#EuroLeagueW Final – Everything at stake as Sweden chase new title

Following their impressive comeback against Slovenia in Örebro on Wednesday, Team Sweden, with one final match remaining, is still unbeaten in this year’s CEV Volleyball European League. Naturally, the Swedes want to keep the streak alive, add a new title to the collection, and continue building confidence ahead of the home EuroVolley tournament – but another win away from home against Slovenia on Saturday will require a performance at least as strong as Wednesday night’s.

Already on Thursday, the team travelled to the Slovenian capital Ljubljana, where the Swedish squad will recharge after the first final, which lasted just over two hours in a packed Idrottshuset in Örebro. On Saturday, with a late 8:30 PM start, the Swedish national team will have to manage without any significant crowd support. At Športna Dvorana Vižmarje Brod, the home crowd will instead do everything it can to help their favourites reach a Golden Set.

“No doubt about it. Just as our fantastic crowd lifted us, Slovenia’s fans will do the same in the next match,” said Sweden’s head coach Lorenzo Micelli after Wednesday night’s thrilling finish.

Sweden is, of course, aiming for another win and, with it, the 2026 European League title. However, if Slovenia levels the tie, the outcome, regardless of the result, will be decided in an especially tense fashion: a single dramatic set where the first team to 15 points, or beyond that with a two-point margin, takes the title.

“We have our dream and our goal. Winning the first match is both fun and stressful, but tonight we are happy about the win, and we will carry that joy with us as strength into the second final. Until then, there are also things to think about – what we are doing well and what we need to do better,” said Micelli.

Team captain Anna Haak, for her part, highlighted Sweden’s high spirit as something to carry into the return match: “Everyone did a good job, and of course it is extra good for the morale that we can beat a team ranked higher than us – and we are going to do it again. Everything is on the line on Saturday.”

Isabelle Haak, the European League’s top scorer overall with 251 points, also believes Sweden is in a good position: “They have a good team, so it is certainly not decided, but we definitely have an advantage, and as long as we focus on our own game, we can absolutely beat them again.”