The League final has already reached a fundamental moment with this second encounter scheduled on Thursday night. If the favourite Modena, second in regular season, was to win away from home, it would take a 2-0 lead and be very close to glory. But the outsider Perugia, who finished fifth in regular season, will have a chance to send a message in its home arena. The series will be played on the best of five.
Galvanised by its qualification into next season’s Champions League, Perugia needs a home win to stay in the race for the Italian league title. In the first game, a dominant performance from Modena from the 9-metre line was the key. In spite of some good dig, Perugia could not stop the hosts. Perugia did not disappoint in attack however, thanks to Atanasijevic (59%, 15 points). Denys Kaliberda had a game to remember too at 75% (10 points). Perugia will try to build around them.
The only disappointment for Modena so far was the Champions League exit, but Lorenzetti’s men did the job in the rest of the competitions with brilliant victories in the Italian Super Cup and the Italian Cup. They also began their second consecutive league final on song and they intend on bringing back the most prestigious title in the world back home. A trophy that has been missing since 2002, when Modena defeated Treviso in the final. Modena has all the odds in its favour: only once in 34 years has the fifth in regular season won the title. It was Piacenza in 2008-09. In Game 1, the ones to make the difference on the serve were Lucas Saatkamp and Bruno Mossa De Rezende with 4 aces apiece. But the one to watch for is Earvin NGapeth, the MVP of the semi-finals.
League playoffs, Final Game 2
Thursday 5 May at 8.15 Live on RAI Sport 1
Live streaming on www.raisport.rai.it
Sir Safety Conad Perugia – DHL Modena
Game 3
Sunday 8 May at 5.30pm Live on RAI Sport 1
Live streaming on www.raisport.rai.it
DHL Modena – Sir Safety Conad Perugia
Game 4
Thursday 12 May at 8.40pm Live on RAI Sport 1
Live streaming on www.raisport.rai.it
Sir Safety Conad Perugia – DHL Modena
Game 5
Sunday 15 May at 5.30pm Live on RAI Sport 1
Live streaming on www.raisport.rai.it
DHL Modena – Sir Safety Conad Perugia
Past encounters: 10 (6-4 Modena)
This season: 3 games, 2 in the regular season, both won by Modena, 3-1 home then 3-2 away. One meeting in the Cup semi-final won by Modena 3-1.
In the playoffs: Modena won Final Game 1 on Sunday.
Boban Kovac (coach Sir Safety Conad Perugia): “We’ll have to play with more determination and focus in Game 2, especially when Modena is on the serve. We know it is one of their main strengths, it will be important to contain them and make it hard for them with our own serve too. And then we’ll obviously have to fight till the last ball drops. We really believe in our chances. Game 1 was the first one of the series, they played brilliantly but we’ll try to do as well at home. I told the boys what I really thought: that we have our chances and the quality to play face to face with Modena. We have to prove it on court and play every rally at 100%. Let’s not forget we’ll have the fans on our side. So many times, the supporters proved it could be a factor, hopefully this will be the case in this Game 2”.
Lucas Saatkamp (DHL Modena): “We have worked well in Game 1 and we have Petric back too. The first match of the series is always important. We are extremely focused, Perugia is a top team, with great fans. They’ll logically try everything possible to tie it at one all. I think Modena has to focus on its own game and try to play its best volleyball with determination and composure, like we did in Game 1”.
