Ukraine's national team leader Oleh Plotnytskyi expects an extremely tough challenge against Bulgaria in the last match of the second week of the Volleyball Nations League. Despite the Ukrainians' excellent run and three consecutive victories, the team's star is adamant that Gianlorenzo Blengini's squad will be their toughest opponent yet.

"I am convinced that this will be our toughest match out of the four, but we will certainly try to win it. And after that, the game will show," Plotnytskyi stated laconically.
In Ukraine, the match is also considered key in the battle for a spot in the final tournament. According to an analysis bySport.uathe main advantage of the "blue and yellows" is their better physical condition. Raul Lozano's team had a day of rest before the match, while Bulgaria played three five-set matches against Italy and Slovenia and yesterday also against Canada, accumulating significant fatigue.
However, the Ukrainians show serious respect for the Bulgarian squad. The analysis pays special attention to the brothers Simeon and Aleksandar Nikolov, identified as the team's big stars. According toSport.uaBulgaria's aggressive serve, fast attacking play, and powerful style will be among the biggest challenges for the Ukrainian team.
The article also notes that Bulgaria has a quality block and plays at a high tempo throughout the match, while the key to Ukraine's success will be stable reception and good defense.
According to the Ukrainian media, current form and fresher players give a slight advantage to Raul Lozano's team, which is pursuing a historic first qualification for the VNL final tournament. Nevertheless, both Plotnytskyi and local analysts agree that Bulgaria remains one of the most uncomfortable opponents, and the outcome of the match will depend on who manages to impose their rhythm from the very first rallies.

photos: Nikolay Varadinov