Round 4 to open with matchup no. 2’000 in #CLVolleyW history!

There is no time to take any break or to relax for the 20 teams competing in the #CLVolleyW since the fourth round of matches in the group phase is coming up later this week with 10 exciting fixtures whose outcome is likely to have a major impact on the final standings of each pool. The fourth round of play will open in Istanbul with Fenerbahçe Medicana playing host to Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA for a truly special milestone – matchup no. 2’000 since the CEV Champions League Volley was officially born at the dawn of the millennium!  

Pool A 

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

Pool leaders VakifBank ISTANBUL further solidified their supremacy in the group after emerging victorious (3-1) from the ‘Clash of the Titans’ with reigning Club World champions Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI, thereby avenging their heavy loss in last year’s semis. VakifBank will be trying to secure a fourth win in as many matches as they host the Romanian champions – whom they beat 3-1 earlier this season. This will be the third matchup in #CLVolleyW history between these two teams – as they previously locked horns in the 2018 gold medal match won by VakifBank in straight sets. With the victory they celebrated in Leg 2, VakifBank managed to keep an immaculate record with Romanian opposition which stands at 10 wins and zero losses. 

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

Recently crowned Club World champions SCANDICCI will be trying to bounce back from their loss to VakifBank as they play Volero for the second time this season. In the second leg, SCANDICCI secured a 3-1 victory in France – in what was their very first matchup with French opposition in the #CLVolleyW. Volero, on the other hand, saw their record against Italian teams worsen to one win and four losses. Ekaterina Antropova, who scored 30 points in the losing effort with VakifBank, will be again the one to watch for SCANDICCI as they play their second straight match at home. 

Pool B 

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

Chronologically, this is the very first match of the week and it coincides with a major milestone for European Volleyball – this matchup is indeed the no. 2’000 such fixture since the CEV Champions League Volley was introduced in conjunction with the 2000/2001 season!  

Earlier this season, the Yellow Angels ended their negative run in matchups with Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA – after losing four times in a row to the 2019 #CLVolleyW winners, they stormed to a comprehensive 3-0 victory in Italy. Fenerbahçe is the only team yet to concede a single set in this year’s Round 4 and they lead the way in Pool B with maximum nine points after three rounds of matches. With the victory they secured in Novara, Fenerbahçe improved their win-loss record against Italian opposition to 8-13 and they will be trying to capitalise on the home-court advantage at Burhan Felek Volleyball Hall to cement their leadership in the group even further. NOVARA, on the other hand, will seek redemption after that heavy loss on home soil – whereby their record against Turkish teams dropped to nine wins and eight losses in the Champions league and to four wins and five losses in the group phase alone. 

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

Earlier this season, rookies Benfica claimed their first historic victory in the #CLVolleyW group stage as they edged PGE Budowlani 3-2 on home soil. The ‘Eagles’ celebrated this major achievement and will travel to Poland with some additional confidence since late last week they put up much of a fight also against NOVARA before surrendering in a tightly contested third set (31-29). PGE Budowlani, on the other hand, will be trying to secure their first victory of the season – as they currently lie in fourth place with one point and zero wins from three matches. 

Veronika Djokic, player of Benfica: “It is an important game for the group phase, and we are happy that we can go there and show again our game. We knew that this Champions League season would be tough, but we are fighting every day, we are practicing, we are improving, and I think this is helping in every game.” 

Pool C 

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

Pool leaders MILANO play the Serbian rookies in a repeat of their matchup from Leg 2 – when last year’s bronze medal winners emerged victorious in three sets. This way, MILANO have a perfect 3-0 win-loss record against Serbian opposition in the #CLVolleyW. They recently lost a closely contested affair with Eczacibasi and maximum points from this matchup will be vital if the Italians are to maintain their current first place in the group. 

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

Eczacibasi have experienced some highs and lows in this year’s campaign so far – losing to Olympiacos in Greece before claiming a hard-fought (3-2) victory over last year’s bronze medal winners Numia Vero Volley MILANO only a few days ago. Earlier this season, they suffered their first-ever loss to a Greek opponent in the #CLVolleyW – a setback that initiated a series of two straight wins for rookies Olympiacos in the pool. The winners of the 2018 CEV Challenge Cup, Olympiacos are making their debut appearance in the #CLVolleyW group stage and their campaign has been highly remarkable this far with two wins from three matches. Their experienced player and last week’s MVP Jovana Stevanovic is among the best blockers in the competition so far with a personal tally of 11 blocks. 

Pool D 

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

The Italian ‘Panthers’ are having an extremely busy schedule across their national league, the #CLVolleyW and the national cup – whose Final Four is scheduled for later this month. The two-time defending champions – winners of the competition in 2021 as well – earlier this season improved their record against German opposition to 5-1 as they needed three sets only to beat DRESDNER SC while playing away from home. The Germans, on the other hand, are yet to take a single set from their three matches against Italian teams. Even though they have appeared less dominant than last season, the ‘Panthers’ remain the heavy favourites of this match as well as for the top spot in Pool D. 

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

Earlier this season, these teams played each other for the first time, with wildcard holders ANKARA – who are participating in an international competition for the very first time in their history – securing a 3-0 home victory powered by 17 points scored by Anna Lazareva. This way, the team from Poland saw their record against Turkish opposition worsen to one win and six losses. As they are vying for their first victory in the competition this season, the home side will be trying to bring back memories from their 3-1 win against Fenerbahce Opet ISTANBUL in the 2022/2023 group phase. ANKARA, on the other hand, are looking for a third straight victory after losing their #CLVolleyW premiere 2-3 to defending champions CONEGLIANO. 

Pool E 

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

Even though they lost to the ‘Mariannes’ in Paris a few weeks ago, KS Developres RZESZÓW are still at the top of the Pool E standing. Their Parisian setback coincided with a historic moment for the French national champions, who celebrated their first victory in the group stage of the competition – in what is only their second #CLVolleyW appearance in history. Previously, KS Developres RZESZÓW had won five of their six Champions League matches against French opposition. This is a highly important fixture with the Polish champions needing a victory on home soil if they are to solidify their leadership in the group. 

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

Sharing the same win-loss record and number of points as pool leaders KS Developres, SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN are in full contention for first place in the pool. Earlier this season, they beat Maritza 3-2 in Bulgaria. This victory allowed them to keep a perfect record in their matches with the Bulgarian champions – since they had previously won both at home and away in the 8th Finals of the 2016 CEV Cup. Libero Zhana Todorova was part of Maritza PLOVDIV’s squad that season already, but she did not play in the return match against SCHWERINER SC. Their home loss solidified the negative record for Maritza PLOVDIV against German opposition in the #CLVolleyW which currently stands at three losses in as many matches. The multiple Bulgarian champions and cup winners will be trying to end this negative streak when they travel to Schwerin later this week on the back of their recent home victory over LEVALLOIS PARIS Saint Cloud.