The Polish champions died in Warsaw! PGE Projekt is one step closer to fulfilling your dreams

If we were looking for a favorite for Tuesday’s (March 24) confrontation, we would have to look more towards the Polish champions. Bogdanka LUK Lublin has won the Champions League group and could approach the quarter-final battle in more comfortable conditions.

PGE Projekt Warszawa, however, had to deal with the need for an additional two-game match. However, the Warsaw team showed class by winning against the Italian Itas Trentino. PGE Projekt turned the tide of the two-legged match, because it started with a 2-3 loss in Warsaw. Then, however, 3:2 on the Apennine Peninsula for the visitors, and additionally – a victory in the golden set – which gave them a place next to Bogdanka LUK in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

Champions League: PGE Projekt Warszawa defeated Bogdanka LUK Lublin!

Wilfredo Leon and his colleagues played the first quarter-final match at Torwar in Warsaw. The hall was packed with fans, it was noisy and it must be admitted that the hosts played very well that day. The Polish champions have their own personnel problems – primarily due to the injury of Kewin Sasak – the nominal first attacker.

However, Mateusz Malinowski has shown many times during the current season that he is a high-class volleyball player. On this day, however, it was not only the attacker who had problems for coach Stephane Antiga’s team. Bogdanka LUK started the match by losing the game… 25:14. There was virtually nothing on the guests’ side, and a lot on the hosts’ side.

Bartosz Bednorz certainly deserves words of recognition (21 points, the most points in the match). In the last few days, the player was unable to play regularly due to personal matters. However, when it came to taking on the responsibility of team leader, the Polish representative performed very well in this role.

On the other hand, coach Kamil Nalepka and his team outlined a plan that simply worked. Leon was very burdened with receiving the serve. In addition, Hilir Henno was not enough of a support in this element to relieve the team leader in any way. Bogdanka LUK only managed to snatch the second set, winning it 25:23. In the third game, it became dangerous for the hosts, because PGE Projekt had already 23:21, but after two actions it became 23:23.

Ultimately, however, PGE Projekt prevailed and took a 2-1 lead, winning 26-24. The set ended with a service ace from Yuria Semeniuk.

The last game went to the hosts 25:20. The Warsaw team thus took revenge for two defeats in the regular phase of PlusLiga, which they suffered against the national champions. Game MVP award for Kevin Tillie.

The return match in Lublin, at the Globus hall, will be played on April 1. It is worth adding that the rules are that if Bogdanka LUK wins 3:0 or 3:1, a golden set will be played. The Warsaw team will need two sets to be lucky. If they win it, they will secure a historic promotion – the first promotion to the Final Four of the Champions League in the history of the club.

It is worth adding that there are two other Polish teams in the quarterfinals of the Men’s Volleyball Championship. On Wednesday (i.e. March 25), Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (away against the Italian Cucine Lube Civitanova) and Asseco Resovia Rzeszów (at home against the Turkish Ziraat Bankkart Ankara) will play their matches.