Lube Civitanova has all the prerequisites to dethrone Perugia in the Italian SuperLega, and Aleksandar Nikolov is the main candidate for the most valuable player of the 2026/2027 season, according to Polish volleyball analyst Jakub Balcerzak. In his prediction, published on the social network X, he places the Nikolov brothers among the main factors in the title battle and identifies Manuel Zlatanov as the potential discovery of the championship.
Perugia remains the number one favorite for the Scudetto, but according to Balcerzak, the advantage of Angelo Lorenzetti's team is no longer as significant as last season. The Polish analyst pays special attention to the Belgian opposite Ferre Reggers, who is set to replace Wassim Ben Tara.
The most serious competitor to the champions, according to him, will be Lube Civitanova, where Aleksandar and Simeon Nikolov play key roles.
"Right next to Perugia, I place the crazy Civitanova, powered by the Nikolov brothers. Last season's finalist, judging by this year's squad, in my opinion, has everything necessary to realistically think about dethroning Perugia," writes Balcerzak.
Aleksandar Nikolov – favorite for MVP
The Polish analyst does not limit himself to just predicting a strong season for Lube. His choice for the most valuable player of the entire championship is Aleksandar Nikolov.
"The leader of Cucine Lube has everything it takes to become the best volleyball player in the entire championship," Balcerzak is adamant.
He also recalls a recent statement by the Bulgarian international to "La Gazzetta dello Sport" that he is entering a stage of his career where he needs to start winning trophies.
The Nikolov brothers have already signaled a strong season with Lube's success in the international tournament Jesi Volley Cup. The team from Civitanova defeated Milano 3:1 (25:23, 29:31, 25:21, 25:14) in the final, and Simeon Nikolov was chosen as the most valuable player of the tournament.

Manuel Zlatanov – the discovery of the season
Another prediction by Balcerzak is related to a volleyball player with Bulgarian roots. He identifies 18-year-old Manuel Hristov Zlatanov from Piacenza as the potential discovery of the SuperLega.
The Polish analyst even goes as far as to compare the young outside hitter to Trento's star Alessandro Michieletto.
According to him, Piacenza has an exceptional talent from its own academy who has every chance to establish himself as a regular starter in Dante Boninfante's squad this season.
Zlatanov has already attracted attention with his performance in pre-season tournaments. In the final of the Sardinia International Volley Cup against Trento, he scored 19 points and was the top scorer in Piacenza's 3:0 (25:22, 29:27, 25:19) victory.
Trento and Verona among the contenders, Piacenza – the dark horse
In his prediction, Balcerzak places Trento and Verona among the teams from which he expects at least a top-four finish. For Trento, the main question mark is related to the physical condition of the players, while in Verona, great hopes are placed on Noumory Keita.
Modena is identified as a team with the potential to cause an upset and even contend for medals.
Balcerzak points to Piacenza as the "dark horse" of the championship. He highly rates the club's transfer policy and the courage to bet on young players, recommending that the team be followed particularly closely in the new season.
Cuneo is among the candidates for a pleasant surprise with a potential playoff qualification, while Cisterna is named as the team most seriously threatened by relegation.
12 teams will participate in the regular season of the Italian SuperLega, and the top eight will advance to the playoffs. The series in the knockout phase will be played to three wins.
Jakub Balcerzak's predictions place three young volleyball players with Bulgarian connections among the most interesting figures of the upcoming season - Aleksandar and Simeon Nikolov in the battle for the Scudetto with Lube, and Manuel Zlatanov, who will try to establish himself in the Piacenza squad.

photos: Nikolay Varadinov