European Cups
2016 DenizBank Champions League
Time for the playoffs 12 return legs. In the first leg, the winners were: PGE Skra Belchatow, Zenit Kazan, Belogorie Belgorod, Halkbank Ankara and, the Italians Cucine Lube Civitanova and Trentino Diatec.
Civitanova will go into this fixture having already secured its place for next season’s edition as it is certain to finish top of the Italian league with a game in hand. Blengini’s men are full of confidence thanks to their league run and the 3-0 win obtained in Turkey against Izmir. Two sets will be enough to go through to the Playoffs 6.
Things are much more complicated for Modena, who had a tough time in Turkey against the Ankara team led by coach Beranrdi and the unstoppable Travica, Sokolov and Le Roux. The Italians need a 3-0 or 3-1 win at home to earn a Golden Set. Packed house expected to welcome the Turks and push Modena towards a breakthrough.
Trentino will try to build on the 3-2 win obtained in Belgium against Asse-Lennik. The Italians are determined to make it to the Playoffs 6, something they have always managed in each of its participations except for 2012-13 (knocked out by Dinamo Moscow in the Playoffs 12). Coach Stoytchev will probably be without Lanza and Djuric. A win on any score will get Trento to the next round, while a tie-break loss would send it to the Golden set.
The Champions League on TV
All the games will be on live streaming on www.laola1.tv
Fixtures
PlayOffs12 return legs
Wednesday 2 March at 8.30pm
Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) – Arkas Izmir (TUR) Live on Sky Sport
Thursday 3 March at 8.30pm
Trentino Diatec (ITA) – Volley Asse-Lennik (BEL) Differed on Sky Sport Plus from 22.30
DHL Modena (ITA) – Halkbank Ankara (TUR) Live on Sky Sport Plus
2016 CEV Cup
The Perugia squad flew out to Russia yesterday. A long trip that follows a rather dull performance in Piacenza. They will try to put all the doubts behind them in this Challenge Round return leg this Wednesday night. However, they have a mountain to climb due to the severe defeat of the first leg, dominated by the Italian International Zaytsev and his teammates of Dinamo Moscow. Perugia can’t afford to concede more than a set to make it to the clutch Golden set. The team to go through will take on the winner of Lugano (Switzerland) versus Surgut (Russia).
Fixtures
CEV Cup
Challenge Round return leg
Wednesday 2 March at 5pm (Italian time)
Dinamo Moscow (RUS) – Sir Safety-Sicoma Perugia (ITA)
2016 Challenge Cup
The Verona clan is in France for the Challenge Cup quarter-finals return leg. The Italians were struggling before the first leg but are now on song ahead of this crucial tie against Arago De Sete on Wednesday night. They are on a three-game winning streak and full of confidence, the latest win coming against Trentino. But the French league leaders (3pt advantage on Tours) will try to turn things around after the 3-2 defeat conceded in the PalaOlimpia arena. A 3-2 for the French would translate into a Golden Set. Next for the winner of this match are either the Greeks of Ethnikos Alexandroupolis or the Portuguese of Benfica Lisboa.
Fixtures
2016 Challenge Cup
Quarter-finals return leg
Wednesday 2 March at 8pm
Arago de Sete (FRA) – Calzedonia Verona (ITA)
