European Cups
2016 DenizBank Champions League
While Modena was knocked out at the Playoiffs 12 stage, Civitanova and Trentino keep going strong. Both sides have registered a superb seven wins for only one defeat. The last time the two clubs reached the Playoffs 6 together was in 2011-12 and Trento had ruined Civitanova’s dream of a final four participation. But this time, they won’t face each other, Italy will have two opportunities to be represented in the final act of the competition.
Civitanova will play host to Halkbank Ankara, the team coached by Lorenzo Bernardi who got Modena crashing out of the competition. Fascinating match with the Italians meeting up with former stars Dick Kooy and setter Dragan Travica, who had led Macerata to a league title and a Super Cup in 2012-13. More fire power for the Turkish side will come from Tsvetan Sokolov (who played at Trento and Cuneo) and Kevin Le Roux (in Piacenza from 2013 till last year). As for the hosts, they have Osmany Juantorena who signed at Civitanova after two years spent at Ankara, where he won the SuperCup, the national cup and the league title. Civitanova has not been to the Champions League final four since 2009, when it was beaten again by Trento.
Special night expected in Trento too with the Russians of Belogorie Belgorod coming over. In six participations, Trento made it four times to this stage, while it went straight to the Final Four in 2011 as the organizers of the event in Bolzano. The only time it was stopped before the playoffs 6 was in 2013, when the Italians were defeated at the Golden set of the Playoffs 12 by Dinamo Moscow. Belgorod finished top of its group before getting rid of Tours in the playoffs 12. It’s the club that dominated Russian and European scene from 1996 to 2005. With 7 league titles and 2 Champions League (2002 and 2003) and they won it a third time in 2014 before taking the World Club Championships just a few months after that. A lot of changes were made in the roster last summer, their star names will be Tetyukhin and Muserskiy. As for Trento, they hope to have Lanza and Djuric fit to play as new signing Matey Kaziyski will not be eligible. Stoytchev’s men will have to forget about the league quarter-finals game 2 loss against Molfetta and try to take an advantage before the return leg scheduled on Tuesday 22 March at 5pm.
Playoffs 6 draw
Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) – Halkbank Ankara (TUR)
Trentino Diatec (ITA) – Belogorie Belgorod (RUS)
Zenit Kazan (RUS) – PGE Skra Belchatow (POL)
Fixtures
Playoffs 6 first leg
Thursday 17 March at 8.30pm
Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA) – Halkbank Ankara (TUR) Live on Sky Sport Plus
Trentino Diatec (ITA) – Belogorie Belgorod (RUS) Live on Fox Sports HD
Playoffs 6 return leg
Tuesday 22 March at 5pm (Italian time)
Belogorie Belgorod (RUS) – Trentino Diatec (ITA)
(Huhtaniska-Schurmann)
Wednesday 23 March at 4.30pm (Italian time)
Halkbank Ankara (TUR) – Cucine Lube Civitanova (ITA)
(Mokry-Kovalchuk)
2016 Challenge Cup
Verona is experiencing two parallel but different lives this season. On the one hand, they had a difficult start to the playoffs with two defeats conceded in the quarter-finals against Perugia, on the other hand they have been unstoppable in the Challenge Cup with 8 wins in as many games. In the semi-finals, Giani’s men will take on Benfica Lisboa. The Portuguese have registered 4 wins and 2 losses, but one of them was against Antwerp when they needed only two sets to go through and lost at the tie-break, while in the 8th of finals they had lost the first leg against Istanbul BBSK before redeeming themselves in the return leg and taking the tie at the Golden set. Verona will have to watch out because they will be up against a team full of confidence who has just won the Portuguese cup and qualified for the League final (both match against Fonte do Bastardo Azores). Besides, last season, Lisboa had already knocked out an Italian team in the semi-finals, Ravenna. They had however been beaten in the final by the Serbian side of Vojvodina NS Seme Novi Sad.
Challenge Cup semi-finals
Calzedonia Verona (ITA) – Benfica Lisboa (POR)
Fakel Novi Urengoy (RUS) – Prefaxis Menen (BEL)
Fixtures
Semi-finals first leg
Wednesday 16 March at 8.30pm
Calzedonia Verona (ITA) – Benfica Lisboa (POR) Live on Fox Sports HD
Semi-finals return leg
Sunday 20 March at 4pm (Italian time)
Benfica Lisboa (POR) – Calzedonia Verona (ITA) Differed on Fox Sky Sport at 7.45pm
