2016 DenizBank Champions League
D-Day for Civitanova and Trentino who will try to be among the three teams to join the final four organisers of Rzeszow in the Champions League semi-finals.
Trentino is facing an exhausting trip to Belgorod, Russia, where it will play on Tuesday evening. This will be 3 games in 6 days for Stoytchev’s men who moved 2-1 in front in the Italian playoffs quarter-finals against Molfetta this weekend. They will try to repeat the impressive outing seen in the first leg against a Belgorod side who has only lost once at home in Europe this season against Tours at the tie-break (but after securing the two sets they needed to qualify). The Italians will therefore need maximum determination to obtain the two sets needed to go through. Lanza and Djuric are still out while Kaziyski is not eligible in Europe.
A passionate trip for Civitanova too in the city of Ankara, Turkey, unfortunately dangerous not only for sport reasons. Reassured by the local institutions, the team decided to make the trip. The spirit in the Italian camp is good following their qualification in the league semi-finals. They will try to reach the European semis, seven years after their last appearance when they had been defeated by Trento on April 2009 (Trento had won the competition). Winners at the tie-break in the first leg, a win on any score would do it while a tie-break defeat would send the tie to a Golden Set. Ankara has only lost once in Europe this season, in the group phase against Kazan. The latter is in danger following their home loss against the unstoppable Polish side of Belchatow, who came back from 2-0 down to clinch it 18-16 at the tie-break. The Pols will have a big opportunity to deny the holders of a sixth straight participation into the Final Four.
The Champions League on TV
All the games are in streaming on www.laola1.tv
Fixtures
Playoffs 6 return leg
Tuesday 22 March at 5pm (Italian time)
Belogorie Belgorod (RUS) – Trentino Diatec (ITA) Live on Fox Sports HD
Wednesday 23 March at 4.30pm
Halkbank Ankara (TUR) – Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) Live on Fox Sports HD
2016 Challenge Cup
Verona in the final
Verona found a terrific performance to turn things around in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup. Beaten at home by Benfica Lisboa in the first leg, the Italians comfortably won 3-1 away to qualify for a first historical European Cup final. Giani’s men dominated in every fundamental and had a tremendous display on the serve and at the net. Besides, they remained composed in the most difficult moments of the game when Gaspar and co were trying to ignite a come-back. In the final, they will take on the Russians of Fakel Novy Urengoy who disposed of the Germans of Prefaxis Menen in the other semi-final. The first leg will be on March 30 in Verona and the return game in Russia on April 3.
This will be the sixth time that an Italian team reach the final of the competition, which was born in 2007-08. The Italians won four of those five previous finals: Modena (2008, with Giani as coach!), Perugia (2010), Macerata (2011) and Piacenza (2013). In 2013-14, Latina was defeated in the final by Fenerbahce. 3-2 winners in the first leg, the Italians were severely defeated in the return leg. Last season, Ravenna’s run was stopped by Benfica Lisboa in the semi-finals.
Semi-finals return leg results:
Benfica Lisboa (POR) – Calzedonia Verona (ITA) 1-3 (15-25, 25-19, 17-25, 14-25)
Prefaxis Menen (BEL) – Fakel Novi Urengoy (RUS) 2-3 (20-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-21, 5-15)
Fixtures:
Final first leg
Wednesday 30 March at 8.30pm
Calzedonia Verona (ITA) – Fakel Novi Urengoy (RUS)
(Rogic-Deneri)
Final return leg
Sunday 3 April (time to be revealed soon)
Fakel Novi Urengoy (RUS) – Calzedonia Verona (ITA)
(Bagde-Isajlovic)
