC Romagna): “This is a crucial game for us for various reasons. First of all we want to get another good result after the three-point win over Piacenza, and we really want to do well in Ravenna where we haven’t played an official game in a year and a half. Latina is a top quality team, they will definitely make it hard for us because they block well and have an excellent serve. This will be tough but we will give everything we have”.
Gabriele Maruotti (Ninfa Latina): “We’re hungry for more victories. We want to get as close to the big guns as possible and we’re working to reach this goal. We showed a lot of character on Sunday when we got pegged back from 2-0 up to 2-2 and we won it. Now we have to think one game at a time before dedicating ourselves to the Trento game”.
DHL Modena – LPR Piacenza
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 31 (18-13 Piacenza)
Andrea Sartoretti (GM DHL Modena): “We’re back in action after the tough road game in Trento. Piacenza has a lot of experience, they won’t hold anything back, like all the teams coming here in our PalaPanini arena. We’ll have the fans on our side, and this can make the difference more than ever. The players will take care of the rest and I am sure they will do a good job”.
Stefano Patriarca (LPR Piacenza): “We’re facing a difficult game, but we won’t walk in Modena just to be victims. Our goal is to take some points. We have been training well, we play every game to win but we can’t seem to make it so far. I think we need that little something that will get us click to get back on the winning track”.
Revivre Milano – Cucine Lube Banca Marche Civitanova
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 2 (Civitanova won both)
Matteo Burgsthaler (Revivre Milano): “This would seem the easiest game to predict. Our main problem is to maintain a high level of play. Our goal has to try not to give anything away. The difference between the two teams is huge, there’s no doubt, they have a better team in any way you look at it. But if they underestimate us, given that they play every three days, they could be tired and make a few changes in the line-up, we could then try to take advantage”.
Gianlorenzo Blengini (coach Cucine Lube Banca Marche Civitanova): “This road game in Milan will be complicated. We know there’s a difference of level but this become evident only if we play at our best. We have to stay focused without thinking about next Sunday’s game against Modena. Milan will play with arms loose, and they have been getting better of late, they’ll make it hard for us. We have to play with great maturity until the very last point”.
Calzedonia Verona – Tonazzo Padova
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 14 (9-5 Verona)
Matteo De Cecco (Ass.coachCalzedonia Verona): “We’re finally back home after an intense week in which we travelled around Europe. This will be a tricky derby against Padova, we’ll need maximum focus and composure. We had not made a fuss of the loss against Modena, and we won’t either for the one against Civitanova. It’s true we have to work on so many aspects and find rhythm in training, which we haven’t been able to do with all the travelling. The training will help us prepare for the two home games coming in quick succession. Everybody is fit, we are determined and motivated. Our philosophy is always the one to improve our game all the time”.
Valerio Baldovin (coach Tonazzo Padova): “Just like Perugia, Verona is another team built to be among the very best of this league. This will therefore be a tough match. Verona has a lot of assets. Besides, they’re coming off a defeat in Civitanova, they’ll be eager to bounce back. But we have to focus mainly on ourselves and not worry too much about them. When we play with consistency, we’re capable of making it hard for anyone, we have already proved it”.
Serie A2 UnipolSai
Round 4 postponed game
Brescia vs Siena
Brescia will be back home for this postponed encounter as its gym was not available due to a tennis tournament. Its last game was a four-set defeat against Vibo Valentia. Its opponent of the day, Siena, was upset by Castellana Grotte 3-1 at home on Sunday. They are currently last from bottom and will give it a fight to get out of this uncomfortable position.
Serie A2 UnipolSai Round 4 postponed game
Wednesday 25 November at 8.30pm
Centrale del Latte McDonald’s Brescia – Emma Villas Siena Live on Lega Volley Channel
(Curto-Del Vecchio)
League table
Globo Banca Pop. Frusinate Sora 15, Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia 12, Maury’s Italiana Assicurazioni Tuscania 10, Globo Scarabeo Civita Castellana 10, Cassa Rurale Cantù 9, Materdominivolley.it Castellana Grotte 8, VBC Mondovì 6, Potenza Picena 6, Aurispa Alessano 6, Conad Reggio Emilia 6, Sieco Service Ortona 5, Centrale del Latte McDonald’s Brescia 3*, Emma Villas Siena 3*, Club Italia Roma 3
*1 game in hand: Centrale del Latte McDonald’s Brescia, Emma Villas Siena;
