Italian volleyball will see off the year 2025 with a top-class match. On Tuesday evening, starting at 9:30 PM, the Pala Barton arena will host the Italian Cup quarter-final clash between Sir Susa Scai Perugia and Cucine Lube Civitanova. Only one match separates the two giants from participating in the Final Four, which will take place on February 7 and 8, 2026, at the Unipol Arena in Bologna.
A match with no room for error
The tournament format leaves no room for tactical calculations – the winner advances, the loser exits the competition. This very fact turns the encounter into a true battle of nerves and character between two teams that have been a benchmark for quality in the SuperLega for years.
Upward trend for both teams
Cucine Lube Civitanova arrives in Umbria with a clearly pronounced surge in the championship. The team from Marche has recorded three consecutive successes – a dramatic tie-break victory against Milano, a quick and decisive match in Cuneo, and a solid 3:1 home win against Piacenza. This streak gives the team confidence ahead of the tough away game at Pala Barton.
Perugia, for their part, return home after nearly three weeks of absence from their own arena. Their last home game was in the Champions League against Prague, and in the meantime, the Block Devils travelled the long distance to Brazil and returned with the world title – their third in club history. After a straightforward victory in Cisterna di Latina on Boxing Day, the focus is now entirely on the Italian Cup.
The key – serve and long rallies
Libero Massimo Colaci highlighted the main tactical points before the match. According to him, the game will largely be decided by the serve-receive ratio, as Civitanova possesses one of the most aggressive serves in the league. At the same time, experience and instinct in long rallies can tip the scales – it is in these moments that the individual class of the world champions from both teams comes to the forefront.
A history where anything is possible
Head-to-head statistics show how evenly matched this rivalry is. In 73 official encounters, Perugia holds a minimal advantage – 37 victories against 36 for Civitanova. Their last regular season meeting, played on October 26 at PalaBarton Energy, ended with a tie-break success for the Block Devils – further proof that between these two teams, small details often decide the outcome.
A familiar face
The only player with a past in both clubs this season is middle blocker Marko Podraščanin. He defended Perugia's colors between 2016–2020, leaving a lasting mark in the club's history.
The match will be broadcast live on Max Sport 1, Rai Sport, as well as on the VBTV platform, ensuring broad television coverage for one of the season's most anticipated volleyball nights.
Perugia versus Civitanova – a clash of traditions, stars, and ambitions, promising to be a fitting end to the volleyball year 2025.
At the center of the event will be Alex Nikolov, who before the match will find out where in the world he will finish this very successful season for Bulgarian men's volleyball!
