2019 Challenge Cup

    A little surprise was the upset, which Austrian club Salzburg did against Dukla Liberec from Czech republic in tie-break. Liberec is second behind Olomouc, but before Prostejov currently in Czech extraleague.

    As expected, that match was another joke, Besiktas by far superior to underdogs from Kosovo. At the same location they will finish it in two days.

    Olympiakos will play against Volero on 20/6. Propably beacause volero has to play in world club championship. Now Olympiakos is 3rd in Greek League and will play another game on 18/6 against the 2nd team of the league. Its to early and the 2nd team has easy programme so far but Olympiakos has a very difficult programme.

    Besiktas ISTANBUL - AYDIN BBSK

    Hermes OOSTENDE - Azerrail BAKU


    AO THIRAS - KP BRNO

    Pölkky KUUSAMO - UTE Volleyball Team BUDAPEST


    GEN-I Volley NOVA GORICA - LP KANGASALA

    Vasas Obuda BUDAPEST - UVT Agroland TIMISOARA


    Vitéos NEUCHATEL Université - Orbita ZAPORIZHZHYA

    Mladost ZAGREB - Kanti SCHAFFHAUSEN


    Prinz Brunnenbau Volleys PERG - Vero Volley MONZA

    LiigaPloki PIHTIPUDAS - VDK Bank GENT


    Slavia EU BRATISLAVA - Calcit Volley KAMNIK

    AVC FAMALICÃO / LEICA - Ladies in Black AACHEN


    Beroe STARA ZAGORA - Aris THESSALONIKI

    Olympiacos PIRAEUS - Volero LE CANNET


    ZOK GACKO - Hapoel KFAR SABA

    Dukla LIBEREC - Proton SARATOV



    As expected Besiktas ISTANBUL had a rather easy second match too and meets now regretfully Turkish compatriot team AYDIN BBSK in the first main round - so exactly one Turkish team will proceed to second round.

    Another early duel of two stronger teams is Volero Le Cannet against Olympiacos Piraeus. The winner is likely to meet Proton Saratov later on, which is playing as expected despite there were some turbulences around them in the last time in Russia near the Caspian Sea...

    Olympiakos before some minutes won 3-2 against a Greek team who has a budget around 100.000 euros. I cannot understand how a team with such a low budget who propably cannot play in europe and have more than 1 foreigner player is so much better than the team from LUX who has 6 foreigners and lost 25-2 and 25-4 from Olympiakos.


    Olympiakos will play in two days against Volero. 3 matches in 5 days in 3 countries! Against the team from LUX used all the players but today the match was very tough.


    Last season before the final of challenge cup in Bursa Olympiakos had to played away against a team from a greek island. But the team from the island agreed to play in Olympiakos's home in order to help him to not be tired against Bursa. These year wasnt so lucky and played a very difficult game two days before the match against Volero.

    Why doesn't Olympiacos participate in CEV CUP or CL?

    Last year Olympiakos won all the games in greek league very easy and in strongers competition it was more likely to disqualify early and then Olympiakos would had to play only in greek league.


    The men's team of Olympiakos didnt play because cev wants a arena with more than 3000 capacity...maybe its the same with women but i think they didnt care so much.


    Also its more possible to take the first place in challenge cup. And Olympiakos have asked the greek federation for a 4th foreigner (only for cev games) but they didnt let him.

    The head coach of Olympiakos had said that all the players are very anxious when they play in Greek league and he expected a better performance today because Volero is the favorite.


    After the game said that for 1.5 set was the best game of Olympiakos these season.