PIACENZA highly motivated for #CEVCupM semi-final fixture on home turf

Following their marathon game against MODENA in Match 4 of the national league playoffs, Italy’s Gas Sales Bluenergy PIACENZA returns to the European stage as on Wednesday night they host Slovenia’s ACH Volley LJUBLJANA at their PalabancaSport for the first round of the #CEVCupM semis. 

The ‘Biancorossi’ coached by Dante Boninfante progressed to the semis after edging Germany’s BERLIN Recycling Volleys in the quarterfinals. ACH Volley had previously contested the group stage of the elite CEV Champions League Volley, where they finished third in Pool A. ACH Volley subsequently resumed their European journey in the quarterfinals of the CEV Cup where they beat the Turkish side Fenerbahçe Medicana ISTANBUL, securing wins at home as well as in Türkiye. 

The CEV Volleyball Cup is the second most important annual European club competition; Gas Sales Bluenergy PIACENZA is taking part in the CEV Cup 2026 thanks to their fourth-place finish in the last edition of the Italian men’s national league. This is their second appearance in the competition following their debut in the 2022/2023 season, when their journey ended in the semis after losing to Belgium’s Knack ROESELARE. 

Antonio Mariano, assistant coach at Gas Sales Bluenergy PIACENZA: “It will be a tough match; we are up against a well-balanced team with very experienced players and some promising youngsters. We know the experienced players very well – they have played in Italy and form the backbone of the Slovenian national team. Players like Tonček Stern, Alen Pajenk, Jani Kovacic, Gregor Ropret and Tine Urnaut need no introduction. We will be facing a team that’s a good mix of experienced players and promising youngsters, such as the two Kržic brothers [Jošt and Janž Janez] in the middle. It’s a team we have known for a long time; they are raring to go and never give up. We will need to approach the match with a very determined and positive attitude; we are playing at home and we must make the most of that advantage, especially with the return leg in Slovenia coming up next week, which we will play in a rather ‘hostile’ atmosphere.”