Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE
Play By Play
TRENTINO Itas
Top Scorer
- 21 - Nimir ABDEL-AZIZ (NED)
- 18 - Aleksander ŚLIWKA (POL)
- 15 - Łukasz KACZMAREK (POL)
Officials
Epaminondas GEROTHODOROS
Vladimir SIMONOVIC
#CLVolleyM
Overview
Europe's top two teams going head to head for Champions League Gold.
Watch the match live on your local Broadcaster, or watch the stream on Facebook or EuroVolleyTV.
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Match Polls
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Officials
First RefereeEpaminondas GEROTHODOROSGRESecond RefereeVladimir SIMONOVICSUI
- How To Attend
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Live Streams
Depending on your location, there are two ways to watch all of the action live:
- Facebook Live virtual ticket
- EuroVolleyTV subscription
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Broadcasters
The vast appeal of the CEV Champions League Volley is reflected in its broadcast reach, with partners in Europe and across the globe.
Fans can find their local broadcast partner(s) on
Download: Official Broadcaster List
Featured Players
Featured Players
Łukasz KACZMAREK
Bio
Łukasz is a 26 year old opposite, born in Krotoszyn, Poland. He always dreamt to be a sportsman. His volleyball career started on the beach, where he played for a while with Aleksander Śliwka. He is called by his volleyball friends "The Animal", due to his spectacular emotional expressions on the court. He is a Polish Champion from 2019 and a player of Polish National Team.
Simone GIANNELLI
Bio
Simone Giannelli was born on 9th August 1996 in Bolzano. His father is a tennis instructor this is why he is very passionate about sport. He started playing volleyball following his sister, first in Bolzano and then in Trento. His main passions away from the court are music and cooking. In Volleyball his major achievements are the Olympic Silver in Rio and CEV Cup Gold in 2019.
Head-to-Head
· Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE and TRENTINO Itas have met six times in the Champions League, all in the league round/fourth round.
· The last time these two teams met in the Champions League was in the 2017/18 fourth round. Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE won both matches in five sets. Back then these teams were known as Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE and TRENTINO Diatec.
· TRENTINO Itas won both CL meetings in the 2012/13 league round: 3-0 at home and 3-1 away (also as Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE and TRENTINO Diatec).
· The first two Champions League encounters between these teams came in the 2011/12 league round (as Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE and TRENTINO PlanetWin365). Both teams won their away match, 3-2 in Italy and 3-0 in Poland.
· This is the first men's Champions League final between a team from Poland and Italy.
· TRENTINO Itas won three of their five Club World Championship titles after defeating a Polish team in the final (2009, 2010, 2011).
Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE
· Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE have reached the Champions League final for the first time. Their previous best result in the competition was a third place in 2002/03.
· Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE can become the first team from Poland to win the Champions League. PGE Skra BELCHATOW (2011/12) and Asseco Resovia RZESZOW (2014/15) both finished runners-up in the competition.
· Płomień MILOWICE (1977/78) won Poland's only title in the Champions Cup, predecessor of the Champions League.
· Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE survived both of this season's quarter-finals (v Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA) and semi-finals (v Zenit KAZAN) after a deciding golden set.
· Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE lost two of their last three Champions League matches, after winning 14 of their previous 15 CL fixtures.
· Only TRENTINO Itas' Nimir Abdel-Aziz (188) has won as many points in this season's Champions League as Kamil Semeniuk (153) and Łukasz Kaczmarek (144).
· Jakub Kochanowski has won 20 points from stuff blocks this CL campaign. Only Srecko Lisinac (27, TRENTINO Itas), Marko Podrascanin (23, TRENTINO Itas) and Sebastian Solé (21, Sir Sicoma Monini PERUGIA) have won more.
TRENTINO Itas
· TRENTINO Itas have reached the Champions League final for a fifth time. They won the competition in 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11 (all as TRENTINO BetClic), while finishing runners-up in 2015/16 (as TRENTINO Diatec).
· On the men's side, only Zenit KAZAN (6) and Belogorie BELGOROD (3) won as many Champions League trophies as TRENTINO Itas (3).
· TRENTINO Itas lost their most recent Champions League match, 2-3 against Sir Sicoma Monini PERUGIA in the second leg of the semi-finals. This ended a 14-match winning run in the competition for the Italians (includes one awarded win).
· TRENTINO Itas (W13-L1) have already broken the men's record for most wins by a team in a single edition of the Champions League.
The story so far...
