In a thrilling Champions League quarter-final clash that had volleyball fans on the edge of their seats, Poland’s Jastrzębski Węgiel narrowly lost to Italy’s powerhouse, Gas Sales Daiko Piacenza, with a close scoreline of 3:2. Despite the setback, the Polish champions remain optimistic about their chances of advancing to the semi-finals, with the decisive rematch set to take place on their home turf.
“Facing such world-class players, we knew it wouldn’t be easy. However, we’ve proven ourselves capable, and with our fans behind us, anything is possible,” said Jastrzębski Węgiel’s middle blocker, Jurij Gladyr. His team, which reached the final of the prestigious tournament last season, is again showing its resilience and determination to compete among Europe’s elite.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, kicking off with Jastrzębski Węgiel taking advantage of a slew of errors by the Italian team to claim the first set convincingly. The second set, however, was a tight affair, with Piacenza edging out a win in a nail-biting finish. Despite the overall loss, the Polish team’s ability to secure a crucial fourth-set victory keeps their hopes of progression alive.
“We’re disappointed, especially since we had our chances in the second set. Yet, winning the fourth set shows we can compete at this level. We need to stay positive and believe in our ability to advance,” commented Benjamin Toniutti, Jastrzębski Węgiel’s setter.
The tie-breaker ultimately tipped in favor of Piacenza, but the battle for a spot in the Champions League semi-finals is far from over. The rematch, scheduled for February 28th in Poland, promises to be an electrifying encounter as Jastrzębski Węgiel aims to leverage home advantage and reverse the narrow defeat.
Reflecting on the intense match and looking ahead, Gladyr emphasized the need for mental and physical recovery. “We must regroup and boost our confidence. Our opponents are strong, but we have a talented squad too. Winning two sets in Italy gives us a fighting chance to secure our place in the semi-finals with a strong performance at home.”