VakifBank ISTANBUL book #CLVolleyW Final Four spot after thrilling win over Milano
Recap
Six-time European champions VakifBank ISTANBUL are heading back to the Final Four on home soil after edging Numia Vero Volley MILANO in a dramatic five-set battle to close their quarterfinal series of the CEV Champions League Volley 2026.
Playing in front of 2,850 fans at the VakifBank Spor Sarayı, the Turkish side delivered under pressure to secure a 3-2 victory and confirm their place among Europe’s elite.
VakifBank started strong by taking the opening set, but Milano responded immediately to level the match and then found themselves chasing again as the hosts regained control in the third. Refusing to back down, the Italian side pushed the contest to a tie-break after a tense fourth set, setting the stage for a decisive finish.
In the fifth set, VakifBank showed their trademark composure in key moments, pulling away late to seal the victory and spark celebrations in Istanbul.
Marina Markova led the scoring for the hosts with 23 points, matching the tally of Milano’s Paola Egonu, while MVP Tijana Boskovic added 17 points and played a crucial role in the decisive phases of the match. VakifBank’s strength at the net proved decisive, with Markova also leading the blocking effort with six kill blocks.
Tijana BoskovicWe are all very happy, so you could see how we celebrated after the last point. I'm super proud of the team. It was not an easy game at all. We knew that Milano would push a lot, and they are a great team with excellent players. But we're also an amazing team, and in critical moments, we find ways to stay good and stable. Now we know we will play in the Final Four, and of course, we have to compete in the Turkish group, then the Turkish league, and finally, the Champions League.
Player of Vakifbank
Giovanni Guidetti“I want to thank my team because they never give up. They believed in this team. They're believing in our process. And today we played against a great team with an amazing middle blocker, and we stayed in the match, then took the win, even though it was not our best day. So I just wanna thank them. This is another great page in the Vakifbank history.”
Head Coach of Vakifbank
With this result, VakifBank returns to the Final Four once again and will now look to add another chapter to their already illustrious history in Europe’s premier club competition, this time in front of their home crowd in Istanbul.