Go to: Women's Final
A. Carraro Imoco CONEGLIANO v VakifBank ISTANBUL
Team
- REJNO Krzysztof4 Middle blocker
- LUKASIK Piotr7 Outside spiker
- STASZEWSKI Adrian8 Outside spiker
- KLUTH Bartlomiej9 Opposite
- DEPOWSKI Dominik16 Outside spiker
- PROKOPCZUK Rafal17 Setter
- GRYGIEL Filip19 Opposite
- KACICZAK Ernest20 Outside spiker
Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE 
Address
Mostowa 1A Kedzierzyn-KozleContacts
Previous Games
| 01/05/2021 | vs. |
3 - 1 | W | Go to Match Centre |
| 24/03/2021 | vs. |
2 - 3 | L | Go to Match Centre |
| 18/03/2021 | vs. |
3 - 2 | W | Go to Match Centre |
- All Time
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16Competitions Played
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3Titles
- Competition
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11Matches Played
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9Matches Won
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82%Win %
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29Sets Won
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1016Points Won
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52%Attack %
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51%Reception %
Team
- Birth Date: 1989
- Birth Place: Mulhouse
- Height: 183 cm
- Birth Date: 1994
- Birth Place: Krotoszyn
- Height: 204 cm
- Birth Date: 1997
- Birth Place: Giżycko
- Height: 199 cm
- Birth Date: 1990
- Birth Place: Starachowice
- Height: 196 cm
- Birth Date: 1995
- Birth Place: Jawor
- Height: 196 cm
- Birth Date: 1985
- Birth Place: California, CA
- Height: 201 cm
- Birth Date: 1995
- Birth Place: Ropczyce
- Height: 200 cm
Team
- CORTESIA Lorenzo2 Middle blocker
- ARGENTA Andrea3 Opposite
- ACUTI Alessandro4 Middle blocker
- SPEROTTO Lorenzo6 Setter
- KOOY Dick11 Outside spiker
- POL Alberto12 Outside spiker
- PIZZINI Filippo15 Setter
- SOSA SIERRA Luis Tomas16 Outside spiker
TRENTINO Itas 
Address
Via del Brennero 276 TRENTOContacts
Previous Games
| 01/05/2021 | vs. |
1 - 3 | L | Go to Match Centre |
| 24/03/2021 | vs. |
2 - 3 | L | Go to Match Centre |
| 18/03/2021 | vs. |
3 - 0 | W | Go to Match Centre |
- All Time
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13Competitions Played
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5Titles
- Competition
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15Matches Played
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13Matches Won
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87%Win %
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42Sets Won
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1267Points Won
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55%Attack %
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57%Reception %
Team
- Birth Date: 1986
- Birth Place: Formia - LT
- Height: 184 cm
- Birth Date: 1992
- Birth Place: Contagem/MG
- Height: 196 cm
- Birth Date: 1987
- Birth Place: Amsterdam
- Height: 202 cm
- Birth Date: 1992
- Birth Place: Sliedrecht
- Height: 201 cm
- Birth Date: 1995
- Birth Place: La Habana
- Height: 197 cm
- Birth Date: 1987
- Birth Place: Novi Sad
- Height: 204 cm
- Birth Date: 1992
- Birth Place: Kraljevo
- Height: 205 cm
Staff
Recent Results
Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE
Zenit KAZAN
(17 - 25, 25 - 16, 25 - 21, 28 - 30, 18 - 20)
Zenit KAZAN
Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE
(25 - 22, 25 - 22, 27 - 29, 22 - 25, 14 - 16)
Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE
Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA
(22 - 25, 24 - 26, 24 - 26)
Team Statistics
Player Statistics
Head to Head
Paweł ZATORSKI
Libero
Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE
Andrea ARGENTA
Opposite
TRENTINO Itas
Nimir Abdel Aziz celebrating successful action
Simone Giannelli setting precisely to his teammate
Trentino's stopping attack from Łukasz KACZMAREK
David Smith spiking over Marko Podrascanin's hands
Kamil Semeniuk and David Smith roaring after scoring important point
Nimir Abdel Aziz and Marko Podrascanin trying to stop Aleksander Sliwka
Lucarelli attacking with full power
Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE in huddle
Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE celebrating historic success
Gallery
Disclaimer
Photos featured on the CEV Photo Galleries are downloadable copyright free for media purposes only and only if CEV is credited as the source material. They are protected by copyright for all other commercial purposes. Those wishing to use CEV Photo Gallery photos for other commercial purposes should contact press@cev.eu
ZAKSA outplay Trentino to claim maiden Champions League title
For the first time in history, the ZAKSA volleyball club triumphed with the CEV Champions League Volley title. Officially playing in the 2021 edition under the name Grupa Azoty Kedzierzyn-Kozle, the Polish team mastered a four-set victory over three-time winners Trentino Itas of Italy to celebrate victorious in the men’s Super Final at the AGSM Forum in Verona on Saturday.
Trentino opened an early 5-2 lead and kept it up for a while. However, Grupa Azoty were more persistent in offence to draw level at 10-10. The middle part of the first set was a tight battle, with the lead going back and forth. After 21-21, the Polish side took control for good, broke away and closed the set at 25-22 with a powerful hit by Lukasz Kaczmarek for the last point.
