Del Monte Supercoppa 2026: four Italian giants set for a Parma showdown as the first trophy of the season awaits

The first major trophy of the Italian men’s volleyball season will be up for grabs this weekend, as the Del Monte® Supercoppa returns for its 31st edition at the PalaRaschi in Parma on November 14 and 15. Sir Susa Scai Perugia, Itas Trentino, Rana Verona and Cucine Lube Civitanova will compete in a Final Four featuring four of the strongest teams in the country, all with their sights set on an early-season title.

The semi-finals will bring together Perugia and Trentino in a particularly intriguing encounter, while Verona and Civitanova will fight for the other place in Sunday’s final.
The match-up between Perugia and Trento is especially interesting, as the two sides met only last Sunday in the SuperLega regular season, producing a five-set battle won by Perugia 3-2. The Supercoppa, however, is a completely different challenge: one match, one opportunity, and no room for recovery.

For Perugia head coach Angelo Lorenzetti, the competition carries a special meaning beyond the trophy itself. “The Del Monte® Supercoppa is the first opportunity of the season to win a title, so naturally there is excitement and a strong desire to compete for it. It is a trophy that connects us with the past, but it is played in the present, and I like that. I also like to think that more than just the players who will take the court will be competing this weekend. In a way, the players from last season who are no longer with us will be there too, because they helped us earn this opportunity. I would like us to put in a great performance and give that legacy real meaning. As for the technical and competitive challenges ahead, there is not much that needs explaining. Just mentioning our opponent, Trentino, says it all.”

Captain Simone Giannelli shares that sense of gratitude towards the team that secured Perugia’s place in Parma. “We are here again this year, and that is very important because it means we achieved something special last season. We are happy to be part of this Final Four. We know that our place in the Supercoppa is thanks to last year’s group, and I want to thank them for giving us this opportunity. We begin with a very tough semi-final against Trento. We played them away from home in the league only last Sunday, but this will be an entirely different match, in a different setting. It is a new challenge. We have seen the level they can reach, so if we want another opportunity to play a tie-break, we will have to deliver something special. Otherwise, it will be very difficult against them.”

Trentino coach Marcelo Mendez is equally eager to see how his team responds to that recent encounter. “Facing an opponent like Perugia just five days after our previous five-set match in Trento is both stimulating and interesting. It will also give us the opportunity to see whether the work we have done during the week to correct the aspects that did not go as well last time has paid off. We are up against the number one seed in this Final Four, but we can draw on what we learned from Sunday’s match. I am confident that we can compete right until the end. It will be a fascinating match, with high-quality volleyball, as is usually the case at this level. All four teams competing for the Supercoppa are world-class, so the smallest details will make the difference.”

Trentino captain Riccardo Sbertoli also sees the Final Four as an opportunity the team earned through its performances last season. “The Supercoppa Final Four is always a wonderful event, and we are delighted to be involved again after earning our place through last season’s results. It is a pleasure to take part in this edition, which comes after the first five rounds of the regular season. We arrive with plenty of energy, but we immediately face Perugia again after last Sunday’s five-set battle. We certainly want to make up for that 2-3 defeat, while also recognising that we need to improve in certain areas. Saturday will be a special match. We must be ready both physically and mentally, because this is the first knockout challenge of the season.”

The other semi-final will see Rana Verona take on Cucine Lube Civitanova, with both teams aware that their previous league meeting offers little indication of what to expect in Parma. Verona coach Fabio Soli admits that his side is dealing with some physical concerns, but insists that the team must focus on the challenge ahead. “We approach this competition with a few concerns, but that is normal when a season begins with some physical issues. It happens to everyone: we are neither invincible nor perfect. It is something we are facing together, and it is important to put it behind us as quickly as possible. We are up against a team in excellent form, one that defeated us convincingly in the league. We will have to give everything and play our best volleyball. We need to believe in ourselves, work on the small details that were missing last time, and show all our determination and aggression. Our aim is to leave the court knowing that we gave everything. Only then can we put Lube under pressure and give ourselves a chance of achieving the result we want.”

Verona captain Rok Možič is looking forward to another opportunity to compete for the trophy. “We are very happy to be playing in the Del Monte® Supercoppa Final Four once again. We face one of the strongest teams in the world, and that is a great challenge for all of us. It will be a very difficult match against an opponent of the highest technical level. We are preparing carefully and with great determination, fully aware of what awaits us. We want to play our best volleyball and give everything we have to earn a place in the final.”

On the other side of the net, Lube coach Giampaolo Medei believes his team’s pre-season preparations have put them on the right path towards this important appointment. “The biggest event of the first part of the season is just around the corner. We structured our pre-season work to make a strong start to the league and reach the Del Monte® Supercoppa in good shape. So far, we have followed the plan. We face Verona in the semi-final with the objective of reaching the final and taking on either Perugia or Trento for the trophy. Every match will be a major challenge, with a higher level of pressure and the need to produce outstanding volleyball. I am confident that the team will be ready and will approach these two days in Parma in the best possible way.”

Lube captain Fabio Balaso also expects a completely different contest from the one played earlier in the regular season, when Civitanova won away against Verona. “We are travelling to the PalaRaschi knowing that the Del Monte® Supercoppa is a competition in its own right, with no direct connection to the league. The same applies to our match against Verona: it is a new game against a determined opponent. We won our opening regular-season meeting on their court, but everything starts from zero on Saturday. It is a knockout match against a team that has had to deal with some important absences, but will do everything possible to win. We have reached a good level, and Simeon Nikolov has integrated perfectly into the team, helping us improve both physically and technically. But if we want to win in Parma, we still need to take another step forward.”

Four teams, two semi-finals and one trophy: the Supercoppa offers the first major opportunity of the season to turn early promise into silverware. Perugia and Trentino will renew their rivalry just days after their latest five-set encounter, while Verona and Civitanova will look to make the most of a single-elimination opportunity.
In Parma, there will be no time for second chances.

Source: Legavolley

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