Bulgarian international Aleksandar Nikolov will not participate in Cucine Lube Civitanova's away game against Volley Haasrode Leuven in the Champions League. This has been confirmed by the Italian specialized websitevolleyball.it, which reports that the outside hitter has been struck down by the flu and has remained in Italy.
The match is from the second round of Group E and will be played on Wednesday, January 7, at 8:30 PM in the Sport Oase hall in Leuven.
Flu stops Nikolov
According to information fromvolleyball.it, Nikolov has a high fever and clearly expressed flu symptoms. After an examination by Lube's medical staff, it was decided that he would not travel with the team, as he is unable to withstand either the transfer or to play on the court. The goal is full recovery and avoidance of complications.
Travel problems
The Italian team's journey also did not go as planned. Due to bad weather, snow, and intense traffic on the way to Bologna airport, the team was on the verge of missing check-in. Subsequently, the flight was delayed, and the volleyball players remained on the runway for over an hour in the plane. As a result, the planned training session upon arrival in Belgium was also canceled.
Form and context
Lube enters the match after a successful start in the group stage A 3:0 home victory over Montpellier (25:19, 25:19, 25:20). In the Italian SuperLega, the team occupies sixth place with 25 points, having suffered a 3:1 set loss in their last away match against Trento.
Belgian Leuven began their Champions League campaign with a 3:0 away loss to PGE Projekt Warsaw, but will be looking for revenge in front of their home crowd. The team is second in the Belgian championship and relies on an aggressive serve. The main attacking figure is opposite hitter Kristof Witvrouwen, the setting is entrusted to the experienced Matthias Valkiers, and the squad also includes libero Kobe Verwimp (born 2005).
Expectations
Before the match, Lube's young setter Mattia Boninfante emphasized the importance of the encounter:
"The away game in Belgium is shaping up to be complicated. It will be important to step onto the court with the right mindset. The group stage is crucial, and every match requires maximum concentration."
Aleksandar Nikolov's absence is certainly a blow for Lube, but the Italian powerhouse will be looking for a second consecutive victory in the group to solidify their Champions League ambitions.
