BERLIN Recycling Volleys

- The German champions are looking to reach the knockout phase of the Champions League for the third time in a row. With a home win, the Berliners would be assured of a place as group runners-up. In case of a loss agains Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie, the current German Bundesliga leaders could still hope to finish as the best third ranked team, which they currently occupy.

- As against Halkbank Ankara in December, the upper stands of the Max-Schmeling-Halle will be open on Wednesday. The hosts expect more than 4,500 spectators, among them about 100 fans from Poland - well known in Berlin for their enthusiastic support.

- The "Volleyballtemple" will see the duel of the two best attackers of the Champions League group phase. The 23-year-old Czech Marek Sotola shines on the international stage with impressive consistency. Only one player scores more points per set for his team in the Champions League than Sotola (5.7) - and he wears the jersey of the "Knights" from Zawiercie, of all places. Uros Kovacevic is the best attacker in the Champions League with 124 points (6.2 per set).

- Argentine libero Santiago Danani is set to return to Max-Schmeling-Halle. Last April, the Olympic bronze medalist set his former teammate and upcoming opponent Timothée Carle a spectacular match point to win the twelfth German championship of club's history.

- At the BR Volleys side, there was movement on the setter position: captain Angel Trinidad is in shape again after a two-month injury break. His replacement, Arasah Dosanjh, who had previously played for Zawiercie, left Germany with Poland as his new target on Monday. The Australian international will finish the season with last-placed team in PlusLiga, BBSK Bielsko-Biala.

Aluron CMC Warta ZAWIERCIE

- Despite this is the fifth away game of Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie in their European Cups history, Berlin is only the third city (and Max-Schmelling-Halle the third hall) in which their are playing. Before that Jurassic Knights played twice in Pazardzhik and twice in Ankara.

- This is the first away game in CEV competitions against Berlin Recycling Volleys for Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie, but not the first time both team have the chance to meet in Berlin. Back in 2020, Jurassic Knights were departing from Berlin to Ankara for CEV Challenge Cup game and benefited from the fact that their coach at the time Mark Lebedew worked with BR Volleys for a few years before, making a joint practice in German team training facilities.

- Some of players from Zawiercie knows Max-Schmelling-Halle pretty well. Unfortunately, Santiago Danani, who played for Berliners last season, is out of the match roster due to a slight injury. However, for example team captain Dawid Konarski has great memories from this hall from few years ago. In 2015 CEV Champions League Final Four tournament he was a part of Asseco Resovia Rzeszów team that beat PGE Skra Bełchatów (with current coach Michał Winiarski in the roster) in a fratricidal Semi Final. Less then a year later as a member of Polish National Team Konarski played in a memorable 3rd place clash during European Olympic Qualification Tournament in which only the winner kept the chance to play at the Olympics. Poland beat Germany 3-2, winning two last sets after an incredible battle 28-26 and 16-14.