The champion Levski Sofia continued their victorious march in efbet Super Volley, after decisively defeating Beroe 2016 with 3:0 (25:19, 25:15, 25:14) and retained second place in the temporary standings.
However, attention is already turning to the next challenge – the direct battle for the top spot against the leader Lokomotiv Avia (Plovdiv). The derby of the round is on February 21 at 19:00 in Levski Sofia Hall and could prove decisive for first position.
No suspense against Beroe
Against the Stara Zagora team, 'the Blues' left no doubt as to who dictated the pace. Nikolay Zhelyazkov's team dominated in all elements and closed the match in three sets in just over an hour of play.
The match was officiated by Bulgaria's referee No. 1, Ivaylo Ivanov, who had a calm evening and showed only one yellow card – for delaying the game by Beroe.
Levski imposed strong serving pressure and solid blocking, with the third set turning into a demonstration – the hosts took a convincing lead and finished the match without tension.
In this set, coach Nikolay Zhelyazkov also brought in younger players. Martin, the brother of national team player Georgi Tatarov, saw playing time, while Nikola Konstantinov and Adrian Ganev even scored one point each from attack. Konstantinov was watched by his father - the opera singer Yulian Konstantinov, brother of legend Plamen Konstantinov.
Individual Highlights
Lazar Buchkov was the most productive for Levski with 16 points, while Skrimov and Veisig added 10 each. For Beroe, Velizar Chernokozhev finished with 11 points, but the Stara Zagora team ultimately found no arguments against the champions.
Team Statistics:
| Statistic | Levski Sofia | Beroe 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks | 7 | 6 |
| Attack Efficiency | 47% | 50% |
| Positive Reception | 52% | 29% |
| Aces | 16 | 3 |
| Points from Opponent Errors | 23 | 12 |
| Total Points in Match | 78 | 48 |
Levski made the difference primarily with serving – a total of 16 aces against just 3 for Beroe, which demonstrates the champions' huge superiority in this element. The trio Buchkov, Skrimov, and Weising stood out, each recording four direct points from serves.
Although Beroe had a higher attack percentage (50%), their poor reception organization (only 29% positive) did not allow the team from Stara Zagora to build a stable game. Levski was more solid in defense, and their serve pressure brought numerous easy points, which also explains the significant difference in the total score – 78 against 48 points.
Levski now has 13 wins and remains closely behind the leader, while the upcoming derby with Lokomotiv promises to be the real test for the top spot in the championship.
photos: Nikolay Varadinov
