The men's Volleyball Champions League resumes this week with the third matches of the group stage, which will be crucial for the standings. The official CEV website highlights several "blockbuster" clashes, and we logically turn our attention to the matches with Bulgarian participation – Alex Grozdanov, Alex Nikolov, Dobromir Dimitrov, Nikolay Kartev, Matey Kaziyski, Tsvetan Sokolov, and head coach Radostin Stoychev.
Bogdanka LUK Lublin – with Alex Grozdanov
Pool B
Polish champion and Champions League debutant Bogdanka LUK LUBLIN, with Alex Grozdanov in the squad, continues its impressive European performance. Their leadership in the group makes them favorites against Galatasaray HDI Istanbul, who are still seeking consistency at the highest level.
For the Poles, confidence also comes from their recent triumph in the Polish Cup, and a strong presence at the net, where Grozdanov is a key figure, is among their main weapons.
Cucine Lube Civitanova – with Alex Nikolov
Pool E
One of the highlights of the round is the match in Poland between PGE Projekt Warsaw and Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA. The Italians arrive with two clear 3:0 victories and considerable confidence, supported by Alex Nikolov's excellent form.
Lube is looking for a third consecutive victory, which could prove decisive in the battle for first place in the group. Serving and stability in attack are the factors that could tip the scales in the Polish capital.
Guaguas Las Palmas – with Dobromir Dimitrov
Pool C
Spanish champion Guaguas LAS PALMAS, with Dobromir Dimitrov in its ranks, hosts VK Lvi Prague in a clash between teams still looking for their first group victory.
The history between the two teams is recent – in the 2023/2024 season, they met in the playoffs, when Las Palmas advanced after a "golden set" in Prague. The Spaniards have solid experience against Czech teams, and playing at home in the Canary Islands is traditionally a significant advantage.
Montpellier – with Nikolay Kartev
Pool E
French team MONTPELLIER HSC VB, featuring Nikolay Kartev, will try to build on their sensational 3:2 victory over Projekt Warsaw. After this success, team confidence is high, but there is no room for underestimation against Belgian team Volley Haasrode Leuven.
Montpellier will rely on aggressive serving and better defensive organization, where saved balls in defense could prove decisive.
Halkbank Ankara – the Bulgarian axis
Pool B
The most significant Bulgarian presence is once again in Halkbank ANKARA, where Matey Kaziyski and Tsvetan Sokolov play, and Radostin Stoychev is the head coach. The Turkish giant hosts Knack ROESELARE and is looking for a mandatory victory in front of its home crowd.
The opponent comes after two 2:3 losses, but showed that they can be dangerous. For Halkbank, patience in the game, stable reception, and correct decisions in attack will be key – elements in which the experience of Kaziyski and Sokolov is invaluable.
Standings in the groups after two matches played
Pool B – Lublin's stability, Halkbank under pressure
| Place | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | Sets (won/lost) | Set ratio | Points (won/lost) | Point ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bogdanka LUK LUBLIN | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 6:2 | 3.000 | 178:149 | 1.195 |
| 2 | Galatasaray HDI ISTANBUL | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5:5 | 1.000 | 220:225 | 0.978 |
| 3 | Halkbank ANKARA | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3:5 | 0.600 | 168:190 | 0.884 |
| 4 | Knack ROESELARE | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4:6 | 0.667 | 206:208 | 0.990 |
Bogdanka LUK LUBLIN, with Alex Grozdanov in the squad, logically leads the group – strong play at the net and an excellent balance between serve and block. Galatasaray is stable, but the negative point ratio indicates fluctuations. Halkbank of Matey Kaziyski and Tsvetan Sokolov is under pressure – lost sets and poor effectiveness in decisive moments leave no room for error. Roeselare is still without a win, but with close matches and minimal differences.
Pool C – German-Italian dominance, Las Palmas below the line
| Place | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | Sets (won/lost) | Set ratio | Points (won/lost) | Point ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BERLIN Recycling Volleys | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 6:2 | 3.000 | 189:163 | 1.160 |
| 2 | Sir Sicoma Monini PERUGIA | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 6:3 | 2.000 | 202:184 | 1.098 |
| 3 | VK Lvi PRAHA | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3:6 | 0.500 | 180:209 | 0.861 |
| 4 | Guaguas LAS PALMAS | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2:6 | 0.333 | 167:182 | 0.918 |
Berlin and Perugia are already emerging as favorites for the top two spots – showing stability, squad depth, and high efficiency in attack. Behind them, the battle is for survival. Guaguas Las Palmas, with Dobromir Dimitrov, remains last – the few sets won and the lack of rhythm in attack are a serious burden, and the upcoming matches will be crucial.
Pool E – Flawless Lube, Montpellier still in the game
| Place | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | Sets (won/lost) | Set ratio | Points (won/lost) | Point ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 6:0 | 100.000 | 150:102 | 1.471 |
| 2 | PGE Projekt WARSZAWA | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5:3 | 1.667 | 183:165 | 1.109 |
| 3 | MONTPELLIER HSC VB | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3:5 | 0.600 | 166:183 | 0.907 |
| 4 | Volley Haasrode LEUVEN | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0:6 | 0.000 | 101:150 | 0.673 |
Cucine Lube, with Alex Nikolov, has been flawless so far – two 3:0 victories, not a single set lost, and impressive ratios. Projekt Warszawa remains a direct competitor, but the loss to Montpellier has opened up the group. The French team, with Nikolay Kartev, still has real chances, while Leuven is clearly an outsider with no real contribution to the point balance.
Schedule – Group Stage, third match (Bulgarian time, TV broadcast in Bulgaria)
| Date | Time (BG) | Pool | Home team | Away team | TV | Arena / City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20.01.2026 | 21:00 | Pool E | MONTPELLIER HSC VB (FRA) | Volley Haasrode LEUVEN (BEL) | VBTV | Palais des Sports Jacques Chaban Delmas – Castelnau-le-Lez |
| 21.01.2026 | 16:00 | Pool B | Halkbank ANKARA (TUR) | Knack ROESELARE (BEL) | MAX Sport 1 | TVF Ziraat Bankkart Volleyball Hall – Ankara |
| 21.01.2026 | 19:00 | Pool A | Ziraat Bankkart ANKARA (TUR) | Trentino Itas (ITA) | MAX Sport 1 | TVF Ziraat Bankkart Volleyball Hall – Ankara |
| 21.01.2026 | 21:30 | Pool E | PGE Projekt WARSZAWA (POL) | Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA (ITA) | MAX Sport 1 | Torwar Hall COS – Warsaw |
| 22.01.2026 | 19:00 | Pool B | Galatasaray HDI ISTANBUL (TUR) | Bogdanka LUK LUBLIN (POL) | MAX Sport 3 | Burhan Felek Voleybol Salonu – Istanbul |
| 22.01.2026 | 21:00 | Pool C | Guaguas LAS PALMAS (ESP) | VK Lvi PRAHA (CZE) | VBTV | Gran Canaria Arena – Las Palmas |
MAX Sport 1 focuses on the three strongest matches on Wednesday – the Halkbank match with Bulgarian presence, followed by the classic clash Ziraatbank – Trento and concluding with the central match in Warsaw between Projekt and Lube. On Thursday, attention shifts to MAX Sport 3 with the Galatasaray – Bogdanka match, crucial for the standings in Pool B. The matches in Las Palmas and Montpellier remain without a confirmed TV signal for the Bulgarian market, but can be watched on the VBTV platform.
