Champions 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 maintaining second place in the interim standings.
However, all eyes are now on the next challenge – the direct battle for the top against the leader Lokomotiv Avia (Plovdiv). The derby of the round is on February 21st at 7:00 PM in Levski Sofia Hall and could prove decisive for the first position.
No intrigue against Beroe
Against the team from Stara Zagora, the "blues" left no doubt as to who dictated the tempo. 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 No. 1 referee Ivaylo Ivanov, who had a quiet evening and showed only one yellow card – for delaying the game by Beroe.
Levski imposed strong service pressure and stable 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 Tatarov, brother of national 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 - opera singer Yulian Konstantinov, brother of legend Plamen Konstantinov.
Individual highlights
Lazar Buchkov was the top scorer for Levski with 16 points and was named MVP of the match, while Skrimov and Weizing added 10 each. For Beroe, Velizar Chernokozhev finished with 11 points, but the Stara Zagora team never found arguments against the champions.
Team statistics:
| Indicator | Levski Sofia | Beroe 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks | 7 | 6 |
| Attack efficiency | 47% | 50% |
| Positive reception | 52% | 29% |
| Aces | 16 | 3 |
| Points from opponent's errors | 23 | 12 |
| Total points in the match | 78 | 48 |
Levski made the difference mainly with their serve – a total of 16 aces against only 3 for Beroe, which shows the champions' huge superiority in this element. The trio of Buchkov, Skrimov, and Weizing stood out, each recording four direct points from the initial serve.
Although Beroe had a higher attack percentage (50%), poor reception organization (only 29% positive) prevented the Stara Zagora team from building a stable game. Levski was more solid in defense, and their service pressure brought many easy points, which explains the significant difference in total points ", 78 against 48 points.
Levski now has 13 wins and remains closely behind the leader, and the upcoming derby with Lokomotiv promises to be the true test for the top spot in the championship.
photos: Nikolay Varadinov
