NOVARA and Yellow Angels to deliver #CLVolleyW Leg 2 ‘blockbuster’

Thursday’s matchup featuring Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA and Fenerbahçe Medicana ISTANBUL is certainly the major attraction in the second leg of the #CLVolleyW group stage coming up this week. The leadership in Pool B will be at stake and it will be interesting to see if the Yellow Angels manage to reverse the negative record they have historically (four losses in as many matches) in their past fixtures with the 2019 winners of the competition. Across all other pools, the pre-favourites will be trying to secure their second wins in as many matches to hold a firm grip at the top of the standings in their respective groups. 

Pool A 

VakifBank ISTANBUL and Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI travel to Romania and France, respectively, to contest their first away matches on the back of straight-set home wins in Leg 1. 

CS Volei Alba BLAJ (ROU) vs. VakifBank ISTANBUL (TUR) 

CS Volei Alba BLAJ and VakifBank ISTANBUL met once in the Champions League, namely in the final of the 2018 edition. Giovanni Guidetti’s side won the trophy thanks to 3-0 win in Bucharest, thereby securing their fourth title in the competition. They have added another two (in 2022 and 2023) ever since, which account for an all-time record of six triumphs. 
The 2018 gold medal match coincides with CS Volei Alba BLAJ’s last match against Turkish opposition in the Champions League. Their other encounter against a Turkish team was a 3-1 win versus Galatasaray SK ISTANBUL in the semi-finals of the 2018 edition as well. 
VakifBank ISTANBUL have a 9-0 record against Romanian clubs in the Champions League. Their most recent encounter was versus BLAJ in that same 2018 gold medal match. 

Volero LE CANNET (FRA) vs. Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI (ITA) 

Last year’s silver medal winners Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI and Volero LE CANNET face each other for the first time in a European competition. SCANDICCI have never played against French clubs in the Champions League. They did so in the quarterfinals of the CEV Challenge Cup 2022 where they dropped only one set in their matches with RC CANNES. 

Volero, on the other hand, have a 1-3 win-loss record in the Champions League versus Italian teams. All these games were against teams coached by Marco Gaspari, who is currently at the helm of Savino Del Bene: versus Nordmeccanica PIACENZA (0-3, 0-3 in the 2015/2016 group phase) and against Vero Volley MILANO (3-2 win, 0-3 loss in  2022/2023). Curiously, Volero’s head coach Marco Fenoglio succeeded Marco Gaspari as coach at Liu Jo Nordmeccanica MODENA in May 2017. This past week, Volero emerged victorious from a 3-2 marathon match with LEVALLOIS PARIS Saint Cloud in the French national league. Anastasiia Denisova has left the team, while Alina Popova made her return against the reigning national champions from Paris. 

Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI will be trying to extend their positive run in the #CLVolleyW group stage – spanning 13 consecutive matches, without conceding a single set in the last seven such fixtures. This past weekend, Savino Del Bene defeated CBF Balducci HR MACERATA 3-0 in their national league. With this result, the team from Tuscany completed the first half of the Serie A1 regular season in second place. Wednesday’s match will be Savino Del Bene’s final fixture before departing for Brazil, where coach Marco Gaspari’s team will compete in the FIVB Club World Championship (December 9-14).

Pool B 

Wildcard recipients and 2019 winners Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA will host the Yellow Angels on Thursday in a match where Fenerbahçe will be trying to reverse a negative record against Italian opposition and especially in matches with the side currently featuring Tatiana Tolok and Britt Herbots. Since these teams won their respective opening matches in the group, the provisional leadership in Pool B will be at stake in Novara – which further raises the anticipation and the importance of this fixture. 

Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA (ITA) vs. Fenerbahçe Medicana ISTANBUL (TUR) 

This is the first real ‘blockbuster’ in Pool B with Fenerbahçe Medicana ISTANBUL hoping to make amends for a truly negative record since they have lost all four Champions League matches against Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA this far. They lost 2-3 and 0-3 in the group stage of the 2018 edition, the last season in which the Turkish side failed to reach the knockout stages. More recently, they lost 1-3, 1-3 in the 2021 quarterfinals even though Melissa Vargas scored as many as 29 and 17 points in those matches. 

