CSKA's volleyball players put up a fight against champions Levski in the "eternal derby," played today in the "reds'" hall, but couldn't achieve more than one set in their favor and lost 1:3 (25:23, 30:32, 21:25, 19:25). The new recruit Shekerdzhiev was also among the "reds" but did not play. Levski's captain Svetoslav Gotsev, ready for the "eternal derby," also did not record any playing minutes.
In the first set, the guests took a strong lead at the beginning with 0:4 after a series of serves by Skrimov. After the initial bewilderment, CSKA took the initiative and did not let go until the end of the set, which finished 25:23 in their favor.

The match result could have been different if, in the second set, Sasho Popov's boys had played more concentratedly to lead 2:0. In the longest second set, the "blues" were the first to reach set point after an ace by Antov at 22:24. The hosts returned two points, and then a marathon of 6 set points followed for Levski, who closed the set 30:32 after an ace by Skrimov.

In the third set, the "armymen" led only once at the beginning, after which the "blues" accumulated a colossal difference of 12:21. The hosts performed miracles of bravery to fix the score at 20:23, but their strength reached its limit. The set was closed by the strong-playing Stoil Palev, who registered a successful attack for 21:25. Palev finished the match with 5 points.

The last set offered the same scenario as the first, with the "blues" again leading 0:4, and then 1:7. From this point until the end of the match, there was no comeback at any moment, and Levski closed the match 19:25, after a missed serve by Simeon from CSKA.

Veni Antov was the most effective player in the match, finishing with 18 points (1 ace, 3 blocks), followed by Livan Osoria with one point less (5 blocks). Osoria was named MVP of the match.

Vladimir Garkov added 16 more points for the victory (5 aces). Todor Skrimov scored 11 points (7(!) aces). Strahinja Brzaković was the best performer for the "reds," scoring 16 points (4 aces), being the only one from the hosts to finish with a double-digit score.

Thus, Levski remains undefeated in first place in the standings, and CSKA is in seventh place.

Alexander Popov thanked the "red" fans for their support, despite the loss.
On the other pole was Levski's coach Nikolay Zhelyazkov, who, after the match, called on the NVL to address racist chants from the "red" fan group directed at Livan Osoria.

photos: NVL