Milano destroy Lindemans Aalst to lift second Challenge Cup in club’s history!

After a clean straight sets success in Belgium, in front of 5019 home fans at Milano’s Allianz Cloud, the hosts Allianz Milano won without major problems the two sets they needed to lift their second CEV Challenge Cup trophy after the one won in Ankara in 2020/21 season, and then winning also the game 3-0 (25:16, 25:19, 25:18).
Double success also for Coach Roberto Piazza before saying goodbye to Milano after seven seasons at the helm of the club.
Captain Ferre Reggers, also at his last season in Milano (he will play with jersey of Perugia next season, and will be replaced by another Belgian opposite, Basil Dermaux) led the charge leaving the court as top scorer with 18 points through 54% in attack, 1 block, 4 of the winners’ 7 aces and MVP honors, while Tatsunori Otsuka added 10, all in attack, through 67%, well supported by a perfect Nemanja Masulovic (9 points through 100% in attack, 2 blocks and 1 ace).
No players reached a double digit on the other side of the net, with Nuno Marques and Enrique Rempel who scored 8 each, while bomber Camden Gianni, great protagonist of previous games, leading Lindemans to Final, stopped to 4.
Milano now will back to the court already on Saturday for Game 1 of Quarterfinals for 5th Place against Cisterna Volley, at Allianz Cloud too, while the Belgian rivals will play also on Saturday on the field of Caruur Volley Gent searching for a playoffs ticket.
Either way, for Lindemans Aalst, the defeat marked the end of a historic run, reaching their first-ever European final!

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🏆| 2025/26 CEV Challenge Cup | Final

FIRST LEG

Wednesday March 25, 2026
📍Sportcentrum Schotte Aalst
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Lindemans Aalst (BEL) – Allianz Milano (ITA) 0-3 (18:25, 19:25, 22:25)

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SECOND LEG

👉🏼Wednesday April 1, 2026
📍Allianz Cloud Milano
• 20.30 (Local Time) |Allianz Milano (ITA) – Lindemans Aalst (BEL) 3-0 (25:16, 25:19, 25:18)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
🏆| AWARDS CEREMONY
Allianz Milano: Ichino 9, Catania (L), Reggers 18, Masulović 9, Rotty, Benacchio, Gil Kreling 2, Otsuka
10, Di Martino 2, Caneschi 3. N.E. Masajedi, Barbanti, Lindqvist, Corbetta. Coach. Piazza.
Lindemans Aalst: Wortelboer 7, Speltinckx, Van De Velde, Slight 2, Marques 8, Rempel 8, Gianni 4, Devoghel, Vlahovic 5, Verwimp (L), Mertens. N.E.
Verhamme, Van Kerckhove. Coach. Depestele.
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