The Turkish team has a negative 7-13 win-loss record against Italian opposition in the Champions League. This figure includes the drama-filled gold medal match they lost as FenerbahceAcibadem ISTANBUL to Volley BERGAMO in 2010 when the Final Four was held in Cannes, France. Moreover, the Yellow Angels have lost each of their last six group phase games against Italian clubs. Therefore, the motivation will be high for Eda Erdem & Co. to reverse such a negative trend. 

Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA, on the other hand, have a positive 9-7 win-loss Champions League record against Turkish teams, including four wins and four losses in the group phase.

Pala Igor Gorgonzola is expected to be sold-out or close to a full house with around 3,500 to 4,000 spectators attending the game, including the Consul General of Türkiye in Milan, Mehmet Özöktem. The first ever appearance of Fenerbahçe at Pala Igor Gorgonzola came in 2009, for the CEV Cup Final Four. Back then, Eda Erdem was already playing for the Yellow Angels. 

Britt Herbots, player of Igor Gorgonzola: “We cannot wait to play such a prestigious game and we are really looking forward to enjoying the show of a very crowded hall, with our fans ready to support us. We are perfectly aware of how strong and what an amazing team Fenerbahçe is, but we are ready to fight and we will do our best to have a good home debut in the CEV Champions League.” 

Sport LISBOA e Benfica (POR) vs. PGE Budowlani ŁÓDŹ (POL) 

This is the first-ever encounter between a Polish team and a Portuguese club in the women’s Champions League. However, back in the 1971/1972 season, Benfica played Start ŁÓDŹ in the competition known then as the CEV Champions Cup. Both teams are vying for their first success in Pool B. Benfica are making their first, historic appearance in the group stage of the competition after crowning themselves national champions for the first time in 50 years. Budowlani, on the other hand, took one set last week from Italy’s standout Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA, thereby showing that they do have what it takes to compete at the highest level in Europe. 

“PGE Budowlani is a very strong team, with good players in every position. We are working to ensure that our team will be able to perform at the highest level,” said Henrique Furtado, head coach of Benfica. 

Pool C 

Red-hot favourites Numia Vero Volley MILANO and Eczacibasi Dynavit ISTANBUL travel to Serbia and Greece, respectively, to improve their record to two wins in a row – waiting for their first major showdown in early January when they will be facing each other in Istanbul. 

OK Železničar LAJKOVAC (SRB) vs. Numia Vero Volley MILANO (ITA) 

This is the first time Numia Vero Volley MILANO and #CLVolleyW rookies OK Železničar LAJKOVAC face each other in a European competition. As Allianz Vero Volley MILANO, the Italians faced another Serbian side in Jedinstvo STARA PAZOVA in the 2023/2024 group phase, winning both matches in straight sets.

Stefano Lavarini, head coach of Numia Vero Volley: “Our second Champions League opponent is a mix of experienced players and many young players with excellent potential. These are very important points to win, so we need to stay focussed. Although we are the favourites going into the match, Champions League away games always hide pitfalls that we need to control by playing at the high level we know we are capable of.” 

Francesca Bosio, setter of Numia Vero Volley MILANO: “We know that tomorrow’s match will be one not to be underestimated, against an opponent we know little about and who will be playing in front of their home crowd. It will be important to focus on what happens in our half of the court and continue to improve on the aspects we have been working on in recent weeks. We will have to attack our opponents from the serve, and we will have to pay close attention to our blocking and defence. We know the importance of winning games with clear margins, and how much this factor counts in the final standings: it will be essential to maintain full concentration in order to win the game." 

For the Serbian side, the focus is on playing brave Volleyball, using the support of the home crowd, and competing with determination in order to grow through each match of this prestigious competition. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Železničar enters the duel ready to seize the moment and write a new page in the club’s European journey.

“As for MILANO, we all know they are one of the best teams in the world. For us, it is truly a privilege to play against such a top-level side. Regarding my team, this will be a great experience. Personally, I expect from my players to first and foremost enjoy this opportunity to share the court and compete against some of the best players in the world. Considering the high interest in this match, I believe everyone in the hall will enjoy this Volleyball spectacle,” said Ratko Pavlicevic, head coach of OK Železničar LAJKOVAC. 

“This is our second game in the Champions League, and it is against one of the best teams in the world. They have very experienced players, and we need to use every opportunity to show the best we can do. There should be no pressure on us because they are the favourites in this match, so we just have to play our game. It is a great chance to play in the Champions League, and we have to make the most of it,” commented Emileta Racheva, outside hitter of OK Železničar LAJKOVAC. 

