CEV Champions League 2018

Starting from the 4th Round as per the latest European Cups Ranking List

Zenit KAZAN, Dinamo MOSCOW (RUS)
Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA, TRENTINO Diatec (ITA)
Halkbank ANKARA, Arkas IZMIR (TUR)
Zaksa KEDZIERZYN-KOZLE, PGE Skra BELCHATOW (POL)
CHAUMONT VB 52 Haute Marne (FRA)*
Knack ROESELARE (BEL)
BERLIN Recycling Volleys (GER)
PAOK THESSALONIKI (GRE)

Teams to be drawn on Wednesday, June 14 and starting from the 2nd or 3rd Round depending on the European ranking of their respective National Federation:

Lokomotiv NOVOSIBIRSK (RUS)
Sir Sicoma Colussi PERUGIA (ITA)
Fenerbahce SK ISTANBUL (TUR)
JASTRZEBSKI Wegiel (POL)
Spacer’s TOULOUSE VB (FRA)*
Noliko MAASEIK (BEL)
VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN (GER)
Jihostroj CESKE BUDEJOVICE (CZE)
Vojvodina NS Seme NOVI SAD (SRB)
Posojilnica AICH/DOB (AUT)
Neftohimic 2010 BURGAS (BUL)*
Ford Store Levoranta SASTAMALA (FIN)*
ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO)
Jedinstvo Bemax BIJELO POLJE (MNE)*
Shakhtior SOLIGORSK (BLR)*
Abiant GRONINGEN (NED)
Omonia NICOSIA (CYP)
OK Mladost BRCKO (BIH)*
Maccabi TEL-AVIV (ISR)*
KV Luboteni FERIZAJ (KOS)*

*Teams making their first historic appearance in the CEV Volleyball Champions League

The draw for the first qualification rounds will be held today. If anyone knows what is going on in Spain and why they continue to show no interest in club's competitions (is it only about the money?), please, share. Spain recently held a World League Division III tournament in Barcelona which was well-attended, I really want to know what is happening with their clubs/federation.

2nd Round (teams listed first will play the first match at home, home matches October 18, away matches October 22, 2017)

OK Mladost BRCKO (BIH) vs. ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO)
Omonia NICOSIA (CYP) vs. Jedinstvo Bemax BIJELO POLJE (MNE)
Maccabi TEL-AVIV (ISR) vs. Shakhtior SOLIGORSK (BLR)
KV Luboteni FERIZAJ (KOS) vs. Abiant GRONINGEN (NED)

3rd Round (teams listed first will play the first match at home, home matches November 8, away matches November 12, 2017)

Winner of OK Mladost BRCKO (BIH) vs. ACH Volley LJUBLJANA (SLO) vs. Lokomotiv NOVOSIBIRSK (RUS)
Winner of Maccabi TEL-AVIV (ISR) vs. Shakhtior SOLIGORSK (BLR) vs. Sir Sicoma Colussi PERUGIA (ITA)
Posojilnica AICH/DOB (AUT) vs. Fenerbahce SK ISTANBUL (TUR)
Winner of Omonia NICOSIA (CYP) vs. Jedinstvo Bemax BIJELO POLJE (MNE) vs. JASTRZEBSKI Wegiel (POL)
Vojvodina NS Seme NOVI SAD (SRB) vs. Spacer’s TOULOUSE (FRA)
Winner of KV Luboteni FERIZAJ (KOS) vs. Abiant GRONINGEN (NED) vs. Noliko MAASEIK (BEL)
Neftohimic 2010 BURGAS (BUL) vs. VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN (GER)
Ford Store Levoranta SASTAMALA (FIN) vs. Jihostroj CESKE BUDEJOVICE (CZE)

The Champions League is underway with the first qualifying matches. As expected, the most interesting encounter in the 2nd round is between Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Shakhtior Soligorsk. 32 points from an OH is impressive even nowadays, let alone from an almost 38-year-old player. It's inspiring what Leo Dos Santos, a former CL particpiant with Unterhaching, Zalau, and Tirol, could do at this age.

Let's see how prepared Neftochimik are to create some trouble for Heynen's Friedrichshafen. The Germans are clearly the better side, of course, the hosts will rely on some home support, it's been a trademark at least for Neftochimik (and most Bulgarian teams) in the rare European games we've had in Bourgas. This is their first Champions League participation, however, and I hope the younger players won't crack. One positive side of that encounter is that, unlike many volleyball matches and tournaments, there will be some noise in the hall, which should be full. The new sports hall in the city, right across the current one, is being built, so the (c)old, socialist-style sports hall where the club has played for years will host the match tonight. For the first time they have have organised ticket sales in advance and additional tribunes were installed. I hope the match will be as entertaining as it promises now, 2 hours before it starts.

About the two teams. I don't have super recent news about VfB, I only know that their summer signing, one of the few Bulgarian talents Martin Atanasov, got injured relatively seriously and had to end his contract with Friedrichshafen. I think all other players arrived in Bulgaria and should play. I am curious about Takvam's position tonight as Heynen has been experimenting lately. Neftochimik, on the other side, has two injured players (the MB Petkov and the OH Petrov) but both are said to take painkillers in order to play. The MB Petkov should be a starter, at least. The OPP crisis that started with the departure of Levan Kalandadze is almost over. The Ukrainian Oleksandr Statsenko (33 years old, free agent, last season in Tokat Plevne in Turkey) is eligible to play tonight and will probably make his debut. He is still waiting for approval for the domestic league.

