Champions League: Montpellier, Lisboa and Roeselare open fifth week with victories. First ko for Civitanova!

Fifth week of 2025/26 CEV Champions League started today with first three games, with Montpellier HSC VB who down Cucine Lube Civitanova in a vital five-sets thriller to keep qualification hopes alive until the final ball in Pool E.
Backed by a passionate home crowd at the Palais des Sports Jacques Chaban-Delmas, the winners prevailed 29:27, 25:22, 14:25, 18:25 and 16:14 in a match full of momentum swings, showing composure early, saving three set points to steal the opener before capitalizing on Civitanova’s serve errors to move two sets ahead.
The Italian side, two-time Champions League winners, fought back strongly and, led by a relentless Aleksandar Nikolov, who finished as the match’s top scorer with as many as 34 points, Civitanova dominated the third and fourth sets to force a tie-break. Erik Loeppky added 22 points, while Mattia Bottolo chipped in with 12 in a powerful comeback attempt.
However, the decider was pure drama, with Civitanova who led early and even held a match point, but Montpellier refused to surrender, led by MVP Ezequiel Palacios and Simon Hirsch, who topped the scoring for the French side with 14 points each, while Tomas Lopez Pascual with 11 Haukea and Mare (10) provided crucial support.
Also Belgian side Knack Roeselare earned a hard-fought home victory after defeating Galatasaray HDI Sigorta 3-2 (25:22, 21:25, 26:24, 23:25, 15:10) in Pool B.
Playing in front of their supporters at Reo Arena, the winners displayed composure in key moments of a tightly contested encounter. The hosts won the opening set and repeatedly answered Galatasaray’s comebacks, before taking control of the decisive tie-break to close out the match after 122 minutes of intense play.
Meanwhile, Sporting CP earned their first victory of the CEV Champions League, overcoming SVG Lüneburg from Germany 3-1 (25:21, 25:19, 16:25, 31:29) in a thrilling match of the Pool D at the Pavilhão João Rocha.
Playing in front of their home fans, the hosts made a confident start, taking the opening two sets with control and intensity. The rivals responded in the third set to keep the contest alive and raise the pressure in a match that was decided in a dramatic fourth set. Lüneburg held several set points and came close to forcing a tie-break, but Sporting refused to surrender: showing calm under pressure and strong team spirit, the hosts mounted an impressive comeback and finally closed the set 31–29, sealing a memorable win.
Sergey Grankin led the winners and was named MVP, while Edson Valencia made key contributions in attack.
For Lüneburg, Axel Enlud left the court as top scorer with 24 points.

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🏆| 2025/26 CEV Champions League | Games of the week

👉🏼Tuesday February 10, 2026

📍 Palais des Sports Jacques Chaban Delmas Castelnau Le Lez
• POOL E | 20.00 (Local Time) | Montpellier HSC VB (FRA) – Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) 3-2 (29:27, 25:22, 14:25, 18:25, 16:14)

🏐| POOL E STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) 13
2. Montpellier HSC VB (FRA) 7
3. PGE Projekt Warszawa (POL) 7
4. Volley Haasrode Leuven (BEL) 0

📍 Pavilhão João Rocha SCP Lisboa
• POOL D | 19.30 (Local Time) | Sporting CP Lisboa (POR) – SVG Lüneburg (GER) 3-1 (25:21, 25:19, 16:25, 31:29)

🏐| POOL D STANDINGS (updated on this day):
1. Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (POL) 12
2. Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (POL) 6
3. SVG Lüneburg (GER) 6
4. Sporting CP Lisboa (POR) 3

📍 REO Arena Roeselare
• POOL B | 20.30 (Local Time) | Knack Roeselare (BEL) – Galatasaray HDI Istanbul (TUR) 3-2 (25:22, 21:25, 26:24, 23:25, 15:10)

🏐| POOL B STANDINGS (updated this day):
1. Bogdanka LUK Lublin (POL) 10
2. Knack Roeselare (BEL) 7
3. Galatasaray HDI Istanbul (TUR) 7
4. Halkbank Ankara (TUR) 3

Wednesday February 11, 2026
📍RCWS Podpromie Rzeszów
• POOL D | 18.00 (Local Time) | Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (POL) – Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (POL) 3-0 (25:21, 25:23, 25:22)
📍 Salle Robert Grenon Tours
• POOL A | 20.00 (Local Time) | Tours VB (FRA) – Ziraat Bankkart Ankara (TUR) 1-3 (23:25, 25:21, 20:25, 21:25)
📍Sport Oase Leuven
• POOL E | 20.30 (Local Time) | Volley Haasrode Leuven (BEL) – PGE Projekt Warszawa (POL) 2-3 (18:25, 25:22, 25:23, 19:25, 7:15)

Thursday February 12, 2026
📍 Arena Sparta Podvinny Mlyn Praha
• POOL C| 18.00 (Local Time) | VK Lvi Praha (CZE) – Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia (ITA) 0-3 (13:25, 18:25, 17:25)
📍Gran Canaria Arena Las Palmas
• POOL C | 19.00 (Local Time) | Guaguas Las Palmas (ESP) – Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) 3-1 (22:25, 30:28, 25:21, 26:24)
📍 TVF Ziraat Bankkart Volleyball Hall Ankara/A
• POOL B | 19.30 (Local Time) | Halkbank Ankara (TUR) – Bogdanka LUK Lublin (POL) 2-3 (26:24, 16:25, 24:26, 26:24, 11:15)
📍 Dvorana Center Stozice Ljubljana
• POOL A | 20.00 (Local Time) | ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO) – Trentino Itas (ITA) 1-3 (21:25, 17:25, 25:22, 23:25)

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🏐| NEXT GAMES:

Wednesday February 18, 2026
📍 Arena Sparta Podvinny Mlyn Praha
• POOL C | 18.00 (Local Time) | VK Lvi Praha (CZE) – Guaguas Las Palmas (ESP)
📍 Arena Sosnowiec
• POOL D | 18.00 (Local Time) | Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (POL) – SVG Lüneburg (GER)
📍Eurosuole Forum Civitanova Marche
• POOL E | 18.30 (Local Time) | Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) – PGE Projekt Warszawa (POL)
📍Max-Schmeling-Halle Berlin
• POOL C | 19.30 (Local Time) | Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) – Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia (ITA)
📍 Pavilhão João Rocha SCP Lisboa
• POOL D | 19.30 (Local Time) | Sporting CP Lisboa (POR) – Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (POL)
📍 Salle Robert Grenon Tours
• POOL A | 20.00 (Local Time) | Tours VB (FRA) – ACH Volley Ljubljana (SLO)
📍 ilT quotidiano Arena Trento
• POOL A | 20.30 (Local Time) | Trentino Itas (ITA) – Ziraat Bankkart Ankara (TUR)
📍 Hala Globus Tomasz Wójtowicz Lublin
• POOL B | 20.30 (Local Time) | Bogdanka LUK Lublin (POL) – Galatasaray HDI Istanbul (TUR)
📍 REO Arena Roeselare
• POOL B | 20.30 (Local Time) | Knack Roeselare (BEL) – Halkbank Ankara (TUR)
📍Sport Oase Leuven
• POOL E | 20.30 (Local Time) | Volley Haasrode Leuven (BEL) – Montpellier HSC VB (FRA)

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