VK Lvi PRAHA - Greenyard MAASEIK

• Oskar Madsen’s excellent 2 serves gave the Lions an early lead 3:1 which the home team maintained for most of the first set.
• 2 successful video challenges on the serve in the end of the first set tipped the momentum to the Belgian side winning the first tight set 22:25.
• At the beginning of the second set, coach Barrial sent Schouten and Cech into play. Both helped to improve the attacking statistics of the Praguers, who dominated throughout the second act.
• In the exciting end of the second set, the Lions were able to defend the opponent at the net. When McCarthy added a couple of straight points from serve, the fate of the second act was decided (25:17) and match leveled at 1:1.
• At 10:10, McCarthy sent another projectile from the service to the Belgian side, but Maaseik’s libero Perin saved the point with a great jumped reception.
• At 12:10 Schouten sent an uncatchable serve with a speed of 122 km/h.
• More inaccuracies crept into Maaseik's game in the third set and when it looked already decided at 24-20, the Lions made several errors and eventually had to fear for the win until the last moment (25:23).
• With Pablo Crer serving, the Lions built a five-point lead (10:5), and coach Bertini used already both time outs. The Lions were unstoppable. The match became a one-sided affair. Middle blocker Fynn McCarthy came on for a great performance. The home team excelled in all game activities and took the match to a comfortable 3:1 victory (25:13).
• Casey Schouten was named MPV of the match.

VK Lvi PRAHA

• Jakub Janouch (captain VK Lvi Praha): "Unbelievable result, unreal atmosphere. It was like an extra-league final. We told ourselves that every match in the Champions League would be like that for us. We didn't give up, even though we lost the first set at home. We came back into the game and got up. We were more mentally resilient and even when the opponent was tightening up, we withstood the pressure. With our volleyball and tremendous effort, we managed everything. I'm happy that we did it."
• Juan Barrial (head coach VK Lvi Praha): "I am really proud of this team even if the result was positive. We will continue in Europe for sure and we will play one more final next Wednesday to continue in Champions League. I am really proud because we beat a very good team. Today we showed our power to our fans."

Greenyard MAASEIK

• Fulvio Bertini (head coach Maaseik): "There were two key situations that were decisive moments of the match. First of all when Lions exchanged the opposite the game changed. They started to be more confident, especially in transition situations when our reception was not good. Secondly, at the start of the second set, they started to serve really really well. It was not easy for us to manage the pressure of Prague. That was the key."
• Adam Bartos (Outside spiker Maaseik): "Commenting on the match is very difficult for me. We won the first set but then our game fell apart a bit. My first impression is that we were a worse team on serve and reception, which is probably why we lost today. It is not pleasant for me to come back and play a match like that, both as a team and as an individual. The change of momentum came when Prague made some changes and replaced the opposite. I think he played what we let him play. We didn't follow our game plan, but that's my feeling. I have to watch the video and then I can make a better assessment."