Bulgaria started the European Championship in the best possible way in front of their home crowd. Gianlorenzo Blengini's national team defeated North Macedonia with3:0 (25:17, 25:19, 25:18)in "Arena 8888" and took the first three points in Group B.
However, the clean victory does not mean that everything was easy. North Macedonia managed to stay close to the Bulgarians for significant periods in all three sets. The difference came when our players increased the pressure – mostly from the serve. And the big weapon on the first night of EuroVolley turned out to be Simeon Nikolov's serve.
EuroVolley started with kaba gaida and full stands
Before the first ball, Sofia's hosting was opened with a ceremony and a kaba gaida performance, and the stands created an atmosphere befitting the first match of the world vice-champions in front of a home crowd.
In the VIP zone were President Iliana Yotova, Minister of Youth and Sports Encho Keryazov, Chairperson of the Bulgarian Olympic Committee Vesela Lecheva, President of the Bulgarian Volleyball Federation Lyubomir Ganev, and Teodor Salparov, who only days ago filled the same hall for his benefit match.
Blengini started with brothers Simeon and Aleksandar Nikolov, Denislav Bardarov and Martin Atanasov on the wings, and Alex Grozdanov and Iliya Petkov in the middle. The more interesting decision was at the back – receiver Zhasmin Velichkov was given the role of libero, as had already happened in the preparation against the Czech Republic.
The move worked. Velichkov received 14 serves and finished with 86% positive and 86% excellent reception.
Moni changed the first set from the service line
The beginning also showed the normal tension of a first match in front of a home crowd. North Macedonia took a 2:0 lead, and later maintained their advantage to 5:3.
Then, for the first time, the weapon that would haunt the opponent throughout the evening appeared.
Simeon Nikolov stepped up to serve and Bulgaria turned the tide. The setter scored three aces in the series, and from 3:5, the national team pulled ahead to 8:5.
North Macedonia still did not give up and stayed close at 17:15. However, Bulgaria had another Nikolov with a strong serve. An ace from Alex helped the difference grow to 19:15, followed by an attack from Bardarov, and finally, the block started working. Alex Grozdanov intervened for 23:17, and the set ended at 25:17.
North Macedonia held on until 18:18
The second set actually best showed why the final 3:0 should not mislead about how the match unfolded.
Bulgaria took a 5:3 lead, but the opponent turned it around and reached 8:5. It was Moni's turn again. The setter's serve brought Bulgaria back into the set, and his ace brought about a turnaround.
This time, the Macedonians held on even longer. The game went point for point, passed through 16:16, and the guests even took the lead after a block.
At 18:18, however, Bulgaria shifted into another gear.
Alex Nikolov pressed from the serve, successful counterattacks followed, and Bardarov contributed extremely strongly. The series ofsix consecutive Bulgarian pointsturned 18:18 into 24:18. North Macedonia saved the first set point, but on the next one, they made a serving error – 25:19.
This was also one of the clearest pictures of the match – the opponent could stay close to Bulgaria for a long time, but couldn't hold on when the national team raised their level in the decisive part of the set.
From 13:13 to 20:13 – and it was all over
The third set almost repeated the scenario. North Macedonia again did not allow an early breakaway, and after two errors by Martin Atanasov, they even took a 7:5 lead.
And again, Simeon Nikolov provided the impetus for the change.
Moni equalized with an ace, Bardarov brought a lead after a counter-attack, but the Macedonians continued to hold on – 12:12, and a little later 13:13.
This was the last tie in the match.
One of the most attractive rallies of the evening, including a foot save, ended with a powerful attack by Alex Nikolov for 16:13. Martin Atanasov added another point, and Iliya Petkov blocked the opponent for 18:13.
Then Moni came again.
First an ace with a hybrid serve. After that, another one with a strong serve –20:13. In just a few minutes, Bulgaria had turned 13:13 into a seven-point lead.
Blengini also used the end to bring in Asparuh Asparuhov and Rusi Zhelev, and on the first match point, Alex Nikolov made the reception difficult with his serve and captain Alex Grozdanov scored the last point – 25:18.
Moni's seven aces were significant for all three sets
Aleksandar Nikolov logically finished as the top scorer in the match with 19 points – 16 from attack, 2 aces, and 1 block. Denislav Bardarov added 15, and Iliya Petkov – 7.
But one of the big stories of the evening was Simeon Nikolov.
The setter also finished with 7 points, all seven of which were aces. And more importantly – they were not accumulated in already decided sets. His serve brought Bulgaria back exactly when North Macedonia was ahead or still holding on close.

The numbers confirm what was seen on the court.North Macedonia managed to be competitive in certain periods, but Bulgaria had many more weapons. The national team scored twice as many attack points – 42 against 21, and finished with 58% efficiency against 34% for the opponent. The biggest difference, however, was from the serve –10:0 aces. There is also a number that Blengini will certainly want to reduce –21 service errors. Bulgaria took a huge risk from the service line and this time it paid off, but against a stronger opponent, such a number of gifted points could weigh much more heavily.

Alex was the main scorer, but perhaps the most pleasing statistic, apart from his 19 points, is Bardarov's.He converted 12 out of 15 attacks for 80% efficiency, adding an ace and two blocks. This gave Bulgaria another serious option on the wings and prevented the attack from being solely dependent on Alex Nikolov. And one more detail deserves attention after the first evening – the "Zhasmin Velichkov – libero" experiment passed its first official test. His 86% positive and excellent reception is impressive, although the real test of this option is yet to come against teams with a much tougher serve. Bulgaria got exactly what it wanted from the first evening in Sofia – a 3:0 victory, three points, and the opportunity to gradually release the pressure of their debut in front of their home crowd. On September 10, the national team rests. The next match is on September 11 at 7:00 PM against Portugal, again in "Arena 8888".

photo: Nikolay Varadinov