Olympiacos (Piraeus) started their participation in the second preliminary round of the Volleyball Champions League with a surprising loss. The Greek giant, whose coach is the legend Andrea Gardini, lost at home 1:3 (20-25, 25-18, 18-25, 24-26) against Las Palmas, led by star Osmany Juantorena, who was chosen as the match MVP. The two teams meet for the second consecutive year. In the 2024–25 season, Olympiacos S.F.P. EMUX qualified precisely after a victory over the Spanish opponent.
Stars from 'Trento's' past – once again against each other
The match also had a Bulgarian touch – former national player Dobromir Dimitrov played for the Spanish team, though he recorded few minutes on the court. A curious highlight was the clash between two former teammates from the golden years of Italian Trento – Juantorena faced the hosts' middle blocker Mitar Djuric.
.jpg?width=800&height=600&resize=contain&quality=85 "3955/2000 (3).jpg")
Match Statistics
| Category | Olympiacos (GRE) | Las Palmas (ESP) |
|---|---|---|
| Attack Points | 45 | 49 |
| Block Points | 10 | 10 |
| Aces | 9 | 6 |
| Opponent Errors | 21 | 27 |
| Total Points | 85 | 92 |
The statistics show a relatively balanced match, but higher efficiency in attack and fewer own errors tipped the scales in favor of Las Palmas. The Spaniards won the crucial rallies at the end of the first and fourth sets, demonstrating better mental resilience.
Hero of the Evening
Osmany Juantorena was above all with 20 points (1 ace, 2 blocks) and 63% attack efficiency, rightfully earning him the Most Valuable Player award. Following him in scoring were Nicolas Bruno (16 pts) and Francisco Souza (14 pts).
For Olympiacos, John Perrin was the top scorer with 19 points, followed by Aleksandar Atanasijevic (15 pts) and Christian Fromm (14 pts).
The match in the hall"Melina Merkouri"(Réntis) lasted118 minutes, with also present in the standsElitsa Vasileva-Atanasijevićwith her son. The support of the audience did not help the hosts to turn the tide of the match.
What's next
Spanish champion Las Palmas took a serious step towards the third qualifying round, where they could face Bulgarian champion Levski. The return leg in the Canary Islands is highly anticipated, especially after the display of experience and class by Juantorena and company.
photos: CEV
