Unbeaten sides go head-to-head in the 2024 CEV Men's European Golden League Week 2

Two of the four unbeaten teams after the first week of the 2024 CEV Men's European Golden League will have their record broken, as they will face off in the second week, as the competition reaches its halfway point.

So far, only Czechia have not dropped a set, having won against Estonia and North Macedonia in straight sets in Strumica, and now they will head to Luxembourg, where they meet the hosts and Ukraine.

Ukraine, winners in 2017 and runners-up in 2021 and 2023, are also one of the unbeaten teams so far in the competition, securing wins against Romania (3:1) and Azerbaijan (3:1), but this test will really see where both sides are, as they are gunning for a Final Four berth.

Tournament 7, which is due to take place in Râmnicu Vâlcea, Romania, is also one to watch, especially as two unbeaten teams, Croatia and Portugal, will face off. As Croatia are hosting the Final Four this edition, the pressure is on them, having lost two sets so far, one each in their wins against Finland and Belgium.

Portugal also have the top scorer of the competition so far, Alexandre Ferreira, who has been superb in the first two matches, with 44 points, followed by Belgium’s Ferre Reggers (38 points) and Croatia’s Petar Dirlic (37 points).

But Romania, which were the surprise package at the CEV EuroVolley 2023 Men, making the quarter-finals and finishing on the seventh place, their best performance since 1979, will be looking to make the most of their hosts position, with one win and one loss in the first week.

As two unbeaten teams will have their first loss in their column, sides like Spain, Finland or Estonia – all with one win and one loss so far - will be looking to challenge for a place between the top four teams at the end of the league round.

All three are involved in the Tournament 6, due to take place in Gijón, Spain, which will make or break their future in the competition, as one loss would certainly hamper their chances of progression between the top four sides.

Tournament 8, held in Beveren, Belgium, will be the last-chance saloon for the three participating teams, all of which have conceded two losses in the first two matches. Belgium are the only side to have won a set in their first matches, while both North Macedonia and Azerbaijan have lost each of their first two matches.

In the 2024 CEV Men's European Silver League, Austria will make their debut, while Israel sit out of the Tournament 2, played in Kopavogur, the Faroe Islands. The hosts aim to secure their first win, after two losses, while Iceland aim to improve their 50% record, with one win and one loss.