Quote from TimHH

I did not see the matches but in the end it seems that Friedrichshafen played these matches in good professional style and did not leave too many chances for Neftochimik. Talking about Takvam, it is pretty save that he will play the season as OH, especially considering Atanasov's injury. Both starting OHs (Protopsaltis, Sossenheimer) really inhalated Heynen's "tippy-tappy" offense, so Heynen's idea behind this move probably is, that Takvam could bring a bit more aggression and "high-ball-qualities" from the left side.

These qualities could still become important, once the opponents become individually stronger, especially in CL group matches. Whether he can reach a sufficient level on reception and defense is questionable though.

Mhm, I watched both matches in Burgas and Friedrichshafen and Takvam did play as an OH. Absolutely agree, based on the squad he has, or rather what is now left of it after the injury of one of the OHs, Heynen will utilize Takvam as an attacking option. To be honest, I am not that sure how his idea with Protopsaltis and Sossenheimer will work in the long run. So far it has turned out great in the domestic league and in the CL qualifiers, but you don't have to be an expert to see that they will suffer immensely against a more physical team. Actually, Sossenheimer seemed to me as the player that Tischer will rely more on, Protopsaltis is a great jumper but his height should and will be a problem. This is why I don't think they will suffer much in defence, Heynen's team normally didn't, but rather in attack, if you ask me. Besides, VfB's opposites Malescha and Boladz are both inexperienced.

Unfortunately, the preparation before and the expectations from the encounter were greater than what Neftochimik could deliver. They are obviously not in good shape, lacked enough game time before facing a serious team like Friedrichshafen and overall had more confidence than what their current status represents. I am sure that if they could take part in the second preliminary round before meeting the Germans (theoretically), they could have benefited. They were nervous in the first two sets at home and they kind of decided the outcome already. We know for a fact that they mysteriously hired a coach who might know how to play volleyball but fails miserably at leading and managing his teams (Nayden Naydenov, became more famous internationally during the 2012 Olympics where his assistant Placi actually did his job). The fact that the shorter OHs of the Germans outplayed the Bulgarian block on a number of occasions says enough about the MB selection in Burgas. Nikolov couldn't be prevented, of course, from going to Belogorie, but last year's head coach Dochev and ex-NT member Samunev (MB) left because of a conflict with the management. Iliya Petkov and Nikolay Kartev are still green and offensively oriented, but at least the latter is a prospect for the future. They both struggled, however, against a smart and experienced setter and were lost against shorter attackers. Georgi Bratoev is obviously not in shape, Naydenov is not a coach who can influence and rather limit his frivolities. Valentin still hasn't fully recovered from his injuries and I doubt he will ever come even close to his form some years ago namely in Friedrichshafen. Salparov, although he wasn't that bad, is also not in good shape. The role of a playing sports director in the club is, unfortunately, setting limits to his ambitions as a player. Besides, there are personal moments happening these days in his life that are also partially taking his mind away from the court, so we can't expect him to do miracles in the CL or in the NT anymore. Maybe the only positive sign was the new signing's performance. Oleksandr Statsenko came in a good shape for someone who hadn't played in months. He was sharp, often reliable and belongs to the CL group stage in general, even at the age of 33.

Neftochimik will now face Dukla with Vesely, Janouch, and Stokr in the CEV Cup and I can't say I am optimistic about their chances. Friedrichshafen, on the other side, were too good right now for Neftochimik. We shouldn't judge them only on those games because the Bulgarian champions were relatively poor, besides it is early in the season, but I can't honestly say that I am impressed by the team Heynen has. Friedrichshafen didn't look threatening at all and will very much depend on Tischer's health. Let's see how the draw unfolds for them this week, but they will have trouble in Europe.

If one day we start discussing the (lack of) popularity of volleyball again or if you get asked by your friends or relatives about the same topic and why such a nice game, widely played for fun across the globe, doesn't get the recognition and financial prowess it might have had, show them the video with the draw in Moscow today. Or the draw organized by the inadequate Bulgarian federation for the ECH back in 2015. Or tell them about the comic governing bodies. It would be quite illustrious and will probably end any further discussion. I thought a lot about Mark Lebedew's thought, which I read some months ago, that volleyball gets EXACTLY the popularity and the recognition it DESERVES. Although I thought it can and should achieve more, I have been starting to agree with him. He is right.

I used to complain a lot about the ceremonies we've seen over the years, not just the draws, but also in general. I will pass this time, I guess you all saw the ridiculous procedure and the funny formula which, thanks to luck, didn't bring all 3 teams of a country into a group together. You might say it was impossible but nothing seemed impossible during that ceremony...

Congratulations, Friedrichshafen! You got the max amount of luck you could have theoretically and practically received (although they are used to being drawn in groups of death). Italian and Russian derbies in two of the pools. I wasn't OK when Lokomotiv Novosibirsk got together with Zenit in a group some years ago, I won't accept the fact that now history was beaten and we will have domestic matches in the CL

Quote from scarpetta

Group A must be the strongest group in CEV history

Not a chance! We had Zenit Kazan, Lube, Lokomotiv Novosibirsk, and Posojilnica some seasons ago. As well as Lokomotiv Belgorod, Iraklis, Lube, and Dukla in another season.