FC PORTO set sights on spot in #CLVolleyW group stage

FC PORTO will host Asterix Avo BEVEREN of Belgium on Thursday night as these teams lock horns with a spot in the group stage of the elite #CLVolleyW at stake. FC PORTO would return to contest that phase of the competition for a second time after doing so in the 2024/2025 season. The return match will follow next week in Belgium. 

FC PORTO started the new season on a high note by winning its first-ever Portuguese Women’s Volleyball Super Cup, defeating Sporting Clube de BRAGA.  FC PORTO also reached the final of the Iberian Cup, finishing as runners-up after a strong performance throughout the competition. In the domestic league, the team has also made an excellent start, winning all its opening matches and establishing itself as the leading team in the competition.

Shainah Joseph, opposite of FC PORTO: “This Asterix team shows a lot of grit and determination. They are a very scrappy team. They run a fast offense, and they don’t force errors. So we know we have to be prepared for a competitive matchup. Both teams have fought their way through the qualifying rounds, and now we are just two matches away from reaching the Champions League [group stage]. That’s a huge opportunity, and our goal is clear… to win and earn our place in the competition.

It’s always exciting to face teams outside of Portugal because we are exposed to different styles of Volleyball, different strengths, and different team dynamics. Sometimes it takes a moment to adjust, but I believe that when we are well prepared and playing to our potential, we are capable of great things. We are a very competitive group, and we push each other every day in practice. So while it’s important to study our opponents and execute our game plan, I think the biggest focus has to be on ourselves. Playing our best Volleyball, trusting the work we have put in, and bringing the best version of ourselves onto the court. That’s what will give us the best chance to succeed.”