Olympiacos PIRAEUS (GRE) vs. Eczacibasi Dynavit ISTANBUL (TUR) 

This is only the third matchup in #CLVolleyW history to feature Turkish and Greek teams. Eczacibasi previously faced a Greek opponent in the inaugural 2000/2001 season. As Eczacibasi ISTANBUL, they won 3-0 and 3-1 against Panathinaikos ATHENS in the pool phase. 

On the other hand, Olympiacos PIRAEUS won the 2018 Challenge Cup against Türkiye’s BURSA BBSK. More recently, Olympiacos were eliminated by Galatasaray Daikin ISTANBUL (0-3, 2-3) in the quarterfinals of last season’s Challenge Cup.

Jovana Stevanovic, now playing for Olympiacos, won the 2023 FIVB Women’s Club World Championship with Eczacibasi Dynavit ISTANBUL. In that same season, she reached the semis of the Champions League with the Turkish club. While Eczacibasi are contesting this competition for the 22nd time, Olympiacos are making their debut in the #CLVolleyW group stage. Their premiere last week ended in a 0-3 loss at the hands of Numia Vero Volley MILANO. 

Pool D 

Two-time defending champions CONEGLIANO, vying for an unprecedented third straight crown, will travel to Germany to play DRESDNER SC. The hosts will be highly motivated for such an anticipated home fixture since they not only host the most dominant team of the past few seasons but they do so on the back of a 3-1 away win last week in Poland, where they came back from a large deficit in the fourth set when it looked like a tiebreak was going to be played. Moreover, DRESDNER SC, whose roster includes five players from their own youth academy, are yet to lose a home fixture this season so far. Rookies ANKARA Zeren Spor Kulübü will be chasing their first victory in the competition, after getting close to springing a real surprise before they lost a dramatic fifth set to CONEGLIANO in Leg 1 after failing to capitalise twice on a one-set advantage. 

DRESDNER SC (GER) vs. A. Carraro Prosecco DOC CONEGLIANO (ITA) 

These teams have not met before in the Champions League but A. Carraro Prosecco DOC CONEGLIANO have a 4-1 win-loss record against  German clubs in the competition. Their only setback was a 0-3 defeat at the hands of SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN in December 2018. On the other hand, DRESDNER SC have lost their two Champions League encounters against an Italian side this far: 0-3 home and away versus Unendo Yamamay BUSTO ARSIZIO in the 2014/2015 group phase. Back then, setter Joanna Wolosz (who has been playing for A. Carraro Prosecco DOC CONEGLIANO since 2017/2018) was wearing the shirt of the team from Lombardy, with which she reached the gold medal match. 

CONEGLIANO head coach Daniele Santarelli looks forward to the game in Dresden after this past weekend he reached 400 matches at the helm of the team: “At this point in the season, winning games with clear results is a positive thing. We will be playing a lot of matches away from home and without the support of our fans. Bringing home a solid score is good for the girls’ morale and self-esteem. Our latest trip to Perugia was demanding, not only because of the team’s dedication to winning the match, but also because of the many miles we travelled on the bus, even at night. We have had very little training and are adapting to all circumstances while trying to perform at our best. DRESDNER SC has good attacking potential; they will be playing at home and are yet another tough team in the Champions League, a competition that is more difficult than in previous years. They will have the support of the fans in their arena; they are well organised and serve well; it certainly will not be easy for us. We are feeling pretty good though; we will try to get a clear victory.”  

Alexander Waibl, head coach of DRSEDNER SC: “We are very much looking forward to the opportunity to play against the best team in the world. Many of their players are role models for our young team. At the same time, we want to play our best game and see what chances we get!” 

ANKARA Zeren Spor Kulübü (TUR) vs. ŁKS Commercecon ŁÓDŹ (POL) 

Spurred by the sensation they were about to cause last week in their #CLVolleyW premiere against the two-time defending champions, ANKARA will be playing their first home match in the competition and the first #CLVolleyW fixture in the Turkish capital city since 2009. With this coinciding with their first season in the European Cups, these two teams have obviously not met before. ŁKS Commercecon ŁÓDŹ have a negative 1-5 win-loss record against Turkish clubs in the Champions League and their five defeats were all in straight sets. The only exception was a rather surprising 3-1 win against Fenerbahce Opet ISTANBUL in the 2022/2023 group phase.

In recognition of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, visually impaired fans will be able to follow the game in the arena with special audio description. Zeren star player Aleksandra Uzelac is not expected to feature in this matchup.

