Luxembourg, January 24, 2020. For the second weekend in a row, we have a big Champions League matchup taking place on a weekend. On Sunday’s Italian derby, we have two of the best volleyball teams in the world, reigning champions Cucine Lube Civitanova & 2018 Club world champions Trentino Itas.

While both teams are undefeated in the Champions League so far at 2-0, they met in the Italian domestic league on December 1st, where Lube won 3-1. Cuban middle blocker Robertlandy Simon was the MVP of that match with 9 kills and 4 blocks. Trentino will have to improve their reception for this match, as they only had 18% perfect reception & 8 passing errors, allowing Simon to roam the net at his leisure. 

Trentino have some interesting lineup decisions to make. With three top-tier outside hitters in American Aaron Russell, Serbian Uros Kovacevic, & Slovenian Klemen Cebulj, coach Angelo Lorenzetti will have to decide the best mix to combat Lube’s strong service and athleticism. 

On Lube’s side, they finally have the opportunity to unleash their full lineup against a worthy opponent. Last summer, they made one of the biggest transfers when they brought in Polish middle Mateusz Bieniek from Champions League rivals Zaksa Kedzierzyn-Kozle. However, he has not been able to play much in the Italian domestic league because of foreign player restrictions. With no such limitations in Champions League, we can watch Lube in full force.

Lube and Trentino previously locked horns in the CEV Champions League in the 2009 and 2016 semis as well as in the playoffs 6 of the 2012 and 2018 editions. Moreover, they are due to play each other in the semis of the Italian national cup on February 22, 2020.

Osmany Juantorena, outside spiker and captain of Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA: “It is time to start the European adventure in front of our supporters. We want to continue the winning streak in the CEV Champions League 2020 in the Italian derby against my former team, Trentino, after we achieved two wins in the first two away matches in Czech Republic and Turkey. We know well how hard and important this match is, especially when it comes to qualification to the quarterfinals.”

Tune into the game on eurovolley.tv at 18.00 CET on Sunday, January 26.