All Quarterfinalists Aim To Take Straight-Set Victories In Their Domestic Leagues

After the immense rematches in the #CLVolleyM playoffs, we all learned the clubs filled the remaining three spots in the quarterfinal stage. Now, all clubs will focus on their domestic league clashes, and they will seek to receive comfortable victories against their relatively weaker opponents.

All Italian CEV Champions League Volley Men participants had already advanced to the quarterfinals thanks to their outstanding performances on the pool stage. Now, a comfortable weekend awaits them in the 18th round of the Italian SuperLega: While Itas Trentino will visit Saturnia Acicastello, Gas Sales Daiko Piacenza’s opponent will be Vero Volley Monza, and Cucine Lube Civitanova will face Taranto.

Itas Trentino is in the lead with only one loss and 16 victories so far in Italy, and the gap is three victories with the second-positioned team, Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia. Even though Trentino will most probably complete the regular season as leader, the competition for other top positions still continues: According to their performances, the closest followers of Perugia are Piacenza and Lube, differing by only one and two more wins. Therefore, all teams should pay attention to each clash in order to remain chasing.

Another country that will be represented by more than one club in the quarterfinals is Türkiye. While Ziraat Bank Ankara took their quarterfinal ticket directly from the group phase, Halkbank Ankara advanced to the next round after a historical win over the three-time reigning champion Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle. Now, both teams will fully concentrate on their new challenges, where they will face Hatay Buyuksehir Belediyespor and Develi Belediyespor, respectively.

Halkbank has maintained their perfect record so far, and of course they are at the top of the charts with 18 wins in 18 matches. Ziraat Bankasi is also in a good position in the league since they are now in third place and have a two-match gap between their closest follower. CEV Cup semifinalist Fenerbahce HDI Istanbul is the team between these two, and they are surely waiting for any surprising failure of Halkbank. Therefore, each of these squads will want to play their top-notch game this weekend as well.

The other #CLVolleyM quarterfinalists, Berlin Recyling Volleys in Germany, Jastrzebski Wegiel in Poland, and Guaguas Las Palmas in Spain, will also hold essential clashes in their national leagues, aiming for straight-set victories to remain on top. We will all see whether all of our quarterfinalists will take what they want or if any shocking results occur.