Allianz Milano celebrates its qualification for the next round of European tournaments after a 3-0 victory over Knack Roeselare in Belgium. This guaranteed the Italian team second place and the possibility of first place in Group C of the Champions League in the direct match against Poland's Zawiercie (on January 29). Allianz Milano needed one set to secure their qualification, and the task was completed in just over twenty minutes. Coach Roberto Piazza's team thus continues its positive streak with a third decisive victory in 2025. A third 3-0, two in the SuperLega against Monza and Verona, and one in the Champions League against a serious opponent, against whom in the home match at Allianz Cloud, the Lombards played a tie-break to defeat them.
Allianz Milano had to manage without their captain and Kazijski. While Matteo Piano remained in Italy due to the consequences of a gastrointestinal syndrome that appeared during Sunday's away game in Verona, Matey Kaziyski also did not play as he had to stay at the hotel in Roeselare due to a flu-like syndrome. The captain's armband was entrusted to Yacine Louati.

The absences forced head coach Roberto Piazza to start with the unusual setter-opposite combination of Porro-Barotto, outside hitters Gardini and Louati, middle blockers Caneschi and Schnitzer, and libero Catania. Due to injuries, the home team's coach Steven Vanmedegal improvised with a lineup of three outside hitters. Seppe Rotty is the opposite of veteran D'Hulst, a former Civitanova player. In the middle were 35-year-old Coolman, who has been at Knack for a long time, and 23-year-old Lennert Van Elsen, outside hitters are captain Verhanneman and Canadian Eric Sixna, and libero Dennis Deroey.

Nineteen years old and eighteen points, including three aces, in his first match as a starter in the Champions League - this, in short, is the resume of the chosen MVP of the match - Tommaso Barotto. Bulgarian fans remember the opposite in the Italian U20 men's national team, who was key to the victory against our silver medalists at the European Championship in Greece last year.
Another interesting fact from the match is that on the same day, father and son achieved victories in the Champions League. Davide Gardini did so with Milano and his father - the legend Andrea Gardini (as coach) against Vero Volley with his Olympiacos.

Knack Roeselare: D'Hulst, Coolman 5, Van Elsen 7, Verhanneman 4, Rotty 11, Dermo (L2) no, Deroey (L), Sixna 2, Wikstra 1, Van Elsen 7, Verhanneman 4, Lips no, Van Houweegen, Mills 1, Haapaniemi no. Head coach: Steven Vanmedegal.

Allianz Milano: Porro 1, Barotto 18, Gardini 11, Louati 11, Schnitzer 6, Catania (L), Caneschi 6, Larizza no, Stafforini no, Zonta no, Reggers no, Otsuka 1. Head coach: Roberto Piazza.

Spectators: 2000

MVP: Tommaso Barotto (Allianz Milano)

Set durations 23', 23' and 26' or a total of 1 hour and 12 minutes.

Block points: Milano 8, Roeselare 4. Attack points: Milano 63%, Roeselare 37%. Service points: Milano 6 with 20 errors, Roeselare 5 with 13 errors. Positive reception: Milano 48% (26% perfect), Roeselare 47% (22%).