Stevan Ljubicic, head coach of ANKARA Zeren Spor Kulübü: “After our first match, where we played an amazing game but narrowly missed our chance, we have now turned our full focus to ŁKS Commercecon. We are all excited and looking forward to this second game in the group to achieve Zeren SK’s first-ever victory in the Champions League. Although there is some fatigue, the entire team is ready and prepared for the match. We are expecting an amazing atmosphere in Ankara with the support of our fans.” 

Adrian Chyliński, head coach of ŁKS Commercecon: “ANKARA is a very good team and against CONEGLIANO they played a fantastic match. Against DRESDNER SC, we were close to forcing a tie-break, but unfortunately it didn’t work out in the key moments. We have our own roster problems, and next week we have three league matches, so we approach this game with great respect for the opponent, but we also have to rotate our lineup wisely. We will fight, but how far that will take us against such an opponent will be revealed on Wednesday.”

Pool E 

KS Developres RZESZÓW and SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN will be trying to capitalise on their home victories from last week to further cement their position at the top of the standing in the group. They travel to France and Bulgaria, respectively, for their first away matches and their last international fixtures before the break due to the upcoming holiday season. 

LEVALLOIS PARIS Saint Cloud (FRA) vs. KS Developres RZESZÓW (POL) 

These teams have not met before in the Champions League and LEVALLOIS PARIS Saint Cloud have never played against Polish clubs in the Champions League – albeit this is only their second appearance in the competition. KS Developres RZESZÓW have won five of their six Champions League matches against French opposition. The exception was a 0-3 away loss against Volero LE CANNET in the first leg of the Play Off round in 2022/2023. The Polish side won the return 3-0 and the Golden Set 15-13 to progress to the quarterfinals. 

The ‘Mariannes’ play their home matches in the Marcel Cerdan Sports Hall, one of the largest arenas in the Paris region, where NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama started his career. The club’s history began in 1945 with the creation of Stade Français Volleyball. It continued in 1980 with the establishment of UAS Saint-Cloud Volleyball, and later in 2003 when Union Saint-Cloud Paris Stade Français took its current shape and denomination. 

Alessandro Orefice, head coach of LEVALLOIS PARIS Saint Cloud: “Developres is a great team with a good coach. They play high-level Volleyball and their physicality sets them apart. We are a new team and we are still working to find the right mechanisms to play a faster and smarter game. We need to become more ruthless at key moments in the game, taking more risks. I hope to see a great crowd at Marcel Cerdan with our fans pushing us to play a great game.” 

Victoria Mayer, setter of LEVALLOIS PARIS Saint Cloud: “I am very excited to play our first Champions League game at home. It is the highest competition in Europe and it gives us the chance to keep growing as a team. Thursday will be a big fight, and playing in front of our fans will make it truly special.”

Maritza PLOVDIV (BUL) vs. SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN (GER) 

Their long-time coach (since 2013/2014) Felix Koslowski led his SCHWERINER SC side to 3-1 away and 3-0 home wins against Maritza PLOVDIV in the 8th Finals of the 2016 CEV Cup. Libero Zhana Todorova was already part of Maritza PLOVDIV’s squad that season, but she did not play in the return match against SCHWERINER SC. Apart from those CEV Cup fixtures, SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN have never faced against Bulgarian opposition in any other international competition, including the Champions League. The multiple Bulgarian champions have lost their two Champions League matches against German opposition this far, both in four sets to Allianz MTV STUTTGART in the 2018/2019 group phase.

Felix Koslowski, SCHWERIN head coach: “Maritza has dominated its league for years and also impressively mastered the Champions League qualifiers. In their first group game against Developres, they showed a very strong level of play and kept the sets open until 20 points – against the clear favourites in the group. They have a very tall and physically strong diagonal player, and in Vanessa Agbortabi, they have an experienced German player. We definitely do not expect an easier task away in Bulgaria than we had against PARIS at home. It is going to be a really good challenge for us.” 

Ahmetcan Ersimsek, head coach of Maritza: “Tomorrow’s opponent Palmberg and last week’s Developres have different styles of play. Palmberg play with faster balls from everywhere, but also make more mistakes, which is good for us. It will be a different game, but our goal remains the same, and it is to give our best on the court. Palmberg is certainly a strong team and it will be a difficult match, but we will do everything we can on the court to beat them.”