26/01/2016 10:24
Zenit KAZAN feel relaxed going into home match with Hypo Tirol INNSBRUCK
2016 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League - Men
Kazan, Russia, January 26, 2016. On Tuesday night Pool D leaders Zenit KAZAN will finish their campaign in the group stage of the 2016 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Men with a home match against Hypo Tirol INNSBRUCK.
The Russian armada have swept their five previous matches by dropping only one set along the way and as a result they have already secured a spot in the Playoffs of the Champions League. Their leadership in Pool D is not to be questioned anymore and the outcome of the clash with the Austrian champions will not have an impact on the final standing for Zenit KAZAN, thus giving the coaching staff the chance to experiment with the line-up and play with less pressure.
“In the match against Hypo Tirol INNSBRUCK we will test a number of combinations and try different players,” said the head coach of Zenit KAZAN, Vladimir Alekno.
Last Sunday Zenit KAZAN thrashed Ugra-Samotlor NIZHNEVARTOVSK 3-0 in a home match and cemented their leadership in the Russian Superleague with a margin of four points over their closest competitor, Dinamo MOSCOW.
On Tuesday Zenit KAZAN and Hypo Tirol INNSBRUCK will be crossing their ways for the fourth time in history. Zenit KAZAN whitewashed the Austrians in all three previous games.
As for Hypo Tirol INNSBRUCK, they have recorded 12 victories in as many matches they have contested in the Austrian national league this season.
The players of head coach Daniel Razvan Gavan are also undefeated in the MEVZA Cup where they are trying to retain the title they won last year.
The club from Innsbruck is not going as strong and steady in the Champions League. However, the Austrian team stands a good chance of continuing their European campaign if they take some points from their matchup with the Russian armada from Tatarstan’s capital.
|