Champions League: Civitanova and Piacenza closed second week with victories

In Pool E Champions League encounter, VK Lvi Praha from Czech Republic faced off against Italian powerhouse Lube Civitanova who, as predicted, secured a convincing 0-3 victory (22:25, 17:25, 23:25).
The match started with Lube Civitanova establishing an early 5-0 lead. The hosts responded with powerful serving and strong net defense, briefly closing the gap to 7-6. However, despite their efforts, the italian side clinched the first set 22-25, thanks to crucial errors from the team from Czech Republic’s capital.
In the second set, VK Lvi Praha struggled against a formidable blocks, leading to a 17-25 win for Lube Volley.
The third set showcased spectacular saves by Italian libero Fabio Balaso. VK Lvi Praha nearly took the set, but ultimately, Lube Civitanova prevailed, securing three points and leading Pool E with a total of six points.

“We expected a hard match. The beginning was difficult with strong service from Lvi Praha, in particular from McCarthy and Schouten. We managed to stay in the court without getting nervous and thinking about other things. Step by step we played better, we found solution from the bench, replacing Bottolo with Nikolov. It was not an easy match because Lvi Praha play very good which they proved in Maaseik. We worked well defensively and were able to deal with the variability of all of Prague’s attackers“, said Gianlorenzo Blengini, Head Coach of Cucine Lube Civitanova.

In the second game of the day, played at Lisbon’s Palazzetto dello Sport Pavilhao Fidelidade, Gas Sales Daiko Piacenza secured their first win in the second round of the CEV Champions League Pool C, defeating Sport Lisboa e Benfica with a score of 3-1 (25:21, 25:23, 22:25, 25:23).
The team’s starting lineup featured Recine and Lucarelli, with Leal initially on the bench.
Lucarelli’s remarkable performance, achieving 83% attack efficiency with 10 points from 12 attacks, was decisive, especially in the first set where Piacenza maintained a steady lead.
The second set saw an unfortunate turn for Recine, who suffered a back injury, leading to Leal’s forced entry.
The set was a tight affair, but Gironi’s ace and Simon’s powerful serve, were decisive, despite a brief lead by Benfica.
Benfica reacted in the third set, gaining a substantial lead. Piacenza’s comeback efforts fell short, allowing Benfica to secure the set.
The final set was the most exciting one, characterized by intense rallies but, eventualy, Piacenza clinched the match, thanks to decisive contributions from Leal and a final misstep from Benfica’s Lucas Gaspar.

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🏆| 2023/24 CEV CHAMPIONS LEAGUE | Games of the Week

Pool A

Wednesday November 29, 2023
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) – Knack Roeselare (BEL) 0-3 (19:25, 20:25, 19:25)
📍Melina Markouri Rentis
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Ziraat Bank Ankara (TUR) – Grupa Azoty Kęrzierzyn-Kozle (POL) 3-2 (26:24, 25:22, 18:25, 19:25, 15:12)
📍TVF Ziraat Bankkart Volleyball Hall Ankara/A

STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. Ziraat Bank Ankara (TUR) 5
2. Grupa Azoty Kęrzierzyn-Kozle (POL) 4
3. Knack Roeselare (BEL) 3
4. Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) 0

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Pool B

Wednesday November 29, 2023
• 18.00 (Local Time) | ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO) – Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (POL) 0-3 (21:25, 23:25, 21:25)
📍Sportna Dvorana Tivoli Ljubljana
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Tours VB (FRA) – Trentino Itas (ITA) 1-3 (17:25, 22:25, 25:23, 19:25)
📍Salle Robert Grenon Tours

STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. Trentino Itas (ITA) 6
2. Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (POL) 3
3. Tours VB (FRA) 3
4. ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO) 0

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Pool C

Wednesday November 29, 2023
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Halkbank Ankara (TUR) – Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) 3-2 (19:25, 25:21, 19:25, 29:27, 15:10)
📍TVF Ziraat Bankkart Volleyball Hall Ankara/A

👉🏼Thursday November 30, 2023
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR) – Gas Sales Daiko Piacenza (ITA) 1-3 (21:25, 23:25, 25:22, 23:25)
📍Sports Hall Benfica Lisboa – Pavilhão Fidelidade

STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. Halkbank Ankara (TUR) 5
2. Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) 4
3. Gas Sales Daiko Piacenza (ITA) 3
4. Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR) 0
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Pool D

Tuesday November 28, 2023
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Jihostroj České Budejovice (CZE) – Jastrzebski Węgiel (POL) 0-3 (19:25, 27:29, 26:28)
📍Sportovni Hala České Budejovice

Wednesday November 29, 2023
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Guaguas Las Palmas (ESP) – SVG Lüneburg (GER) 1-3 (20:25, 23:25, 25:21, 20:25)
📍Centro Insular de Deportes Las Palmas

STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. Jastrzebski Węgiel (POL) 6
2. SVG Lüneburg (GER) 6
3. Jihostroj České Budejovice (CZE) 0
4. Guaguas Las Palmas (ESP) 0

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Pool E

Wednesday November 29, 2023
• 18.00 (Local Time) | C.S. Arcada Galati (ROU) – Greenyard Maaseik (BEL) 1-3 (20:25, 25:23, 17:25, 23:25)
📍Sports Hall Galati

👉🏼Thursday November 30, 2023
• 18.00 (Local Time) | VK Lvi Praha (CZE) – Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) 0-3 (22:25, 17:25, 23:25)
📍Arena Sparta Podvinny Mlyn Praha

STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) 6
2. VK Lvi Praha (CZE) 3
3. Greenyard Maaseik (BEL) 3
4. C.S. Arcada Galati (ROU) 0

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