Following the news that Jastrzebski Wegiel team was unable to travel to Berlin for this week’s Champions League competition in Pool C, ACH Volley Ljubljana and Berlin Recycling Volley were the only two teams competing on Tuesday in Max-Schmeling-Halle BERLIN. The German club claimed a straight-set victory against the Slovenian side, dominating the game across the entire match. Benjamin PATCH was leading as the top scorer, but Božidar VUĆIĆEVIĆ outplayed him, scoring 17 points for Ljubljana. This is a fifth Champions League victory of Berlin against the Slovenian club.

BERLIN dominated the game, leading in almost all elements. LJUBLJANA kept a close score in the second set, but the Slovenian side was unable to tie the score, as Berlin used the opportunity with a double block at a first set point. Both teams served well, but Berlin proved more effective in block and attack. Božidar VUĆIĆEVIĆ was the top scorer in the match with 17 points, closely followed by Benjamin Patch with 16 points for the winning team.

• Berlin Recycling Volley have won every match against Ljubljana so far and they didn't intend to change that today. Led by Champions League debutant Timothée Carle, the hosts played with consistency and passion from the very beginning. Leaving Ljubljana with little chances, it was left to the incomparable Benjamin Patch to transform the set ball.

• At the end of a very competitive set, in which Ljubljana was close to the equaliser, it was two mid-blockers who put Berlin Recycling Volleyin the lead: A smashing ace from Olympic champion Èder was followed by a block from another Champions League debutant, Anton Brehme, for a 2-0 lead.

• Although Ljubljana was fighting hard, Berlin Recycling Volley cast little doubt that they want to end this game within three sets. A massive block ended the game in favour of Berlin. Bitter aftertaste: the German team tremble for Samuel Tuia, who injured himself while cheering after the match point.

• Benjamin Patch was named the MVP of the match, scoring 16 points for Berlin, including 13 spikes with 65% of efficiency and three blocks. 

Anton Brehme, middle blocker of Berlin Recycling Volley: "We were very well prepared today in attack and block-defense. We wanted to go all in at the service line, however we still made too many mistakes. After the tough loses in the German Cup und League we found our team spirit again and have a lot of energy."

Gregor Ropret, setter of ACH Volley Ljubljana: “Berlin was a better team today. They served really good and we had really big problems stopping their opposite, so in the end we couldn't do better than this result. In the second set we had really big opportunity and I think if we had won the set, the match would have been much different. But again, some unlucky mistakes in reception in the end of the set and one, two great blocks from Berlin and set finished in their favour.”

Pierre Pujol, setter of Berlin Recycling Volley: "My knee is alright, my thumb hurts a bit, but this is Champions League and you want to play and lead the team. We are slowly finding our way to play volleyball, today we made a good step. We will fight tomorrow, I can promise you that. Then we will see how it goes."