Luxembourg, November 14, 2019.  Both Shakhtior SOLIGORSK (BLR) and Benfica LISBOA (POR) had 3-0 wins from the first match to boost their chances of progressing to Round 3 of the CEV Champions League Volley 2020 - Men. SOLIGORSK were sharp when it mattered and they recorded another straight set win against Finland's Ford Store Levoranta SASTAMALA. The Portuguese champions from LISBOA had more work cut out for them, especially after they lost the opening set 25-15. But the remaining sets went their way, so with these two teams advancing the line-up for the #CLVolleyM Round 3 is complete. They join Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) and Vojvodina NS Seme NOVI SAD (SRB) who qualified on Wednesday.

After Wednesday's close matches, which resulted in two Golden Set wins, Thursday's clashes were far less exciting. Ford Store Levoranta SASTAMALA had a large crowd behind them, but they couldn't capitalise on early set leads of several points. Shakhtior SOLIGORSK had their affairs in order and recorded a second 3-0 victory over the Finns. 

• The 1,238 people attending the Match of the Week in Sastamala, Finland saw the home team having the better start to the match. But SOLIGORSK turned things around at the half-way mark, before securing the opening set 25-22. The second set was almost a copy of the first. The team from Belarus played their best Volleyball when it mattered the most. By winning the second set 25-22, they qualified for Round 3 of Europe's top club competition.
• Shakhtior will face Serbian champions Vojvodina NS Seme NOVI SAD in Round 3 of the Champions League. The first leg will be played on November 21.
• SASTAMALA will continue their European campaign in the CEV Cup, where they will play Hypo Tirol AlpenVolleys HACHING of Germany in the 16th Finals.

Viktar Beksha, head coach of Shakhtior SOLIGORSK: “Qualifying from this round was our first step towards reaching our goal, which is playing in the pool stage of the competition. There was a great atmosphere tonight here at Sastamala. We started a little bad, but the second set was especially good for us.”

OK BUDVA from Montenegro started the match with the right attitude, launching themselves into a 1-0 lead by winning 25-15. After that, Benfica LISBOA regained control of the match and made sure they were the ones booking their tickets to Round 3 of the Champions League.

• Almost all statistics were in favour of OK BUDVA, but it was the direct errors from the home team that made the difference. 
• Opposite Henry Omar Tapia Santana once again was the highest scoring man on court, as he registered 22 points for BUDVA. Hugo Fernando Lucas Gaspar made 13 for the Portuguese.
• BUDVA move on to the CEV Cup where they will face OK Kakanj 78 KAKANJ of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Benfica will play Mladost ZAGREB (CRO) for one coveted spot in the Champions League pool phase.

Ford Store Levoranta SASTAMALA (FIN) vs. Shakhtior SOLIGORSK (BLR) 0-3 (22-25, 22-25, 21-25)
OK BUDVA (MNE) vs. Benfica LISBOA (POR) 1-3 (25-15, 21-25, 23-25, 25-27)

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