Slovenia cruise past Sweden to claim second Pool A win, four sets win for Italy over Slovakia

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Slovenia made it two wins from two in Pool A of CEV Enel EuroVolley 2026 Men, producing a commanding 3–0 (25:16, 25:21, 25:12) victory over Sweden in Modena.
The bronze medallists from the previous edition showed their power throughout the match, with Rok Možič and Tine Urnaut starting on the bench and Klemen Šen and Rok Bračko stepping into the lineup.
Despite the changes, Slovenia quickly established control and never allowed Sweden to seriously threaten the result.

Sweden, back at the European Championship for the first time since 1993, came into the match with confidence after taking Czechia to five sets in their opening game.
Jacob Ekman and Axel Enlund immediately tried to put pressure on Slovenia, but the Slovenians gradually found their rhythm, with the first real gap that came at 9–6, and Slovenia then accelerated with Nik Mujanović and Jan Kozamernik. The first one was almost unstoppable in the opening set, producing six kills at an outstanding 75% efficiency, while Kozamernik added five kills at 83%. Slovenia moved ahead 13–7 and remained in control until Kozamernik finished the set 25–16.
Sweden responded strongly in the second. Ekman’s powerful attack helped the newcomers establish an early 8–5 advantage, but Slovenia quickly recovered through Kozamernik and Bračko to level the score at 12–12.
The set then developed into a genuine battle, with the teams tied at 20–20. Enlund and Mujanović were both already on nine points, but Slovenia found the decisive spark when Bračko produced a spectacular attack to start a late run. The Slovenians moved 23–20 ahead before Mujanović delivered an ace to close the set 25–21.
There was no way back for Sweden in the third. Slovenia immediately opened an 8–4 lead and steadily increased the pressure, moving to 16–7 before taking complete control of the closing stages. Nejc Najdič finished the match with a spike for 25–12, completing a thoroughly convincing Slovenian performance.

Nik Mujanović was the top scorer with 17 points through 58% efficiency, one block and two aces, while Kozamernik added 11 points, and Bračko contributed nine points and also recorded 75% positive reception.
Sweden’s Axel Enlund finished with 12 points and Ekman with eight.

For Bračko, being able to contribute when called upon was particularly satisfying: “We know that EuroVolley is very long, so we need to play with the full team, and we can do that. We did it today, and I think we played very well and fully deserved this win. It’s really nice to be on the court for the whole match because we don’t play a lot, so every time we get a chance to play, we need to go full and give our best. That’s what I did today.”

The victory puts Slovenia firmly among the early leaders in Pool A and, perhaps just as importantly, demonstrates that their strength goes beyond their regular starting lineup. With Italy still to face Slovakia later on Sunday evening, the battle at the top of the group is already beginning to take shape.

In the evening, Italy recovered from a surprise second-set setback to defeat Slovakia 3-1 (25:17, 25:27, 25:10, 25:19), with Pardo Mati delivering a standout performance in front of a Modena crowd that already feels very familiar to him.
The hosts wasted no time asserting themselves, racing into a 6–2 lead with Mati himself at the service line. For the Italian middle blocker, Modena is almost a second home after two seasons with the local club, and he quickly became the protagonist of the opening set. Together with Yuri Romanò, who scored four points in the set, he helped Italy move 12–6 ahead.
Slovakia responded through Jakub Ihnat and Branislav Hanusek, while an ace from Erik Gulák brought them back to 15–11. The visitors briefly threatened to make the set competitive, but Italy regained control from 16–13 onwards. Mati was particularly effective, scoring seven points, including five kills at an extraordinary 83% success rate. His attack restored a five-point lead at 21–16 before another Mati spike completed the opening set, 25–17.

Slovakia came out with a different attitude in the second set. Ihnat put the visitors 9–7 ahead with an attack, prompting an early timeout from Ferdinando De Giorgi.
Italy quickly levelled the score, but Slovakia refused to let the hosts establish any distance.
Mati continued to be a threat, while Mattia Bottolo contributed six points, but Slovakia’s attack proved extremely efficient, finishing the set at 63%. Ihnat was perfect, converting all five of his attacks, while Martin Rendla produced the decisive plays at the other end of the net. Italy had a chance to close the set at 24–23, only for Rendla to deny them with a powerful spike. The Slovakian outside hitter struck again in the final rally to complete a surprise 27–25 win and level the match.

