The main rivals in Sofia continue on schedule, with the battle for the top two positions intensifying with direct matches.

Yesterday, the next 4 matches were played in “Levski Sofia” Hall. Here's what happened on the third day of Eurovolley 2024 in Group A:

1. Ukraine – Portugal 0:3 (21:25, 20:25, 23:25)

On the third competition day of Eurovolley 2024 for U18 boys, the Portuguese team managed to achieve its first victory, having previously taken one set each against Bulgaria and Turkey. The “Navigators” defeated the Ukrainian team with a clean 3:0, controlling the game and the score in all three sets – won respectively at 21, 20, and 23 points. Only in the last part was there any serious intrigue, but Portugal deservedly celebrated the success, while Ukraine still has not even won a set in the championship, having lost 0:3 to Bulgaria and Poland in previous days.

2. Finland – Poland 1:3 (23:25, 16:25, 27:25, 26:28)

“Suomi” and “Druzyna Polska” played an interesting and truly even match, with only the second set being won by the Poles with a significant difference and without much resistance from their opponent. The first part ended with a score of 25:23 for Poland, which gave them additional momentum to take a 2:0 lead after 25:16 in the aforementioned second set. The third set offered great volleyball, and Finland managed to reduce their deficit to 1:2 after 27:25. The fourth set was equally high-quality and intriguing, but this time “Druzyna Polska” managed to win, thus sealing their 3:1 victory after 28:26. This is Poland's third consecutive victory, and they allowed their first lost set in the tournament.

3. Austria – Bulgaria 0:3 (17:25, 14:25, 23:25)

Our “Lions” secured their third consecutive home victory after completely outplaying the Austrian team with a 3:0 set score. Bulgaria has now hit its stride, having started the European Championship with slight difficulties. The Bulgarian volleyball players left no chance for the “Wunderteam”, winning the first two sets respectively at 17 and 14 points. Only in the third set was there some intrigue, but our boys deservedly and with concentration calmly closed out the match 3:0 after 25:23. Thus, Bulgaria also continues the championship undefeated, now leveling with the other two leaders in the group, Poland and France, in terms of set balance – 9:1. The match with Austria was thoroughly covered in our previous article, so we will not go into more detail here.

4. Turkey - France 0:3 (21:25, 18:25, 18:25)

In the last match of the day in Sofia, the “Roosters” easily defeated our southeastern neighbors with a 3:0 set score. Only in the first part was there something more interesting in terms of intrigue, but France calmly won after 25:21. In the next two sets, the definitely more skilled French team consolidated the result of the first, leaving the Turkish team at 18 points each. Turkey failed to reveal a larger part of its potential and decisively lost the match. The “Roosters” leveled at the top of Group A along with hosts Bulgaria and the Polish team, with all three teams having 9 points and a set ratio of 9 won and 1 lost. The battle in “Levski Sofia” Hall to determine the semi-finalists will definitely be “mercilessly cruel” until its very end.