Challenge Cup: Olympiacos to final via Golden Set. Panathinaikos defeated in Greek derby

2 min read

16 February 2023 Danijel90

After an unexpected postponement due an episode prior to this match, initially scheduled yesterday, we know the name of the team who joined Maccabi Tel Aviv to the 2022/23 CEV Challenge Cup Gran Finale: Olympiacos Piraeus.
The Greek side recover from a defeat in four sets against fellow countrymen Panathinaikos Athens in first leg, and today they did the same, beating the rivals on the road with the same result: 1-3 (25:22, 25:27, 21:25, 17:25).
At this point, all has been decided via Golden Set, and Olympiacos trampled over the rivals, leaving them with only 6 points.
As many as 6 players on the winning side ended the game in double digit: top scorer Salvador Hidalgo Oliva, 21 points through 66% in attack and 2 aces, Slovenian duo Alen Pajenk and Tonček Stern (19 and 18 points respectively, the first one including 5 winning blocks), Rafail Koumentakis (17) and Gustavo Guazzelli Bonatto (11), while Jiri Kovar tallied 22 on the losing side.
This match has been played behind closed doors.

Olympiacos will play in the final against Maccabi Yeadim Tel Aviv who yesterday, after losing the tie break in Portugal (two sets were enough from the second leg), take first ticket to the finals and made a historic success for their country.

FINAL
| Sunday | March 5, 2023
• Maccabi Yeadim Tel Aviv (ISR) – Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE)
| Wednesday | March 15, 2023
• Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) – Maccabi Yeadim Tel Aviv (ISR)

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🏐| 2022/23 CEV Challenge Cup | Semifinals | First Leg

| Tuesday | February 7, 2023
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Maccabi Yeadim Tel Aviv (ISR) – A.J. Fonte Bastardo (POR) 3-1 (24:26, 25:21, 25:18, 25:23)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) – Panathinaikos Athens (GRE) 1-3 (25:21, 21:25, 23:25, 24:26)

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🏐| 2022/23 CEV Challenge Cup | Semifinals | Second Leg

| Wednesday | February 15, 2023
• 19.30 (Local Time) | A.J. Fonte Bastardo (POR) – Maccabi Yeadim Tel Aviv (ISR) 3-2 (25:18, 23:25, 22:25, 25:23, 15:10)

👉🏼 Thursday | February 16, 2023
• 14.30 (Local Time) | Panathinaikos Athens (GRE) – Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) 1-3 (25:22, 25:27, 21:25, 17:25) GOLDEN SET: 6-15.