European Cups
Cuneo, Treviso and Macerata in action
All three Italians teams will be in action this Wednesday. In the Champions League playoff 12 return leg, Cuneo travels to Russia to meet Belgorod, which will try to bounce back after the severe 3-0 loss of the first leg in Italy. In order to go through to the playoff 6, Cuneo will have to avoid the golden set.
Tie-break winners in Belluno, Treviso goes to France needing another victory over Sete in the Cev Cup Challenge Round to go through to the semi-finals.
Macerata is aiming for the semis too but in the Challenge Cup: Berruto’s boys showed great character in Russia to obtain a come-back win over Surgut and will now count on the support of its fans to win again.
The Cev Cup and Challenge Cup semi-finals will be played with home and away games, on February 23 and 27.
2011 CEV Champions League
Playoff 12 return leg
Wednesday 9 February at 4pm Italian time (6pm local time)
Lokomotiv Belgorod (RUS) – Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo (ITA) Live on Sportitalia 2
(Maroszek-Zulfugarov)
CEV Cup
Challenge Round return leg
Wednesday 9 February at 8pm
Arago de Sete (FRA) – Sisley Treviso (ITA)
(Stipanicev- Van Der Velden)
2011 GM Capital Challenge Cup
Quarter final return leg
Wednesday 9 February at 8.30pm
Lube Banca Marche Macerata (ITA) – Gazprom-Ugra Surgut (RUS)
(Demir- Harizanov)
Serie A2 Sustenium
Round 21 on Wednesday and Thursday
There will only be one mid-week round left after this coming one on Wednesday and Thursday. There is a great battle behind the league leaders, Padova, which will take on Mantova, winners over Sora on Sunday. The two best blockers will be face to face: Brugsthaler (Padova), top of the chart with 82, and Thomas Beretta (Mantova) second with 64. Beaten by Milan this weekend and relegated 6 points behind Padova, Ravenna will try to keep up at the top as it faces Pineto, which has been improving of late. Santa Croce and Città di Castello will fight it out with the third place at stake. The team from Tuscany is coming off a defeat, while Città di Castello won three straight with the latest derby triumph over Perugia. Volley Segrate plays home for the second time running against ISernia: an important game for both teams. Away winners in Loreto this weekend, Genova continues its good run in the A2: it will host Gela, beaten by the leaders in the last round. Three crucial points at stake as well between Sora, fifth, and Milan, sixth with only one point dividing the two squads. Fighting for their lives, Club Italia entertains Perugia looking for a big win after four consecutive losses. A tight affair is expected between Reggio Emilia and Loreto. Both teams had positive runs interrupted last weekend.
Round 21
Wednesday 9 February at 8.30pm
Marcegaglia CMC Ravenna – Pallavolo Pineto
(Florian-Sessolo)
Volley Segrate 1978 – Geotec Isernia
(Bertolini-Goitre)
NGM Mobile Santa Croce – Gherardi SVI Città Di Castello
(Marchello-Costantini)
Carige Genova – Eurogroup Gela
(Bassan-Simbari)
Globo Banca Popolare Del Frusinate Sora – CheBanca! Milano
(Cassarino-Gentile)
Club Italia Aeronautica Militare Roma – Sir Safety Perugia
(Zingoni-Pignataro)
Edilesse Conad Reggio Emilia – Energy Resources Carilo Loreto
(Bellini-Gelati)
Thursday 10 February at 8.30pm
Phyto Performance Padova – Canadiens Mantova Live on Sportitalia 2
(Puletti-Falzoni)
League table
Phyto Performance Padova 53, Marcegaglia CMC Ravenna 47, NGM Mobile S.Croce 38, Gherardi SVI Città Di Castello 36, Globo Banca Pop. Frusinate Sora 36, CheBanca! Milano 35, Carige Genova 35, Edilesse Conad Reggio Emilia 34, Volley Segrate 1978 30, Eurogroup Gela 29, Energy Resources Carilo Loreto 28, Geotec Isernia 23, Canadiens Mantova 22, Sir Safety Perugia 16, Pallavolo Pineto 13, Club Italia A.M. Roma 5.
