From Perfection to History: Scandicci’s Dream Run to the Champions League Final Four
Editorial
As the 2025 CEV Champions League Women's Final Four approaches in Istanbul, one of the most compelling storylines belongs to Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI. The Tuscan club has reached the semifinals of Europe’s premier club competition for the first time in its history, and they’ve done it in truly spectacular fashion. With eight wins in eight matches and not a single set dropped, Scandicci has marched through the competition with a confidence and cohesion that has stunned even the most seasoned volleyball observers.
The team’s dominant run began in Pool E, where they swept through their group with six 3-0 victories. In the quarterfinals, Savino Del Bene Scandicci faced PGE Grot Budowlani Łódź and delivered two dominant 3-0 victories, winning both the first leg in Poland and the return leg in Italy with set scores of 3-0, securing their place in the Final Four with a flawless 6-0 aggregate score. In total, Savino Del Bene Scandicci boasts a flawless 24-0 set record in the 2024–2025 CEV Champions League, making them one of the only teams this season to reach the Final Four without conceding a single set.
At the heart of this historic journey is head coach Marco Gaspari, who took charge of the team in October. From the outset, he set bold but clear ambitions: reach new heights and break through to the Final Four.
“When I arrived, the club gave me a goal to which we then added another,” Gaspari said after their quarterfinal win. “The Final Four has an incredible allure, and to win it, we knew we would have to do something important because continuity is always the problem for volleyball teams.”
Gaspari’s Scandicci is anything but inconsistent. The team has found the perfect balance between experience and youth. Ekaterina Antropova, the explosive opposite, has been a revelation this season, consistently leading the scoring charts and proving decisive in clutch moments. Veteran setter Maja Ognjenović, with her vision and precision, orchestrates the offense with grace and leadership.
Their semifinal clash in Istanbul will be nothing short of epic, as Scandicci take on VakifBank Istanbul, one of the most decorated teams in Champions League history. It’s a classic David vs. Goliath scenario on paper, but Scandicci’s perfect run and mental edge say otherwise. With their morale sky-high and confidence brimming, the Italian side is more than just a dark horse - they are genuine contenders.
Their breakthrough to the Final Four isn’t just a milestone for the club; it’s a signal that a new era in European women’s volleyball may be underway. Should Scandicci maintain their form, they could very well become the first debut semifinalist to lift the CEV Champions League trophy in over a decade.
From a team that had never before reached this stage to now standing two wins away from European glory, Savino Del Bene Scandicci is the story to watch in Istanbul.