This afternoon, the Kioene Arena hosted a joint training session between Sonepar Padova and Rana Verona, a valuable opportunity to maintain high match pace during a period of the season with no official fixtures following the conclusion of the regular season. The match against Verona was a significant test for the Padua team to regain intensity and automatic play, providing the coaching staff with valuable insights ahead of upcoming matches. The goal is to be in the best possible condition for the first match of the fifth-place playoffs, scheduled for Saturday, April 4th at 5:00 PM against Monza at the OpiquadArena.
Coach Jacopo Cuttini: “We really wanted to organize this friendly against Verona because, after a month without official matches, we needed to regain competitive spirit. It wasn’t a case of inactivity, as we continued to work even in the postseason, but we missed the competition. At the beginning, we saw some mental rustiness in dealing with the difficulties of the match, but that’s normal and useful in a real game context, something that’s harder to replicate in practice. Nonetheless, I saw a good response from all the players who took to the field. We still have some issues to sort out, including the squad, but everyone who worked with us during the season is ready to contribute. I’m pleased to have seen them in action today.”
Coach Alberto Salmaso: “After the break we granted the team at the end of the regular season, we’ve resumed training. At this stage, we’re focusing on physical training, along with a gradual return to ball work to regain consistency. This joint training session was an important test, especially mentally: it helps us return to playing at a high level, regaining our intensity. It’s also a useful opportunity to assess our condition and determine which solutions to use for our upcoming matches. In the coming days, we’ll focus on tactical preparation for the match against Monza.”
Sonepar Padova – Rana Verona 0-4
(20-25, 19-25, 20-25, 24-26)
Sonepar Padova: Truocchio 8, Zoppellari, Orioli 6, Nachev 4, Masulovic 8, Held 10, Diez (L); Gardini 4, Stefani 7, Bergamasco 3, Mc Raven 2, Toscani (L). Non entrati: Polo, Todorovic. Coach Jacopo Cuttini.
Rana Verona: Planinsic, Sani 20, Nedelljkovic 12, Gironi 7, Keita 5, Vitelli 3, D’Amico (L); Glatz 18, Valbusa 7, Sakamoto 2, Bonisoli (L). Non entrati: Zingel, Cortesia, Christenson, Ferreira, Mozic, Staforini (L). Coach Fabio Soli.
Durata: 19’, 19’, 21’, 22’. 1h21’.
Note. Servizio: Padova errori 21, ace 5, Verona errori 25, ace 10. Muro: Padova 2, Verona 8. Errori punto: Padova 27, Verona 31. Ricezione: Padova 34% (15% prf), Verona 41% (9% prf). Attacco: Padova 46%, Verona 53%.
