Champions League: Pool Stage is over! All results and all teams qualified to playoffs

Pool Stage of 2023/24 CEV Champions League is over!
And What happens now?

In an electrifying Pool A match, titleholders Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Knack Roeselare 3-2 (22:25, 19:25, 27:25, 25:16, 15:12). The Polish team, after facing a 0-2 setback, turned the tables in a thrilling third set win (27-25), and eventually triumphing in the next two. This victory secured them second place in Group A, propelling them into the playoffs for the quarterfinals!
ZAKSA’s top players included MVP Bartosz Bednorz with an impressive 26 points including 1 ace and 2
blocks, followed by Daniel Chitigoi and Łukasz Kaczmarek, who also contributed with 17 and 16 points, respectively. On the other side of the net Seppe Rotty led the scoring with 31 points but he wasn’t enough.
In another Pool A clash, Ziraat Bank Ankara solidified their top spot with a straight-set victory (25:22, 25:17, 25:18) over Olympiacos Piraeus. Despite a desperate effort from Olympiacos, Ziraat Bank dominance was evident, led by Oreol Camejo who scored a total of 12 points including 1 block and 1 ace, MVP of the match. This win marks Ziraat Bank Ankara’s complete dominance in the group stage, culminating in six wins and a direct entry to the CEV Champions League quarterfinals.

In Pool B, Tours secured their playoff position with a commanding 3-0 win over ACH Volley Ljubljana (25:21, 25:19, 25:22).
Meanwhile, in a closely contested battle, Asseco Resovia Rzeszów achieved their first-ever victory against Pool leaders Trentino Volley with a great 3-2 win (25:20, 23:25, 20:25, 25:20, 9:15).
Despite the loss, Trentino still finished at the top of Pool B and directly advances to the quarterfinals while Asseco Resovia Rzeszów will continue in the CEV Cup, facing tomorrow’s winner between their compatriots Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie and Italian side Power Volley Milano.

Gas Sales Daiko Piacenza dominated Berlin Recycling Volleys in a straight-set victory, partially 15:25, 23:25 and 19:25 a packed Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin with 5,621 volleyball fans.
The man of the match was Yuri Romanó, exceptional in the third set, scoring 11 points with an 80% attack rate! His contribution, along with Robbert Andriga’s closing ace, earned him the MVP title, ending with 20 points including 4 aces and 1 block.
Piacenza’s first appearance in the CEV Champions League culminated in a victory that has directly propelled them into the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Berlin, having secured third place in Pool C, will still advance to the Champions League playoffs as the top-ranked third-placed team across all pools!
In another Pool C match, Halkbank overcame Portugal’s Benfica in a close 2-3 (21:25, 25:19, 25:18, 18:25, 13:15) match, securing their playoff spot with a second-place group finish.

Last season runners-up Jastrzębski Węgiel secured first place in Pool D League with 3-0 (25:17, 25:16, 25:19) win against Germany’s SVG Luneburg, earning them a spot in the quarterfinals.
Tomasz Fornal, MVP of the game, led the score with 16 points through 62% attack efficiency, followed by Jean Patry and Rafał Szymura who also contributed with 12 each.
The team finished the group stage with a 5–1 record and 15 points.
At second place in the Pool Guaguas Las Palmas from Spain who, despite a 3-2 (25:23, 18:25, 20:25, 25:23, 15:12) defeat in Czech Republic, on the field of Jihostroj České Budejovice, earned a spot in Playoffs for quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Cucine Lube Civitanova dominated Pool E, concluding the stage with a 3-0 (25:18, 25:15, 25:19) clear victory over Belgium’s Greenyard Maaseik. The Italian side’s performance was highlighted by Adis Lagumdzija, top scorer with 15 points including 4 aces, while setter Luciano De Cecco earned MVP title contributing to the team’s 61% attack efficiency. Cucine Lube Civitanova, with five wins from six matches, boasted 16 points to lead the group.
At second place a team from Czech Republic, VK Lvi Praha, who today beat Romania’s C.S. Arcada Galati with the same result, 3-0 (25:23, 25:23, 25:15).

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

Pool A

👉🏼Wednesday January 17, 2024

• 17.00 (Local Time) | Ziraat Bank Ankara (TUR) – Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) 3-0 (25:22, 25:17, 25:18)
📍TVF Ziraat Bankkart Volleyball Hall Ankara/A

• 20.30 (Local Time) | Grupa Azoty Kęrzierzyn-Kozle (POL) – Knack Roeselare (BEL) 3-2 (22:25, 19:25, 27:25, 25:16, 15:12)
📍Azoty Kędzierzyn-Kozle

FINAL STANDINGS:
1. Ziraat Bank Ankara (TUR) 16
2. Grupa Azoty Kęrzierzyn-Kozle (POL) 8
3. Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) 6
4. Knack Roeselare (BEL) 6

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Pool B

👉🏼Wednesday January 17, 2024

• 20.00 (Local Time) | Tours VB (FRA) – ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO) 3-0 (25:21, 25:19, 25:22)
📍Salle Robert Grenon Tours

• 20.30 (Local Time) | Trentino Itas (ITA) – Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (POL) 2-3 (25:20, 23:25, 20:25, 25:20, 9:15)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
📍ilT quotidiano Arena Trento

FINAL STANDINGS:
1. Trentino Itas (ITA) 16
2. Tours VB (FRA) 12
3. Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (POL) 8
4. ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO) 0

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Pool C

👉🏼Wednesday January 17, 2024

• 19.00 (Local Time) | Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR) – Halkbank Ankara (TUR) 2-3 (21:25, 25:19, 25:18, 18:25, 13:15)
📍Sports Hall Benfica Lisboa – Pavilhão Fidelidade

• 19.30 (Local Time) | Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) – Gas Sales Daiko Piacenza (ITA) 0-3 (15:25, 23:25, 19:25)
📍Mac-Schmeling-Halle Berlin

FINAL STANDINGS:
1. Gas Sales Daiko Piacenza (ITA) 15
2. Halkbank Ankara (TUR) 10
3. Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) 10
4. Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR) 1

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Pool D

👉🏼Wednesday January 17, 2024

• 17.00 (Local Time) | Jihostroj České Budejovice (CZE) – Guaguas Las Palmas (ESP) 3-2 (25:23, 18:25, 20:25, 25:23, 15:12)
📍Sportovni Hala České Budejovice