The Italians started the second set on a 3-0 run, but their opponents quickly got back to level at 5-5. The real momentum changer, however, came after Kamil Semeniuk’s kill tied the score at 13-13. He went to the serving line and followed up with two aces in a row. Aleksander Sliwka added the next two at the net and the score was suddenly 17-13 Grupa Azoty’s way. Trentino fought back, but only to stay close behind. Finally, Sliwka put away the winner for another 25-22.
On two consecutive hits by Nimir Abdel-Aziz, followed by two aces in a row by Ricardo Lucarelli, Trentino took yet another early lead, 4-0 in the third set. And once again, the Polish team fought back to level the score at 9-9. Only this time they never managed to step in front. Nimir showed his blocking skills as well, while Ricardo hammered a few points in offence, including the one that ended the set at 25-21 to keep Trentino in the game.
The fourth set was by far the most competitive one. The score swung from two points in favour of Grupa Azoty to three in favour of Trentino, but for the most part the margin was one point or less. The Polish side managed to regain the lead just when it was time for match point, but the Italians wouldn’t give in so soon. They denied the opponents three opportunities to close the game, but on the fourth one Kaczmarek hammered a blistering ace for 28-26 to get the celebrations started.
Trentino’s Nimir Abdel-Aziz scored the match high of 21 points. Aleksander Sliwka was Grupa Azoty’s best scorer on 18 points. Lukasz Kaczmarek and Kamil Semeniuk added another 15 apiece.
It is only the second continental crown for Poland in history and the first one since the Champions League format was launched at the turn of the century. Previously, the club from Kedzierzyn-Kozle have been on the podium only once, with bronze in 2003.
The combined total number of points scored by both teams throughout the entire match.
The total length of the match, from the first serve through until the last point has ended.
Total number of people in attendance at the venue – taken at the end of the second set.
The combined total number of successful spikes achieved by both teams throughout the entire match.
An average of the two team service reception percentages from the complete match.
The number of successful point winning blocks of Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE compared to TRENTINO Itas.
Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE number of service aces compared to TRENTINO Itas
Errors leading to points of Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE, next to those from TRENTINO Itas
Aleksander Śliwka“We bring the continental trophy to Poland for the first time since 1978, a really long time. It’s amazing! I am in a shock and it’s hard to say anything. We had our ups and downs, but we gave our best. We lost the championship final in Poland, which was tough for us, but we came here knowing that there is only one game and we have to give 100%. It was a tough journey, but we had confidence and it made us better players. We are surely going to celebrate tonight.”
MVP, outside hitter of Grupa Azoty Zaksa Kędzierzyn Koźle
Nikola Grbić“I am proud of these guys! Once more, they were the best that they could be when their best was needed. And that happened so many times this season, against many different difficult opponents. We eliminated three of the world’s top teams. We believed until the end we really deserve to be the champions of Europe.”
head coach of Grupa Azoty Zaksa Kędzierzyn Koźle
Nimir Abdel-Aziz“It’s difficult to speak at this moment, especially to say what we could have done better. We had some opportunities, but we didn’t take the chances that we had. And they did! After working a lot through a long season like this, you want to finish it in a good way and you feel that you deserve it. Of course, they also worked hard and deserve it... It’s difficult right now...”
Opposite of Trentino Itas
Most Valuable Player
Aleksander ŚLIWKA
Top Scorer
- 21 - Nimir ABDEL-AZIZ (NED)
- 18 - Aleksander ŚLIWKA (POL)
- 15 - Łukasz KACZMAREK (POL)
Top Attacker
- 17 - Nimir ABDEL-AZIZ (NED)
- 16 - Aleksander ŚLIWKA (POL)
- 12 - Łukasz KACZMAREK (POL)
Top Blocker
- 3 - Nimir ABDEL-AZIZ (NED)
- 3 - Kamil SEMENIUK (POL)
- 2 - Łukasz KACZMAREK (POL)
Top Server
- 2 - Ricardo Lucarelli SANTOS DE SOUZA (BRA)
- 2 - Kamil SEMENIUK (POL)
- 1 - Łukasz KACZMAREK (POL)
Top Receiver
- 14 - Alessandro MICHIELETTO (ITA)
- 10 - Kamil SEMENIUK (POL)
- 8 - Paweł ZATORSKI (POL)
Awarding Ceremony Gallery
Disclaimer
Photos featured on the CEV Photo Galleries are downloadable copyright free for media purposes only and only if CEV is credited as the source material. They are protected by copyright for all other commercial purposes. Those wishing to use CEV Photo Gallery photos for other commercial purposes should contact press@cev.eu