Champions League: Home win for Halkbank and Olympiacos in quarterfinals first leg. Two Polish sides ko!

Turkish powerhouse Halkbank Ankara took a big step toward the Champions League Final Four with a 3-1 (25:20, 22:25, 25:15, 25:18) great victory over PGE Projekt Warszawa in the first leg of the quarterfinals.
The Polish team struggled to find their rhythm, delivering one of their weaker performances the ongoing season, in what was also their first defeat in the tournament!
Cuban star Yoandy Leal led the charge with 23 points, earning MVP honors with 70% in attack, three aces, and 1 winning block, but Halkbank was the stronger team overall, dominating in attack, service (7 aces to 2), and blocks (12 to 6). Marek Sotola with his 18 points and Dick Kooy who added 15 also contributed to win, while Bartłomiej Bołądź with 14 was the most prolific player on the other side of the net.
The decisive second leg will take place on March 19 in Warsaw.
The winner will advance to the Final Four and face either Mint Vero Volley or Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia, who yesterday won in four sets on the road the italian derby, in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Greece’s Olympiacos Piraeus pulled off a sensational comeback against defending Polish Champions JSW Jastrzębski Węgiel turning a 0-2 deficit into a stunning 3-2 (20:25, 21:25, 25:14, 25:20, 15:12) victory in their first leg of quarterfinals. With their backs against the wall, the hosts refused to surrender, delivering a stunning performance led by Gordon Perrin, who lead the charge with 25 points, while Anestis Dalakouras came off the bench to make a huge impact with 13 points. After losing the first two sets (20-25, 21-25), Olympiacos roared back, crushing their rivals in the third (25-14) and keeping the momentum going in the fourth (25-20).
The fifth and final set was a nail-biter, but Olympiacos kept the control to seal the win (15-12), handing Jastrzębski their first European loss this season!
But the fight isn’t over yet, as the decisive second leg in Poland on March 19 will be the decider. Olympiacos needs any kind of win to reach the Final Four, while Jastrzębski will advance if they win 3-0 or 3-1. A 3-2 victory for the Polish side would push the tie into a golden set!
The winners will face SVG Lüneburg or Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie, who yesterday easily won in Germany.

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🏐| 2024/25 CEV CHAMPIONS LEAGUE | Quarterfinals

FIRST LEG

Tuesday March 11, 2025
📍LKH Arena Lüneburg
• 19.00 (Local Time) | SVG Lüneburg (GER) – Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (POL) 0-3 (15:25, 21:25, 14:25)
📍Opiquad Arena Monza
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Mint Vero Volley Monza (ITA) – Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia (ITA) 1-3 (25:19, 16:25, 17:25, 25:27)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

👉🏼Wednesday March 12, 2025

📍TVF Ziraat Bankkart Volleyball Hall Ankara / A
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Halkbank Ankara (TUR) – PGE Projekt Warszawa (POL) 3-1 (25:20, 22:25, 25:15, 25:18)

📍Melina Merkouri Rentis
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) – JSW Jastrzębski Węgiel (POL) 3-2 (20:25, 21:25, 25:14, 25:20, 15:12)

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SECOND LEG

Tuesday March 18, 2025
📍Arena Sosnowiec
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (POL) – SVG Lüneburg (GER) 3-1 (25:19, 25:19, 23:25, 25:20)

Wednesday March 19, 2025
📍Torwar Hall COS Warszawa
• 18.00 (Local Time) | PGE Projekt Warszawa (POL) – Halkbank Ankara (TUR) 3-0 (25:20, 25:19, 25:20) GOLDEN SET: 12-15
📍Hala Widowiskowo – Sportowa Jastrzebie Zdroj
• 20.30 (Local Time) | JSW Jastrzębski Węgiel (POL) – Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) 3-0 (25:21, 25:21, 25:19)

Thursday March 20, 2025
📍Pala Barton Perugia
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia (ITA) – Mint Vero Volley Monza (ITA) 3-1 (25:18, 23:25, 25:14, 31:29)

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