In the first round of the new season of the Italian Superlega 2025/2026, Sonepar Padova defeated newcomer MA Acqua S. Bernardo Cuneo with a score of 3:2 (26:24, 21:25, 25:22, 20:25, 15:13) in a match that lasted 2 hours and 10 minutes at the Kioene Arena.
📊 Top scorers in the match:
| Team | Score | Top Scorer | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonepar Padova | 3 | Velko Masulovic | 22 |
| MA Acqua S. Bernardo Cuneo | 2 | Marko Sedlacek / Nathan Ferrare | 21 |
Padova showed greater stability in decisive moments, especially in the tie-break, where they managed to capitalize on their opponent's errors. Masulovic was key with 22 points in attack, 5 blocks, and 2 aces. For newcomer Cuneo, the Sedlacek-Ferrare duo were leaders with 21 points each, but they couldn't lead the team to a sensational victory in their elite debut.
🇧🇬 Debut for Boris Nachev
Bulgarian national team member and middle blocker Boris Nachev made his official debut in Serie A.
Nachev appeared in the second set, which started evenly, but after 13:14, the guests from Piedmont made a decisive breakthrough to 14:19. Coach Jacopo Cuttini called a timeout and made several changes, including the entry of Nachev, who contributed with an attack from zone 4, reducing the difference to 17:20. The Bulgarian brought freshness in offense, but Cuneo managed to maintain the pace and equalize the score in sets – 1:1.
Although briefly on the court, he began his career in the strongest championship in the world, being utilized by coach Jacopo Cuttini in rotations at the center position.
Padova started the season with a victory after a hard-fought match where both teams shared two sets each, and the fifth was full of strong emotions and a dramatic finish. After the first round, Boris Nachev's team holds a place in the upper half of the table, while Cuneo shows that they will be competitive even in their debut season among the best.
