Albania fight their way back in European Silver League

The men’s national team of Albania has managed to overcome a slow start to their campaign in the CEV European Silver League 2022, thus leaping from the bottom of the standings to the second place in Pool B, thanks to back-to-back wins against North Macedonia. 

After beating their eastern neighbours 3-1 at their own court on June 1, 2022, the Albanians proceeded to repeat that feat at home three days later, sealing the win in one hour and 45 minutes.

Supported by a raucous crowd at the Farka Sports Hall in the outskirts of the capital, Tirana, the ‘Red & Blacks’ raced to win the first set, by profiting from their opponent’s errors, which gifted the home time a generous sum of nine points. Albania took the first set comfortably, 25-20, but the visiting team was not to give up so easily and North Macedonia came back to life in the second set.

North Macedonia's attack was full of fuel, recording 18 winning spikes in the second set and taking it 25-20, thus restoring parity between the two teams. However, Albania turned the tables in the third set, as its attack was back on track, producing 15 winning spikes, to take the set by a convincing margin of nine points, 25-16.

The fourth set was a hard-fought one, disputed point by point. However, the home team, coached by Ioannis Melka, excelled in its block efficiency, which guaranteed the win of the set and, alongside it, a 3-1 victory.

Albania has now climbed to the second place in the standing on two wins and seven points, four behind pool leaders, Romania, who are yet to lose a single match, while North Macedonia slipped down to third, ahead of bottom-of-the-standing Bosnia and Herzegovina.