National player Aleksandar Nikolov and his Cucine Lube (Civitanova) missed an excellent opportunity to secure a direct spot in the Champions League quarterfinals after suffering their first loss in the group stage.
The Italian vice-champion dramatically lost away to French Montpellier with a score of 2:3 (27:29, 22:25, 25:14, 25:18, 14:16) in their fifth match of Group E, played in front of over 2000 spectators in the hall“Jacques Chaban-Delmas”Nikolay Kyurtev did not play for the hosts, as he was not registered for the Champions League for Montpellier because he had played in another European tournament with PAOK.
Lube started the first set strongly and took a five-point lead, but a series of errors, including from serve, allowed Montpellier to come back and close the set after extra points. The second set also went in favor of the hosts, who pressured the reception and capitalized on the lack of aggression in the visitors' play.
However, after Giampaolo Medei's changes, the situation turned around. In the third and fourth sets, Lube completely dominated – the serve worked, the defense stabilized, and the wing attack broke down the French team's organization.Alex Nikolov was at the heart of the comebackmercilessly punishing every weaker ball.
In the tie-break, Lube started confidently and was the first to reach the eighth point, leading by four points. However, Montpellier showed character, saved a match point at 13:14, and with the support of the full stands, turned the tide, closing the match with three consecutive points.
Lube remains the leader and holds its fate in its own hands
Despite the defeat, Lube remains at the top of the provisional standings with 4 wins, 1 loss, and 13 points, maintaining a very good position for direct qualification to the quarterfinals.
The decisive test is on February 18th at the "Eurosuole Forum" against Projekt (Warsaw) – a match that will determine whether Lube will avoid the additional playoff round.
Before that, however, the intrigue in the group will be heated up by the clash between Leuven and Warsaw, the outcome of which could significantly influence tactical calculations and tension in the final round.
Nikolov above all – 33 points in Montpellier
Alex Nikolov played another fantastic match for the Italian grandee and finished as the top scorer with 34 points:
4 blocks
1 ace
48% attack efficiency
43% positive reception
He received significant support from Erik Loeppky, who added 22 points, impressing with exceptional attack efficiency (63%) and a total of 5 aces. Mattia Bottolo also entered the double-digit scorers for Lube with 12 points, and it was precisely the trio of Nikolov–Loeppky–Bottolo that bore the main burden in the attempt for a complete comeback.
Montpellier with a heroic finish and MVP for Palacios
Ezequiel Palacios scored 14 points and was chosen as the MVP of the match after making a key contribution in the tie-break. Simon Hirsch from the hosts added another 14 for the win (Hirsch is a winner of the Bulgarian Cup with Hebar Pazardzhik in the 2022/23 season under the leadership of Camilo Placi - Ed.).
Team Statistics: Montpellier vs Lube
| Indicator | Montpellier | Lubec |
|---|---|---|
| Aces | 5 | 8 |
| Service errors | 24 | 27 |
| Blocks | 7 | 7 |
| Attack Efficiency | 46% | 53% |
| Positive Reception | 54% | 39% |
| Excellent Reception | 21% | 23% |
At first glance, Lube performs better in all attacking elements – more aces, higher attack efficiency, and equal blocks. This means that the problem was not in scoring points, but in preparing them.
The Key Problem: Reception
| Team | Positive Reception | Excellent Reception |
|---|---|---|
| Montpellier | 54% | 21% |
| Lubec | 39% | 23% |
This is the big difference in the match. Montpellier received significantly more stable, which allowed them to:
to maintain the first attack,
to distribute attacks evenly,
to keep cool in the tie-break.
Montpellier was the better team in reception, and that gave them more control in the decisive points.
Hidden factor: errors under pressure
| Element | Montpellier | Lubec |
|---|---|---|
| Service errors | 24 | 27 |
The difference of 3 errors may seem small, but:
they come at key moments – the end of the first set and at match point in the tie-break,
Lubec missed three set points in the first set and one match point in the fifth.
Conclusion – where Lubec lost the match
❌ Reception below expectations – the main problem
❌ Errors in decisive points
❌ Lack of control in the first two sets
✔ Attack, serve, and block – at a winning level
✔ Individual performance – excellent (Nikolov, Lyopki)
This match was not lost due to a lack of class, but due to a lack of stability.
The missed match point
This was not just a lost tie-break. This wasa missed match point for peace of mind.
Lube did the hardest thing – they came back from 0:2 sets away, broke Montpellier's rhythm, and reached a point where they held not only the match, but alsocontrol over the entire group. At 8:4 and match point in the tie-break, the Italians had in their hands a scenario that would have turned the last round into a mere formality.
Instead, hesitation set in. Several imprecise decisions, a lack of composure, and Montpellier, who had nothing to lose, turned the tide. With three consecutive points, the French did not just win the match –they brought the intrigue back to the group.
Now Lube remains the favorite, but now without the luxury of peace of mind. The match against Warsaw is not a bonus, but a test. And if on February 18th it comes down to calculating sets and points, this tie-break in France will return as an unpleasant memory.
Sometimes one set weighs more than an entire match.
This one was exactly like that.
photos: cev.eu
