Challenge Cup: 1/8 Finals continued with other five games, 2 tie breaks, 2 away wins and a home success for Näfels!

After an easy straight sets win of Allianz Milano in Serbia, 2025/26 CEV Challenge Cup 1/8 Finals continued today with other five games, two of them ended at tie break, with two away wins and two teams who took first step towards next stage of the competition and a home success for Näfels.
The only team from Switzerland remained in Europe this season prevailed over SCM Zalau from Romania with the score of 3-0 (25:22, 25:21, 25:17) after just 71 minutes of play, struggling only at the very beginning of third set. Pablo Denis Cabanas led the charge with 21 points, well supported by Manuel Figueiredo who added 16.
Home win also for Portugal’s Sport Lisboa e Benfica and VK Slovan Bratislava, both at tie break.
The first one down Altekma SK Izmir from Türkiye with the score of 3-2 (23:25, 26:28, 26:24, 25:19, 15:12) after 146 minutes of exciting game, with 21 points from an excellent Lucas Santos (85% in attack with 2 aces and 2 blocks), almost canceling the rivals’ 14 winning blocks as well as the combative Jordan Ewert and Ibrahim Lawani, who left the court with 21 and 20 points, respectively.
Meanwhile, the team from Slovakia’s capital celebrated a 3-2 (25:17, 17:25, 21:25, 25:21, 15:11) over cousins from Czech Republic of Dukla Liberec, with 20 points from top scorer Michal Trubac (57% in attack with 3 winning blocks and 1 ace).
Two teams celebrated away wins, taking a big step towards playoffs, above all Norwid Czestochowa who, despite currently last-placed in Polish Plusliga, sweep Conqueridor Valencia in Spain with a clean 0-3 (20:25, 22:25, 22:25) and they did it with 27 points from Patrick Indra, absolute top scorer of the match with 1 block, 4 aces and 69% in attack.
Close the picture a 1-3 (25:18, 23:25, 22:25, 22:25) away win of Lindemans Aalst from Belgium in Estonia, on the field of Bigbank Tartu with 7 aces, 17 points from Nuno Marques and 16 from Enrique Rempel.

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🏆| 2025/26 CEV Challenge Cup | 1/8 Finals

FIRST LEG

Tuesday January 20, 2026
📍Ustanova Sportski Centar “Voždovac” Belgrade
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Crvena Zvezda Beograd (SRB) – Allianz Milano (ITA) 0-3 (16:25, 23:25, 18:25)

👉🏼Wednesday January 21, 2026
📍Sports Hall University of Tartu
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Bigbank Tartu (EST) – Lindemans Aalst (BEL) 1-3 (25:18, 23:25, 22:25, 22:25)
📍Polideportivo Nou Moles Valencia
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Conqueridor Valencia (ESP) – Norwid Czestochowa (POL) 0-3 (20:25, 22:25, 22:25)
📍Sports Hall Benfica Lisboa – Pavilhão n.º2
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR) – Altekma SK Izmir (TUR) 3-2 (23:25, 26:28, 26:24, 25:19, 15:12)
📍Sport Hall Gopass Arena Bratislava
• 19.30 (Local Time) | VK Slovan Bratislava (SVK) – Dukla Liberec (CZE) 3-2 (25:17, 17:25, 21:25, 25:21, 15:11)
📍Linth Arena Näfels
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Volley Näfels (SUI) – SCM Zalau (ROU) 3-0 (25:22, 25:21, 25:17)

Thursday January 22, 2026
📍Dvorana Tabor Maribor
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Epicentr-Podolyany Horodok (UKR) – PAOK Thessaloniki (GRE) 0-3 (18:25, 21:25, 19:25)

Tuesday January 27, 2026
📍Palestra Chaumont
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR) – Chaumont VB 52 (FRA) 1-3 (15:25, 25:21, 20:25, 20:25)

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SECOND LEG

Tuesday January 27, 2026
📍Allianz Cloud Milano
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Allianz Milano (ITA) – Crvena Zvezda Beograd (SRB) 3-0 (25:16, 25:14, 25:18)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

Wednesday January 28, 2026
📍Atatürk Voleybol Salonu Izmir
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Altekma SK Izmir (TUR) – Sport Lisboa e Benfica (POR) 3-2 (19:25, 25:19, 25:20, 22:25, 15:11) GOLDEN SET: 15-13
📍Dukla Liberec
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Dukla Liberec (CZE) – VK Slovan Bratislava (SVK) 1-3 (25:21, 20:25, 22:25, 24:26)
📍Sala Sporturilor “Gheorghe Tadici” Zalau
• 18.00 (Local Time) | SCM Zalau (ROU) – Volley Näfels (SUI) 3-0 (25:21, 25:19, 25:22) GOLDEN SET: 15-11
📍Palestra Chaumont
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Maccabi Tel-Aviv (ISR) – Chaumont VB 52 (FRA) 3-0 (25:22, 25:22, 25:18) GOLDEN SET: 19-17
📍Sportcentrum Schotte Aalst
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Lindemans Aalst (BEL) – Bigbank Tartu (EST) 2-3 (25:27, 25:15, 25:22, 25:27, 9:15)

Thursday January 29, 2026
📍PAOK Palace Sport Thessaloniki
• 18.00 (Local Time) | PAOK Thessaloniki (GRE) – Epicentr-Podolyany Horodok (UKR) 2-3 (21:25, 25:21, 25:21, 23:25, 7:15)
📍HSC Czestochowa
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Norwid Czestochowa (POL) – Conqueridor Valencia (ESP) 3-0 (25:18, 30:28, 27:25)

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