Challenge Cup: Milano first quarterfinalist! Chaumont down Tel-Aviv in last game of 1/8 finals first leg

Italy’s Allianz Milano is first team to progress to 2025/26 CEV Challenge Cup, and they did it after a double straight sets wins over Crvena Zvezda Beograd.
After an easy victory in Serbia in first leg, they repeated themselves in front of their home fans tonight, winning the game with the score of 3-0 (25:16, 25:14, 25:18) without problems, despite a large turnover in third set.
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
With 14 winning blocks, 7 aces and 55% of team performance in attack, Veikka Lindqvist earned MVP honors as the only player of the day who left the court in double digit (10 points, 53% in attack and 2 blocks), while Serbian middleblocker Nemanja Masulovic, with 4 points and 80% in attack, closed the game.
Meanwhile, France’s Chaumont VB 52 celebrated a 1-3 (15:25, 25:21, 20:25, 20:25) home win over Maccabi Tel-Aviv from Israel in a very peculiar game, as demonstrations were planned around Palestra to protest the participation of the Israeli team. The on-site ticket office also remained closed, with significant security deployed for the match!
Alexandros Raptis led the charge with 19 points through an impressive 70% in attack, 1 block and 2 aces, closely followed by Jacob Pasteur, who added 18 through 59% and 1 ace. Double digit also for a great Alex Saaremaa, who left the court with 13 points, 4 blocks and 73% in attack, and Joshua Marty, who added 10. Salvador Hidalgo Oliva and Yordan Bisset Astengo led Tel-Aviv’s resistance with 15 and 10 points, respectively.
Second leg is scheduled already tomorrow again at Chaumont’s Palestra.

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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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