POOL A
CYPRUS – NORTH MACEDONIA 1–3 (22-25, 18-25, 25-18, 22-25)
The pool leaders, North Macedonia, could secure their first place in the pool with a final win in their last game against Cyprus.
The game started very equal between the two teams, who followed each other point by point until 18-18, where North Macedonia with a series of strong serves from Aleksandar Ljaftov created a little distance on the scoreboard, which was enough to end the set 25-22 in their favour.
In the second set, Cyprus took the lead from the start, yet North Macedonia caught up by 9-9 and began their race to finish the set. With strong serves and well-adjusted block/defense, they closed the set with 25-18.
The third set was once again tight from the beginning, but from 12-12 Cyprus won a series of hard attacks, while North Macedonia struggled with a number of unforced errors on their own side. Cyprus raced to 24-15, but had to use five set-balls, before closing the set 25-18.
Like the previous sets, the fourth set was a close race between the two teams, who both showed excellent offense plays and good fight in defence. At 22-22, Aleksandar Ljatov from North Macedonia delivered two incredibly hard serve aces to move the charts to 24-22, with Team MKD closing the match in their favour shortly afterwards.
Top scorers were Nikola Gjorgiev from North Macedonia and Nikolaos Eleftheriou of Cyprus with 28 points apiece.
Pool A
DENMARK – ISRAEL 0–3 (22-25, 20-25, 21-25)
Denmark had changed starting line-up in the match, giving place for debutants Frederik Bo Dahl, Niels Heden Friis and Jan Vinther Jorgensen. The opposite from Denmark, Mads Kyed Jensen, had changed to his previous position playing as setter.
Israel took the lead from the beginning of the match, giving the Danish block/defence a hard time with hard and well-placed attacks. However, in the middle of the set, Denmark’s Rasmus Breuning Nielsen hammered three aces in the floor in a row, changing the course of the game for a moment. Israel however kept their cools and closed the set 25-22.
In the second set, Israel continued their dominance and stopped Denmark’s attacks with several good blocks. In the middle of the set, Denmark’s Rasmus Breuning Nielsen once again pulled out a number of hard serves – including two aces – out of his sleeve, bringing Denmark back in the game. Israel adjusted well, and with a hard kill by middle blocker Viacheslav Batchkala, they ended the set 25-20.
The third set was tight from the beginning, with both teams fighting hard for each point. In the end, Israel were once again strongest, and with an impressive kill by top scorer of the match Tamir Hershko, Israel won the set – and game with 25-21.
Pool B
LUXEMBOURG – AUSTRIA 3–0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-22)
To conclude the programme in Pool B, Luxembourg celebrated a 3-0 victory over Austria in front of a home audience. An irrelevant victory for the purposes of the standings but which allows the Red Lions, so far with zero wins, to say goodbye to the Silver #EuroLeagueM with a victory. Top scorer of the match was Mateja Gajin for the home side with a personal tally of 24 points.
