Beroe's team achieved its first historic victory in European club tournaments after making an impressive comeback from 0:2 to 3:2 against Slovak champion Slovan Bratislava. The match, played in Stara Zagora, offered a true volleyball thriller and showed that head coach Miroslav Zhivkov's young team has character and potential for more in the CEV Challenge Cup tournament.
First two sets Slovan's dominance
The visitors from Bratislava started strong and demonstrated better organization in reception and attack already in the first set. The Slovaks took a 10-point lead in the middle of the set, and despite the hosts' attempts to close the gap, Slovan won convincingly with 25:17.
In the second set, Beroe improved its play reception stabilized, and setter Rangel Vitekov effectively set up Spas Bairev and Shekerdzhiev. However, in crucial moments, the Bulgarians made inaccuracies, including an out-of-bounds attack by Bairev, which put Slovan ahead 2:0 after 25:23.
Third set the start of the comeback
The third set started evenly, with points exchanged up to 11:11. Gradually, Beroe found its rhythm. A series of excellent blocks by Tonev and Delancey, as well as powerful attacks by Bairev, brought a lead that increased to 23:16 after an ace by Mechkarov. An out-of-bounds attack by the Slovaks made it 25:17 for the hosts and brought intrigue back into the match.
Fourth set Bairev leads the resurgence
With Spas Bairev in great form (21 points so far), Beroe started confidently and took a 10:5 lead after a series of strong serves by Mechkarov and flawless play by Bairev. Hanusek's block and Latunov's precise plays maintained the difference. After another ace and a successful counter-attack, Beroe won 25:14 and tied the score 2:2.
Tie-break defense, block, and nerves of steel
In the decisive fifth set, Beroe started with inspired play after a block by Delancey and a counter-attack by Vitekov, the score became 4:1. The visitors tried to come back, but after attacks by Bairev and Mechkarov at 8:6, the two teams switched sides.
From then on, Beroe kept its composure, defending exceptionally stably and managing to save difficult balls in defense. At 13:11, a service error by the Slovaks gave them a match point, and an ace by Delancey ended the contest 15:11 and 3:2 for Beroe!
| Players | Points | Ace | Blocks | Attack success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spas Bairev | 29 | 2 | 5 | 54% |
| Delancey | 14 | 2 | 3 | - |
| Mechkarov | 12 | 1 | 2 | 53% |
| Latunov | 10 | 1 | 2 | - |
Comment:
Blocking was Beroe's main weapon – a total of 19 successful blocks against only 5 for Slovan. Bayrev was the undisputed leader and driving force behind the comeback, while Vitekov distributed the game with great maturity, especially during counterattacks in the third and fourth sets.
Key numbers from the match
| Element | Beroe | Slovan |
|---|---|---|
| Block | 19 | 5 |
| Ace | 7 | 6 |
The Bulgarians showed immense progress in defense and stability in second reception. The excellent synergy between Vitekov and the attackers was crucial, as was the confidence of Bayrev, who scored 29 points – a record for him in European tournaments.
This victory is historic for Beroe, not only because it's their first in Europe, but also because it came after a complete comeback from 0:2. The team showed maturity, will, and character – qualities that will be crucial in the return leg in Bratislava.
