Champions League: Olympiacos and Crvena Zvezda advance to second Round with dominant performances
3 min read
Second leg games of First Round of 2024/25 CEV Champions League started today with first two games and two straight sets victories for home sides (both victorious in their respective first games, a week ago).
Olympiacos Piraeus from Greece secured their place in the next round of the european elite club competition qualifiers after a clean victory over North Macedonia’s VC Strumica with the score of 3-0 (25:22, 25:18, 25:19).
They repeated themselves the feat at home with another straight sets triumph, progressing to the next stage without dropping a single set. However, their victory was overshadowed by an injury to their bomber Mitar Đurić who left the match during the second set after a bad fall. Aleksandar Atanasijević led the charge with 19 points through 54% in attack, 2 winning blocks and 4 of his team’s 7 aces, while Anestis Dalakouras added 12 (65% in attack and 1 block).
Strumica struggled to keep up, with their main contributor, as well as the only player in double digit, was Stojan Iliev with 12 points through 46% in attack. They now await the winner of the Las Palmas vs Benfica match, with the Spanish side having the upper hand after a 3-1 home victory. Their second leg in Lisboa is tomorrow.
In the other qualification battle, Crvena Zvezda Beograd easily overcame Cyprus’ Omonia Nicosia in the second leg of their Champions League qualifier. The Serbian champions won 3-0 (25:22, 25:18, 25:19), cementing their dominance following another 3-0 victory. Leading the charge for Crvena Zvezda was Ahmed Omar with 12 points (53% in attack, 2 winning blocks and 1 ace), while Aleksandar Stefanović added 11 with an impressive 82% in attack including 1 block and 1 ace. Omonia’s veteran Teo Lopes, who once claimed a World Championship title with Brazil National Team, could not save his team despite scoring 15 points (1 ace, 3 blocks and 50% in attack). Crvena Zvezda now awaits the winner of the Selver x Taltech Tallinn (Estonia), who celebrated a straight sets home win in first leg and Orion Stars Dotinchem (Netherlands) matchup in the next round, also scheduled tomorrow.
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🏐| CEV CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2024/25 |Round 1
FIRST LEG
Tuesday September 17, 2024
• 19.00 (Local Time) | VC Strumica (MKD) – Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) 0-3 (15:25, 17:25, 15:25)
📍Park Strumica
Wednesday September 18, 2024
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Budva (MNE) – Mladost Zagreb (CRO) 1-3 (25:22, 24:26, 20:25, 20:25)
📍Mediteranski Sportski Centar Budva
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Fino Kaposvar (HUN) – Hypo Tirol Innsbruck (AUT) 0-3 (15:25, 16:25, 24:26)
📍Kaposvár Aréna
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Guaguas Las Palmas (ESP) – Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR) 3-1 (27:25, 25:20, 21:25, 26:24)
📍Centro Insular de Deportes Las Palmas
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Jēkabpils Lūši (LAT) – Volley Schönenwerd (SUI) 1-3 (16:25, 25:23, 14:25, 21:25)
📍Jēkabpils Sport Hall
Thursday September 19, 2024
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Selver x Taltech Tallinn (EST) – Orion Stars Doetinchem (NED) 3-0 (25:20, 25:21, 25:21)
📍Kalev Sports Hall Tallinn
• 18.00 (Local Time) | OK Radnik Bijeljina (BIH) – CSM Corona Brasov (ROU) 0-3 (20:25, 22:25, 15:25)
📍SD Arena Gradiška
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Omonia Nicosia (CYP) – Crvena Zvezda Beograd (SRB) 0-3 (22:25, 23:25, 14:25)
📍Tassos Papadopoulos Eleftheria Nicosia
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SECOND LEG
👉🏼Tuesday September 24, 2024
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Crvena Zvezda Beograd (SRB) – Omonia Nicosia (CYP) 3-0 (25:19, 25:17, 25:21)
📍Ustanova Sportski Centar “Voždovac” Belgrade
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) – VC Strumica (MKD) 3-0 (25:22, 25:18, 25:19)
📍Melina Merkouri Rentis
Wednesday September 25, 2024
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Hypo Tirol Innsbruck (AUT) – Fino Kaposvar (HUN) 3-0 (25:19, 25:21, 25:21)
📍Olympiahalle Innsbruck
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Volley Schönenwerd (SUI) – Jēkabpils Lūši (LAT) 3-1 (25:23, 25:22, 17:25, 25:19)
📍Betoncoupe Arena Schönenwerd
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Orion Stars Doetinchem (NED) – Selver x Taltech Tallinn (EST) 3-1 (20:25, 25:20, 25:17, 25:19) GOLDEN SET: 15-13
📍SaZa Topsporthal Doetinchem
• 20.00 (Local Time) | CSM Corona Brasov (ROU) – OK Radnik Bijeljina (BIH) 3-0 (25:15, 25:19, 25:19)
📍Sports Hall ”Dumitru Popescu Colibasi” Brasov
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR) – Guaguas Las Palmas (ESP) 3-1 (25:17, 21:25, 26:24, 31:29) GOLDEN SET: 11-15
📍Sports Hall Benfica Lisboa – Pavilhão n.º2
Thursday September 26, 2024
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Mladost Zagreb (CRO) – Budva (MNE) 3-2 (23:25, 37:39, 25:15, 26:24, 15:13)
📍Dom Odbojke Bojan Stranic Zagreb
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