A final Leg of #EuroLeagueM full of emotions and victories for Turkey, Belgium and Spain
Recap
This Saturday, Slovakia and Turkey met in Arena Poprad, Slovakia, for their last match in the Leg phase of the Golden League Men. Before that, Slovakia had three previous defeats, and Turkey had won the three previous matches.
At the beginning of the match, Turkey showed superiority and scored 16-25. The attack was the Turkish main asset. They scored 17 winning spikes with 68% of efficiency in the fundament. The second set was more balanced, with teams close in points all the time. Turkey won it by 19-25, building this small advantage with consistent blocks. Slovakia knew the third set was all about guaranteeing at least one victory in the Leg phase and got extra energy from the home crowd.
The teams were in absolute balance most of the time during the set and had similar efficiency rates both in defence and attack. Slovakia defended Turkey’s match points opportunities until the visitor won the set 26-28. Adis Lagumdzija (TUR) did 22 points and was the top scorer of the match.
After this match, Turkey was still on the top of the Pool A, counting 4 wins in 4 matches, and will be one of the Final Four teams in the competition. Slovakia counts 4 defeats in the Pool A and will not go on in the 2022 League.
In the second match of the night, Latvia received Belgium in the Olympic Center Daugavpils.
Both teams occupied then the last positions in the Pool C and had not much to do about their future in the competition. But coming both from three defeats, they wanted to finish their participation in the tournament on a high note.
Belgium won three sets in a row (20-25, 23-25, 19-25). The numbers say it all: both teams did a very balanced match with Belgium being better by a few points in attack and defence in the first and the second set. By the third set, Belgium adjusted the attack strategy and did incredible 18 Winning Spikes to guarantee the victory in the match.
Ferre Reggers (BEL) did 13 points and is the top scorer of the match. Still, both teams have no chance to qualify for the #EuroLeagueM Semi-Finals, and finished their participation to the competition with the Leg phase.
The last match in the Pool B had a similar context. Spain received Denmark in Guadalajara, with both teams coming from three consecutive losses and no feasible chances of classification. Still, they showed their strength to grab a victory in their last match of the season.
Spanish attack started the match full of energy and guaranteed the points needed to win the first set. But Denmark didn’t want to make it easy for the home team. The Danish team adjusted the defence system and saw the efficiency rate of the Spanish attack drop from 81% to 40%, from the first to the second set.
The third set was all about balance, and teams were close in score all the time until Spain had a set point and got the advantage in the match back.
Entering the fourth set, the home team decided to guarantee the victory and quickly built a solid advantage. They forced mistakes from the Danish side and got eight points for opponent errors. The shortest set ended by 25-14.
With 21 points made, Rasmus Breuning Nielsen (DEN) was the top scorer of the match.
Both teams say goodbye to the league after this match, but they left us wanting to see much more in the next season.
Martín de Chavarría Muñoz"I think this win at home is going to put us together as a team, and we are going to grow from here"
Spain's Middle Blocker
Miguel Rivera"The third set was for sure the best set we had in the European League, so it was the best way to finish this competition. Now we have to focus on the next one."
Spain's Head Coach
