After six played rounds in the group stage of the CEV ZEREN Group Champions League Volley 2026, all questions about the path to Istanbul have been answered. Eleven teams secured their place in the eliminations and kept their dream of participating in the Final Four, which this season will be held in the Turkish metropolis.
The distribution of power confirmed expectations – Italy and Turkey are once again the backbone of the tournament, with each of the two countries sending four teams to the direct eliminations. They are joined by one representative each from Greece, Poland, and Germany, which further clearly outlines the bipolar model at the top of European women's volleyball.
Among those advancing are the defending champions A. Carraro Prosecco DOC CONEGLIANO, who are pursuing a historic goal – to become the first club to win the Champions League three consecutive times.
The fourth round of the group stage brought top-level volleyball, and the last match day – Wednesday, when all ten matches of the final round were played – provided all the answers and definitively shaped the path to Istanbul.
Who won the groups
Five teams pulled ahead of the competition and finished first in their groups, which secured them a direct spot in the quarterfinals and the advantage of hosting the second match of the series:
VakifBank ISTANBUL – Group A
Fenerbahçe Medicana ISTANBUL – Group B
Eczacıbaşı ISTANBUL – Group C
A. Carraro Prosecco DOC CONEGLIANO – Group D
KS Developres RZESZÓW – Group E
Fenerbahçe, Conegliano, and VakifBank advanced through their groups with a perfect record, while Rzeszów and Eczacıbaşı also demonstrated stability and control. Among them, Conegliano stands out particularly, as besides its results, it carries the historic stakes of an unprecedented hat-trick in the tournament.
How the tournament continues – who goes where
With the conclusion of the group stage, the tournament scheme is now completely clear.
🟢 Directly to the quarterfinals
(group winners)
The five group winners secured a spot among the top eight without additional matches.
The only confirmed quarterfinal pair at this stage is:
Eczacıbaşı – Rzeszów
🟡Play-offs for a spot in the quarterfinals
(second in groups + best third-placed)
The remaining three spots among the top eight will be distributed through two-match play-offs (home and away), which will be played between February 17 and 26. Participating teams are:
Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI
Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA
Numia Vero Volley MILANO
ANKARA Zeren Spor Kulübü
SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN
The best-ranked third-placed team also joins them – Olympiacos PIRAEUS.
🔵CEV Cup
In the CEV Cup, the third-placed teams in the groups continue – CS Volei Alba Blaj, PGE Budowlani Łódź, Dresdner SC and Levallois Paris Saint Cloud, while Olympiacos remains in the Champions League through the play-offs.
🔴Eliminated from European tournaments
Tent Obrenovac, Voluntari 2005, Mladost Zagreb, SC Potsdam and Maritza (Plovdiv) were completely eliminated from European tournaments, having finished fourth in their groups. These teams conclude their participation in Europe after the group stage.
The Quarterfinals – a clash of schools and styles
The setup is indicative – Turkish powerhouses are distributed to avoid early internal clashes, while Italy enters the knockout stages with depth, tactical flexibility, and several teams capable of deciding matches within a single set.
The format leaves open the possibility for early Italian-Italian or Turkish-Turkish duels, depending on which teams advance through the play-offs. A potential clash of the caliber of Fenerbahçe – Scandicci looks like a final before the final.
Matches with history
Vakıfbank – Scandicci 3:2
(24:26, 23:25, 25:20, 28:26, 15:12)
The Turkish champion survived after losing two sets and showed why they are a team for big nights. In decisive moments, VakifBank imposed its serve and solid saves in defense.
Milano - Eczacibasi 2:3
(25:20, 18:25, 16:25, 25:21, 13:15)
A real thriller, in which the Turkish team showed stronger nerves in the tie-break, despite the strong comeback of the Italian women in the fourth set.
Individual class makes the difference
Even in a tournament dominated by teams with deep benches and significant rotation, individual class remains crucial. In key moments, the top scorers and leaders in serving and blocking tipped the scales in their favor.
The group stage concluded without sensations, but with clearly defined favorites. Turkish power and Italian tactical culture continue to define the Champions League's image, and the path to the trophy – through playoffs and quarterfinals – promises volleyball at the highest European level. The Final Four in Istanbul no longer seems like a surprise, but rather a logical clash between the two strongest volleyball centers in Europe.
