12/11/2019 20:00
Quest for spot in elite group stage resumes in #CLVolleyM
CEV Champions League Volley 2020 - Men
Luxembourg, November 12, 2019. It is time for some up-and-coming teams to resume their quest for a spot in the group stage of the elite CEV Champions League Volley 2020 – Men with the second leg of Round 2 and more specifically with two matches a day due to take place on Wednesday and Thursday. All of the hosting teams will have to use the home-court advantage to the fullest if they are to fight their way back after suffering heavy losses at the hands of their respective opponents last week. Live streaming of all matches is available on the CEV’s very own OTT platform EuroVolleyTV.
Click here for a comprehensive TV schedule.
SK Zadruba AICH/DOB (AUT) vs. Mladost ZAGREB (CRO)
• On Wednesday night, Austria’s champions SK Zadruga AICH/DOB will continue their journey in the CEV Champions League Volley 2020 hosting the reigning Croatian champions Mladost ZAGREB at the Sportpark in Klagenfurt.
• Having lost the first match (1-3) last week, AICH/DOB are eager to challenge the opponent in front of a passionate home audience.
• This year’s team has gone through some major changes, and the Austrian champions are still searching for their rhythm in their fifth CEV Champions League season.
• Being well aware of the quality and class of the Croatian champions, AICH/DOB’s players look forward to challenging their competitors. Earlier this season, SK Zadruga AICH/DOB lost to Mladost in the round robin stage of the MEVZA League (see picture above).
• Both hosting a European match at the Sportpark in Klagenfurt, which is well-known for its outstanding sports facilities, and the availability of top-notch Volleyball on Wednesday night will not only boost the home team’s spirit, but also the whole sports scene of Carinthia.
Mladost ZAGREB and SK Zadruga AICH/DOB played against each other earlier this season in the MEVZA League as well
Martin Micheu, Sports Manager of SK Zadruga AICH/DOB: “A sensation on Wednesday night is possible since the team can play without any pressure against the Croatian top team and can take a lot of risks. I am sure our team will display their best effort to challenge this great opponent.”
Matjaž Hafner, head coach of SK Zadruga AICH/DOB: “Making the nearly impossible possible by reaching the Golden Set will be a tough challenge, but if our players show their full potential and are able to deliver a top performance, even a miracle is within reach!”
OK BUDVA (MNE) vs. Benfica LISBOA (POR)
• Both OK BUDVA and Benfica LISBOA are making their maiden appearance in the elite CEV Champions League Volley. Benfica are the first Portuguese team to do so since VITORIA SC participated in the 2008/2009 edition.
• Benfica are yet to drop a set in the competition after two 3-0 wins in their first-round fixtures with Mladost BRČKO of Bosnia and Herzegovina and last week’s 3-0 home shutout of OK BUDVA.
• OK BUDVA’s participation in the CEV Champions League follows a truly historic and successful year for Montenegrin Volleyball after their maiden EuroVolley appearance, where the Balkan team secured two wins out of five matches they played in Pool D in the Netherlands, narrowly failing to reach the 8th Finals.
Peter Wohlfahrtstätter, player of Benfica LISBOA: “Last week we were aggressive and we played our own game. I think if we do the same, if we show the same emotions, we will advance to the next round. Now we have one more game to analyse, to know how to play against them, so I think we will be even better tactically than we were in the last game.”
Ford Store Levoranta SASTAMALA (FIN) vs. Shakhtior SOLIGORSK (BLR)
• Ford Store Levoranta SASTAMALA have played once in the pool phase of the CEV Champions League and are trying to make it there again this season. This is the third appearance for the Finnish team in Europe’s elite club competition.
• Six players of SASTAMALA have played in all of the club’s 11 previous matches in the competition. These are Markus Kaurto, David Sundberg, Mikko Esko, Arttu Lehtimäki, Olli Kunnari, and Niko Suihkonen.
• Mikko Esko has played 41 matches in the CL in different clubs, Olli Kunnari 31.
• This is 54th match for SASTAMALA across all European Cups, with a win-loss record standing at 31-22 and at 21-7 when it comes to home matches only.
• Shakhtior won the first match at home 3-0; therefore, SASTAMALA need a 3-0 or 3-1 victory and to win the Golden Set as well if they are to make it to Round 3.
Mikko Oivanen top scored for SASTAMALA in their away loss at the hands of Shakhtior SOLIGORSK in Minsk
Janne Kangaskokko, head coach of Ford Store Levoranta SASTAMALA: “The result of the first match was of course disappointing. We did not play at our best level. Now we can wait for a much better game from us. I am very confident about that. We must attack better now than we did in Minsk. This is clearly the most important match of this season so far for us and we are ready for that. SOLIGORSK is a very physical team and they have very good players.”
Mikko Esko, setter of Ford Store Levoranta SASTAMALA: “I expect a much better game from us than in Belarus. Of course, we aim to get to the next round. This match decides the winner. It does not matter that we lost the first match. Our team is now in a good shape and we have prepared for this match very well.”
Vojvodina NS Seme NOVI SAD (SRB) vs. C.S. Municipal Arcada GALATI (ROU)
• Vojvodina are making their third straight appearance in the CEV Champions League Volley. Everyone is hoping the third season can be lucky and the Serbian team will eventually reach the group stage of Europe’s elite competition after failing to do so for the last couple of years.
• It is interesting that Milos Nikic, a former Serbian national team player, previously contested a Champions League match in Novi Sad, when wearing the shirt of Italy’s DHL MODENA in the 2016/2017 season. After recovering from a serious injury, he is back in the business - but now, he plays for Vojvodina.
• Sinisa Gavrancic will lead the team as head coach, doing so for the first time in Novi Sad in a Champions League match. He made his debut last week in Romania, where Vojvodina lost 0-3, but this is his first home match.
• Everyone on the team is healthy and ready for the match.
• Vojvodina is the only team from Serbia to play in the European Cups this season.
Milos Nikic in action during the previous match with C.S. Arcada Municipal GALATI held last week in Romania
Milos Nikic, player of Vojvodina NS Seme NOVI SAD: “I believe that everything will be different in a home match than it was last week in Romania and I am confident that we will play much better. I hope the fans will help us achieve our goal and that we will reach it together.”
Click here for further information.
|