2023/24 CEV Champions League started today with first six games, and reigning Champions ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle Triumph in Opening Match of European elite competition.
In Pool A, the Polish powerhouse secured a hard-fought victory over Greece’s Olympiacos Piraeus and the final scoreline is a 3-1 (23:25, 25:20, 28:26, 31:29).
Łukasz Kaczmarek emerged as MVP of the match, contributing with a remarkable 22 points to his team’s defense of the title, while Bartosz Bednorz added 13 and David Smith contributed with another 10 points for the winners.
Slovenian Toncek Stern was the most prolific player on the other side of the net with 19 points.
In their debut in the Champions League, in Pool C, Italy’s Gas Sales Daiko Piacenza faced a tough defeat against Halkbank Ankara in front of their home fans at Palabanca.
The visiting side dominated the first two sets, faced resistance in the third, but ultimately clinched victory in a closely contested fourth set, and partially it was 19:25, 18:25, 25:19 and 21:25.
Standout performances from bombers Nimir Abdel-Aziz and Earvin Ngapeth, who scored 21 and 18 points respectively were too much for Piacenza, despite Leal scoring 20 points.
Both games of Pool D and Pool E were also played.
In Pool D, in Germany, a great SVG Lüneburg needed just three sets to defeat Jihostroj České Budejovice from Czech Republic after a hard-fought first set, 3-0 (26:24, 25:20, 25:15), while last season runners-up Jastrzebski Węgiel, in front of their home fans in Poland, struggled more than expected to prevail over Spain’s Guaguas Las Palmas, but eventually they did it with the same result, 3-0 (30:28, 25:16, 26:24), with 9 block points (zero for the rivals) and 62% of team performance in attack.
Norbert Huber was almost perfect in this game with 12 points, two winning blocks and 91% in attack (10/11 with one error).
In Pool E, all easy for Italian powerhouse Cucine Lube Civitanova and VK Lvi Praha from Czech Republic. The first one prevailed at home over Romania’s C.S. Arcada Galati 3-0 (25:17, 25:19, 25:23) with 19 points from Adis Lagumdzija (67% in attack, 1 block and 1 ace), while the second one won in Belgium, on the field of Greenyard Maaseik, 0-3 (22:25, 24:26, 22:25), who lose the game despite a great performance of Adan Bartoš, top scorer on the losing side with 15 points and 65% in attack. Casey Schouten scored 20 points with 53% in attack for the winners.
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🏆| 2023/24 CEV CHAMPIONS LEAGUE | Games of the Week
Pool A
👉🏼Wednesday November 22, 2023
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Grupa Azoty Kęrzierzyn-Kozle (POL) – Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) 3-1 (23:25, 25:20, 28:26, 31:29)
📍Azoty Kędzierzyn-Kozle
STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. Grupa Azoty Kęrzierzyn-Kozle (POL) 3
2. Knack Roeselare (BEL) 0
3. Ziraat Bank Ankara (TUR) 0
4. Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) 0
Thursday November 23, 2023
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Knack Roeselare (BEL) – Ziraat Bank Ankara (TUR) 1-3 (19:25, 25:19, 24:26, 24:26)
📍Tomabel Hall Roeselare
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Pool B
Thursday November 23, 2023
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (POL) – Tours VB (FRA) 1-3 (22:25, 23:25, 25:21, 21:25)
📍RCWS Podpromie Rzeszów
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Trentino Itas (ITA) – ACH Volley Ljubljana 3-1 (25:15, 20:25, 25:18. 25:23)
📍ilT quotidiano Arena Trento
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO)
2. Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (POL)
3. Tours VB (FRA)
4. Trentino Itas (ITA)
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Pool C
👉🏼Wednesday November 22, 2023
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Gas Sales Daiko Piacenza (ITA) – Halkbank Ankara (TUR) 1-3 (19:25, 18:25, 25:19, 21:25)
📍Palabanca Piacenza
STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. Halkbank Ankara (TUR) 3
2. Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) 0
3. Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR) 0
4. Gas Sales Daiko Piacenza (ITA) 0
Thursday November 23, 2023
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) – Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR) 3-0 (27:25, 25:19, 25:21)
📍Mac-Schmeling-Halle Berlin
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Pool D
👉🏼Wednesday November 22, 2023
• 19.00 (Local Time) | SVG Lüneburg (GER) – Jihostroj České Budejovice (CZE) 3-0 (26:24, 25:20, 25:15)
📍LKH Arena Lüneburg
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Jastrzebski Węgiel (POL) – Guaguas Las Palmas (ESP) 3-0 (30:28, 25:16, 26:24)
📍Hala Widowiskowo – Sportowa Jastrzebie Zdroj
STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. Jastrzebski Węgiel (POL) 3
2. SVG Lüneburg (GER) 3
3. Jihostroj České Budejovice (CZE) 0
4. Guaguas Las Palmas (ESP) 0
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Pool E
👉🏼Wednesday November 22, 2023
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) – C.S. Arcada Galati (ROU) 3-0 (25:17, 25:19, 25:23)
📍LKH Eurosuole Forum Civitanova Marche
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Greenyard Maaseik (BEL) – VK Lvi Praha (CZE) 0-3 (22:25, 24:26, 22:25)
📍Steengoed Arena Maaseik
STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) 3
2. VK Lvi Praha (CZE) 3
3. Greenyard Maaseik (BEL) 0
4. C.S. Arcada Galati (ROU) 0
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