Italy responded emphatically after the change of ends.
The hosts immediately increased the pressure from the service line, with aces from Daniele Lavia, Mati and Simone Giannelli helping them race to a 14–6 advantage. Slovakia could find no answer as Italy continued to dominate, with Mati and Yuri Romanò leading the attack.
Mati added another seven points to his tally in the third set, including three blocks, and fittingly produced the block that ended it in emphatic fashion, 25–10.
Slovakia showed once again that they were not ready to surrender in the fourth set. Italy began to pull away after Bottolo’s attack made it 10–7, and the outside hitter remained flawless throughout the set, scoring six points, including an ace for 14–8.
The visitors refused to disappear, however and, inspired by Rendla and Gulák, Slovakia fought back to 21–18 and briefly put the hosts under pressure again.
This time, though, Italy held their nerve. Romanò and Mati took responsibility in the decisive exchanges, restoring Italy’s momentum and securing the fourth set 25–19.

Mati finished as the match’s top scorer with 22 points, including 15 kills at an outstanding 88% success rate, six blocks and one ace. Mattia Bottolo and Romanò added 16 points apiece, while Gulák and Ihnát led Slovakia with 12 each.

For Mati, however, the personal numbers were secondary to a victory that had required Italy to respond after losing control of the second set: “we expected a tough game, so I’m happy with the result and the team’s performance, as well as my own performance, but obviously the team performance is the most important thing here. After the second set, it was not easy. We had to focus on the little things, like our serve, and we did that. So I’m very happy that we won this game, especially playing here in front of this amazing crowd in Modena, which feels like home to me,” he said.

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🏐| CEV Enel EuroVolley 2026 | Sunday, September 13, 2026

👉🏼POOL A📍PalaPanini Modena
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Slovenia – Sweden 3-0 (25:16, 25:21, 25:12)
• 21.05 (Local Time) | Italy – Slovakia 3-1 (25:17, 25:27, 25:10, 25:19)

🏐| POOL A STANDINGS (updated on this day)
1. Italy 9
2. Slovenia 6
3. Czech Republic 5
4. Sweden 1
5. Slovakia 0
6. Greece 0

POOL B📍Arena 8888 Sofia
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Portugal – Israel 2-3 (25:19, 20:25, 25:20, 22:25, 7:15)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 19.00 (Local Time) | North Macedonia – Poland 0-3 (19:25, 16:25, 13:25)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

🏐| POOL B STANDINGS (updated on this day)
1. Poland 9
2. Ukraine 9
3. Bulgaria 6
4. Israel 2
5. Portugal 1
6. North Macedonia 0

POOL C📍Nokia Arena Tampere
• 15.00 (Local Time) | Estonia – Denmark 0-3 (26:28, 22:25, 16:25)
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Finland – Serbia 3-0 (25:19, 25:21, 25:23)

🏐| POOL C STANDINGS (updated on this day)
1. Finland 8
2. Denmark 6
3. Belgium 4
4. Serbia 3
5. Netherlands 0
6. Estonia 0

POOL D📍 BT Arena Cluj Napoca
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Switzerland – Türkiye 0-3 (23:25, 19:25, 19:25)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Latvia – France 1-3 (12:25, 16:25, 25:22, 13:25)

🏐| POOL D STANDINGS (updated on this day)
1. France 9
2. Germany 8
3. Romania 4
4. Türkiye 3
5. Latvia 3
6. Switzerland 0

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NEXT GAMES: Monday, September 14, 2026

Monday, September 14, 2026
POOL A📍PalaPanini Modena
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Slovakia – Czech Republic
• 21.00 (Local Time) | Slovenia – Greece
POOL B📍Arena 8888 Sofia
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Ukraine – Portugal
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Bulgaria – Israel
POOL C📍Nokia Arena Tampere
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Serbia – The Netherlands
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Estonia – Belgium
POOL D📍 BT Arena Cluj Napoca
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Germany – Switzerland
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Romania – Türkiye