In the first match of the Champions League playoffs, Halkbank Ankara showed character and prevailed over Allianz Milano with 3:1 (25-27, 25-16, 25-21, 33-31), despite numerous set points for the Italian team in the fourth set.Before the match, Ankara paid tribute to Matey Kaziyski, who played and won the Turkish championship title for Halkbank Ankara in the 2013/14 season, under the leadership of Radostin Stoychev.
Match in detail
🏐 First set - Milano fought for a dramatic 27-25 victory, after coming back from 22-19 and 23-20.
🏐 Second set - Halkbank completely dominated and gave no chances to the opponent - 25-16.
🏐 Third set - The Turkish team continued with its stable play and won with 25-21.
🏐 Fourth set - A real thriller, in which Milano missed 6 set points, before Ankara closed the match with 33-31 on its third match point.
Individual performances
🔹 Marek Sotola (Halkbank) - 23 points, 59% attack efficiency
🔹 Dick Kooy (Halkbank) - 23 points, 58% efficiency
🔹 Yoandy Leal (Halkbank) - 13 points, 48% efficiency
🔹 Ferre Reggers (Milano) - 19 points, 49% efficiency
Statistical advantage for Halkbank
📊 Blocks - 10 for Halkbank vs 3 for Milano
📊 Attack - 51% for Halkbank vs 48% for Milano
📊 Aces - 8 for Halkbank vs 3 for Milano
📊 Service errors - 23 for Halkbank, 25 for Milano
🔻 The only component in which Milano capitalized was opponent's errors - 39 unforced errors from Ankara.
The rematch will be decisive
📅 Date: February 25
📍 Location: e-work Arena, Busto Arsizio
⏰ Time: 8:45 PM
🛑 Milan must win 3-0 or 3-1 to reach a "Golden Set," which will decide who advances. We remind you that President Lucio Fusaro's team lifted the CEV Challenge Cup in 2021.
Halkbank ANKARA - Allianz MILANO 3-1 (25-27, 25-16, 25-21, 33-31)
HALKBANK ANKARA: Cicekoglu, Bidak 4, Ivgen (L), Matic 7, Lagumdzija, Done (L), Leal Hidalgo 13, Kooy 23, Ma'a 4, Sotola 23, Unver. Did not play: Uzunkol, Dilmenler, Aslan. Coach: Kolakovic.
ALLIANZ MILANO: Kaziyski 9, Larizza 1, Zonta 1, Catania (L), Reggers 19, Barotto 4, Piano, Schnitzer 3, Gardini 1, Tatsunori 5, Poro, Loati 9, Caneschi 4. Did not play: Stafforini. Coach: Piazza.
Second referee: Konstantin Yovchev
After the Champions League loss to Halkbank Ankara, Matey Kaziyski analyzed the match and the aspects that need to be worked on in the run-up to the return leg.
"It was a tough match, they were well prepared, they took risks and it paid off for them in many moments. We had a few unsuccessful episodes, but in all sets, with the exception of the second, we had the opportunity to turn it in our favor. In the second set, we made too many service errors, but for the rest of the time, we played at a good level. We just narrowly missed bringing them to a tie-break and dreaming of something more."
In the concluding part of the match, Kaziyski acknowledged the opponent's advantage: "It takes a little luck and a little skill. We could have closed some balls better, but they defended impressively. We need to work on our serve and reception and approach the return leg with great energy from the very beginning, because they don't give up on anything."
Now the focus shifts to the championship and the return leg, scheduled for February 25 at the E-Work Arena in Busto Arsizio. "There's no time to rest, we're returning to Italy and immediately thinking about the championship match against Perugia. We will do everything possible to be in the best form."
In the other two playoffs:
Lüneburg, who defeated Levski twice in the group stage, emerged victorious in the "German derby" with a colossal tie-break of 27:25 -
Lüneburg (Germany) – Berlin (Germany)- 3:2(25:19, 23:25, 25:23, 24:26, 27:25)
Ketrzynski (23), Torvi (21), Espeland (20) – Hines (20), Krick (11), Reichert (11)
The "Bulgarian" son-in-law Atanasijevic was the top scorer against French Saint-Nazaire-
Saint-Nazaire (France) – Olympiacos (Greece)- 1:3(25:20, 20:25, 21:25, 23:25)
Kenham (20), Martins (15), Van der Ent (12) -Atanasijevic (19), Perrin (13), Djuric (10)
photos: Nikolay Varadinov and CEV
