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The 2026/27 CEV Champions League season got underway this week with the first three matches of the opening round, as Mladost Zagreb, Fino Kaposvar OK and Orion Stars Doetinchem all secured victories.
Croatia’s Mladost Zagreb made a significant step toward the next stage of the competition by defeating Cypriot hosts Kuutio Homes Pafiakos Pafos 3-1 (25:21, 21:25, 25:21, 25:23). Leo Andrić led the way with 19 points, closely followed by Jan Pokeršnik with 18, while Sven Jakopec added 13, combining a 75% success rate in attack with two aces and five of his team’s 13 winning blocks. For Pafos, Nikolaos Eleftheriou finished as the match’s top scorer with 22 points, but his efforts were not enough to prevent the home side from losing in four sets.
MVP Tsimafei Zhukouski of Mladost ZAGREB praised both teams after the match:
“The most important thing is that we won. Congratulations to my team and staff because we fought until the end, but also big congratulations to Pafiakos. They put us under a lot of pressure with their defence, serve and reception. We had to give our maximum in a difficult match.”
“The match was decided by details. We are at a similar level and we still have an important match next week. We will work on those details and go there aiming for the win,” added Pafos’ Nikolaos Eleftheriou.
On Wednesday, Hungary’s Fino Kaposvar OK claimed a hard-fought 3-2 (25:17, 28:30, 23:25, 25:12, 15:13) home victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Napredak Odzak. After taking the opening set, the Hungarian side saw their opponents turn the match around by winning the next two, before responding emphatically in the fourth to force a tie-break. The decisive set remained tight until the final points, with Kaposvar eventually completing the comeback. Jacob Steele and Patrik Hubicska were instrumental in the hosts’ success, scoring 24 and 23 points, respectively.
Zoran Kedačič, head coach of Fino KAPOSVAR: “It is really difficult right now to share my thoughts and draw any conclusions about this game. First of all, it is never easy, no matter which round of the Champions League qualifiers you are playing in, because you are facing the best teams, the champions of their countries. So it is never an easy game, and I did not expect an easy one today. Napredak played amazing Volleyball, so congratulations to them. They pushed us a lot, and we survived today. We came back from 1-2 down and played really well, so first of all, I would like to congratulate my team. They fought back, they never stopped believing, and it was a high-level game. Again, I am happy that we are back in this competition and that KAPOSVAR is playing in the Champions League again. It is really nice to see so many people here and to compete in this atmosphere, in this beautiful arena. But in the end, after what happened to Patrik Hubicska, I do not know what to say. I cannot share any information right now because we have to wait and see what the doctors say, but it does not look good. So right now, I am not the happiest coach in the world.”
Ljubiša Ristić, head coach of Napredak ODŽAK: “It was a tough game, but we played without pressure. We know that we have a second game at home, and I think the guys did a good job. We took one point, but it is not enough. We have to win the second match 3-0 or 3-1, or 3-2 to force a Golden Set. It will be difficult for us to win because KAPOSVAR is a very good team with a good coaching staff. I think they will study us well, and it will be a nice game, the second match at our home. It is never nice to see an opposing player get injured. It is always a bad thing. The score was close, we came back to 13-12, and then finished the set like we did. I hope that the injured guy is okay, and I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Orion Stars Doetinchem, meanwhile, enjoyed a more straightforward evening in the Netherlands, sweeping North Macedonia’s UGD Stip 3-0 (25:13, 25:19, 25:17). The Dutch side controlled the match throughout, with Wouter Ter Maat leading the scoring with 14 points to help his team open their European campaign with a convincing straight-sets win.
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🏆| 2026/27 CEV Champions League | First Round
FIRST LEG
Tuesday October 20, 2026
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Kuutio Homes Pafiakos Pafos (CYP) – Mladost Zagreb (CRO) 1-3 (21:25, 25:21, 21:25, 23:25)
Wednesday October 21, 2026
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Fino Kaposvar (HUN) – OK Napredak Odzak (BIH) 3-2 (25:17, 28:30, 23:25, 25:12, 15:13)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Orion Stars Doetinchem (NED) – UGD Stip (MKD) 3-0 (25:13, 25:19, 25:17)
SECOND LEG
Wednesday October 28, 2026
• 18.00 (Local Time) | UGD Stip (MKD) – Orion Stars Doetinchem (NED)
• 20.00 (Local Time) | OK Napredak Odzak (BIH) – Fino Kaposvar (HUN)
Thursday October 29, 2026
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Mladost Zagreb (CRO) – Kuutio Homes Pafiakos Pafos (CYP)
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