CEV, Luxembourg. In what is the busiest week of Champions League matches in the 4th Round, Tuesday featured many of the favourites who are talked about going all the way in 2021. However, two teams not to take to the court were Arkas IZMIR (TUR) and JASTRZEBSKI Wegiel (POL) as they were not able to travel due to due to COVID-19 restrictions. The remaining eight matches delivered some top quality Volleyball to kick-start what will be a thrilling week of Champions League action.
All matches are now available to watch back on EuroVolley.tv, whilst selected highlights are on YouTube. For stats, features, photos and all the latest news remember to check out the new Champions League website.
MEN
The obvious stand out match in the men’s competition was an all Italian derby in Tours France in Pool B. A clash that caught the eye from the very moment the draw took place, did not disappoint. In the end Lube took it in four sets and were thrilled with their first Champions League win over Perugia in what was their 4th attempt. MVP was Yoandy Leal Hidalgo who scored 22 points of which 20 were winning spikes.
The designated Match of the Week took place in Berlin over in Pool C, where the hosts dismantled their guests from Slovenia in straight sets. Božidar VU?I?EVI? was the top scorer in the match with 17 points, closely followed by Benjamin Patch with 16 points for the winning team – he was also the MVP. Their latest signing Kevin LE ROUX watched on from the bench knowing that his time would come.
Turkey’s Fenerbahce HDI Istanbul and Poland’s Grupa Azoty Kedzierzyn-Kozle both started off their new Champions League campaigns with victories in Pool A. Fenerbahce were victorious at the end of a five-set battle with Lindemans Aalst, coming back from a set down to claim the win. Whilst the home team showed no mercy for Polish compatriots PGE Skra Belchatow and delivered an emphatic 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-19) shutout.
WOMEN
Pool B has two teams with plenty of Champions League history and both delivered on that securing straight set wins over their respective opposition. Hosts A. Carraro Imoco CONEGLIANO kept Calcit Volley KAMNIK to a maximum of 18 points and remain undefeated since the last Super Finals back in 2019. Lucille GICQUEL topped the charts with 23 points in all aspects of the game. In the second match it was a similar story for Fenerbahçe Opet ISTANBUL who were led by Brankica MIHAJLOVIC, Bianka BUSA and captain Eda ERDEM DÜNDAR, the latter of which half way through the 3rd set scored her 750th Champions League point for her side.
It was a completely different story in Pool D where Allianz MTV STUTTGART put in another of those performances and led Eczacibasi VitrA ISTANBUL by two sets before something switched and the Turkish side dominated the 3rd set to pull themselves back into the game. As usual, Tijana BOŠKOVIC top scored but it was Jordan Thompson who was elected as the MVP for her all round game.
It went right to the wire in the earlier match as well. The all-Russian Pool D opener ended Dinamo MOSCOWs way after a spectacular five-set battle with Lokomotiv KALININGRAD Region. Natalia Zilio PEREIRA top scored with 25 in a match that lasted well over two hours and set the tone for what is surely going to be one of the tightest pools in the 4th Round.
You can find all eight Match Centres and full reports on the official Champions League website:
News:
CEV – European Volleyball
OZS – Volleyball Federation of Slovenia
ACH Volley LJUBLJANA
Calcit Volley KAMNIK
