21/10/2019 09:28
Two rookies to feature in #CLVolleyM season openers
CEV Champions League Volley 2020
Luxembourg, October 21, 2019. The CEV Champions League Volley 2020 begins this week with four teams – including rookies IBB Polonia LONDON and Benfica LISBOA – contesting their first matches in the 2020 edition of Europe’s prime competition. Actually, IBB Polonia LONDON are the first ever English team to achieve this feat, while Benfica’s participation brings back a Portuguese team to the #CLVolleyM stage for the first time since VITORIA SC featured in the 2009 edition. Their respective opponents and hosts are the national champions of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina – Mladost ZAGREB and Mladost BRČKO. Live streaming of the matches is available on the CEV’s very own OTT platform EuroVolleyTV.
Click here for a comprehensive TV schedule.
Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) vs. IBB Polonia LONDON (ENG)
• Mladost ZAGREB are the reigning Croatian national champions in the men’s and women’s competition and the only club – together with Fenerbahce – that competes in Champions League in both genders.
• After 19 years of absence, Mladost ZAGREB returned to the Champions League stage for the first time last season.
• The venue Dom odbojke Bojan Stranić is the real home of Croatian Volleyball and the only Volleyball-exclusive venue in Croatia.
• Mladost’s new player Stefan Kovačević played last year in the Champions League for Vojvodina NS Seme NOVI SAD, but failed to reach the group stage.
• In the 1996/1997 season, Mladost finished third in the former Champions Cup. Mladost’s current Sports Executive, Darko Antunović, played for Mladost at that time.
• IBB Polonia LONDON are the very first team from England – and any of the UK’s home countries – to participate in the Champions League.
Radovan Malević, head coach of Mladost ZAGREB: “I am looking forward to the match. We have been working hard on preparing for this game. I am hoping for a good game and a result that goes in our favour.”
Stefan Kovačević, Serbian player of Mladost ZAGREB: “Never in my dreams did I think I would play for Mladost. Last year in this same venue, I played for Vojvodina from Novi Sad. I am excited and I am hoping for a victory.”
Mladost BRČKO (BIH) vs. Benfica LISBOA (POR)
• Mladost BRČKO are making their third straight appearance in Europe’s elite competition, but they have never reached the group stage this far.
• Benfica LISBOA, on the other hand, celebrate their maiden participation in the CEV Champions League. They are the first Portuguese team to do so since VITORIA SC competed in the 2009 edition of Europe’s prime tournament.
Click here for further information.
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