Bulgaria recorded a second consecutive clean victory at EuroVolley 2026, after defeating Portugal 3-0 in their second match of Group B in Sofia. After the match, the national players were satisfied with the work done, but their eyes quickly turned to Ukraine – the first higher-level opponent against whom the Bulgarian team will have to take the next step in their performance.

Alex Grozdanov:"I think it was better than the first match. Again, we started a bit slower in the first set, and I wish we would start with full energy from the very first point. These are two very important victories, and we also managed to save some energy for tomorrow. I've been waiting for these matches since 2012, I was somewhere in the stands back then. I can't lie – our goal is the trophy, but we're taking it match by match."

Aleksandar Nikolov:"I am proud that after the emphatic victory against North Macedonia, the team was maximally motivated and confident today as well. It's not easy to play against such an opponent, because it requires maximum focus. Against Ukraine, it will be different – they are a direct competitor for the top spots in the group. I believe it will be an even match and we will again need the full support of the public."

Simeon Nikolov:"The three points are important. From tomorrow, the level of the opponent will rise. Ukraine is a better team than North Macedonia and Portugal, and we need to clean up some of the silly mistakes we made. Our style is to have fun, and it's important to be together even in tough moments. The hall motivates us a lot, and I hope it will be even fuller tomorrow."

Martin Atanasov:"It was important to close the match in three sets and have more time for recovery. In important moments, we need to make the difference – that's what great teams do. Our team spirit is perfect so far, and the crowd is our seventh player. I hope there's a progression, because it will get tougher and tougher. Ukraine has a powerful serve and is a tall team."

Gianlorenzo Blengini:"We cannot rely only on the serve. We need to be ready at certain moments to use a tactical serve, to focus on defense and counter-attack. That's what strong teams do. Against Ukraine, it will be very difficult – they are a good team with experienced players and a strong serve. From a technical point of view, we need to play strongly, because Ukraine has class not only in serving."

Zhasmin Velichkov:"This was a tougher match for us, the Portuguese have a stronger serve. The pressure affected us, but we recovered during the match. The atmosphere is incredible, and thanks to the fans, we bounce back in difficult moments. It's not easy with the change of position, and I thank the guys for helping me adapt. Against Ukraine, I expect an even tougher match."