The two Bulgarian representatives in the men's Challenge Cup tournament - CSKA (Sofia) and Lokomotiv Avia (Plovdiv), already know the dates and times of their first European matches in the 2026/2027 season. According to the program published by the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV), the capital's "reds" will play both their matches against the Ukrainian Epicentr-Podolyany (Gorodok) in Sofia, on two consecutive days, while the Plovdiv team starts with an away game in Montenegro.
CSKA will decide everything in Sofia
CSKA will face the Ukrainian Epicentr-Podolyany (Gorodok) in the 1/32 finals of the third strongest European club tournament.
The first meeting is scheduled forNovember 17 (Tuesday) at 6:30 PMin the capital's "Hristo Botev" hall, with the Bulgarian team being the symbolic host.
The interesting thing is that the return match will take place only 24 hours later -on November 18 (Wednesday), again at 6:30 PM and in the same hall. This time the Ukrainian representative will be listed as the host.
Thus, the two teams will determine the final winner of the clash within two consecutive evenings in Sofia, without the need for travel between matches.
For the first match, CEV has appointed Hungarian Miklos Horvath as the first referee, and Dane Andreas Bak-Georgsen as the second. In the return match, the Dane will be the first referee, and Nikola Kozic will be the second.
Lokomotiv Avia begins its European journey in Budva
Lokomotiv Avia (Plovdiv) will start its participation in the Challenge Cup with an away game against Montenegrin Budva. The Plovdiv team will face the Olympic champion from London 2012, Alexander Butko, who at 40 years old continues his career as a setter for the Montenegrin champion.
The first match is onNovember 11 (Wednesday) at 7:00 PM Bulgarian timein the Mediterranean Sports Center in Budva. The kick-off time in Montenegro is 6:00 PM.
The Montenegrin club has already announced the match and made a special appeal to its fans to fill the hall, describing the return of European club volleyball to the city as an important event.
The return match will take place onNovember 18 (Wednesday) at 6:30 PMin the University Sports Hall in Plovdiv.
The first match will be officiated by Ukrainian Kateryna Hranko and Croatian Toni Ivkovic. For the return leg, Greek Irini Moula and Lithuanian Gustas Pultarackas have been appointed. Against the team from Plovdiv will stand the Olympic champion from London 2012, Oleksandr Butko, who at 40 years old continues his career as a setter for the Montenegrin champion.
Four European matches with Bulgarian participation in eight days
The program for the Bulgarian teams in the 1/32 finals of the Challenge Cup looks like this:
November 11, Wednesday
7:00 PM – Budva (Montenegro) – Lokomotiv Avia (Plovdiv), Budva
November 17, Tuesday
6:30 PM – CSKA (Sofia) – Epicentr-Podolyany (Ukraine), "Hristo Botev" Hall, Sofia
November 18, Wednesday
6:30 PM – Epicentr-Podolyany (Ukraine) – CSKA (Sofia), "Hristo Botev" Hall, Sofia
6:30 PM – Lokomotiv Avia (Plovdiv) – Budva (Montenegro), University Sports Hall, Plovdiv
ThusNovember 18 will be a decisive day for both Bulgarian representatives, as their return matches will start at the same time.
The winners of the two clashes will advance to the next stage of the tournament.
