20/11/2019 10:00
Four teams resume quest for coveted spot in #CLVolleyM Round 4
CEV Champions League Volley 2020
Luxembourg, November 19, 2019. The battle for a coveted spot in the group stage of the CEV Champions League Volley 2020 – Men is down to four teams only, and the eventual winners of the upcoming Round 3 fixtures will eventually join the continental elite in the League Round. Rookies Benfica LISBOA host Mladost ZAGREB on Wednesday before Vojvodina NS Seme NOVI SAD play Belarusian champions Shakhtior SOLIGORSK on Thursday night in an effort to make a step forward towards reaching Round 4 before the away matches follow next week.
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Benfica LISBOA (POR) vs. Mladost ZAGREB (CRO)
• Benfica LISBOA have secured seven wins in as many matches they have contested this year in the Portuguese national league.
• In the previous rounds, Benfica beat Mladost BRČKO (BIH) and OK BUDVA (MNE) dropping only one set along the way.
• Benfica LISBOA are rookies in the CEV Champions League and the first team from Portugal to compete in Europe’s prime event since VITORIA SC did so in the 2008/2009 season.
Theo Fabricio Lopes, player of Benfica: “It looks to me that with every round the matches are becoming more and more important. This is now the last step before we reach our ultimate goal, which is to be playing in the group stage of the Champions League. This is where every athlete dreams of playing. We have to play with everything we have, with all our strength, the strength of the fans, of our pavilion and I think it will be a good game for us. It is the biggest club competition in the world and every player dreams of playing it one day. Even more so now, in the decisive phase to reach the group stage, which is what the whole team wants.”
Vojvodina NS Seme NOVI SAD (SRB) vs. Shakhtior SOLIGORSK (BLR)
• The organisers hope for a full house in Novi Sad for this match.
• Nemanja Masulovic and Danilo Pavlovic played for the same team last season, Crvena Zvezda BEOGRAD and as a result, they featured in matches against Vojvodina NS Seme. Vojvodina eventually edged Crvena Zvezda in the playoffs to secure the national league title. Now, Masulovic plays for Vojvodina, while Pavlovic has joined the ranks of Shakhtior – as a result, they will fight against each other standing on opposite sides of the net.
• One of the most important things in the Round 2 match against C.S. Municipal Arcada GALATI was the beautiful atmosphere and support from the local fans. They gave much strength to Vojvodina. Everyone hopes this can be an advantage in the matchup against the Belarusian team as well.
• Everyone on the Serbian team is healthy and ready for the game.
• The last time Vojvodina played against a Belarusian team was in the Challenge Cup semi-finals. The team from Novi Sad played against Stroitel MINSK and achieved two victories – 3-1, 3-2.
Nikola Lakcevic, libero of Vojvodina NS Seme NOVI SAD: “In the previous match it was a real pleasure to play in a great atmosphere, with the support of the fans. We have shown that we can play big matches. Volleyball quality, patience and the fans can lead us to the goal. I hope they come again and support us even more. We can do everything together.”
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