Volleyball predictions and free betting tips

For predictions, I have chosen another intriguing clash from the 11th round of the Italian SuperLega, featuring a well-defined favourite and an ambiguous underdog. "Perugia", having lost the top spot in the league table, will play against "Milan", who sits in 7th place, though gaining momentum after a poor start to the season. Perugia The stumble against "Trentino" revealed that "Perugia" isn't always efficient and can indeed be bested. The score (3:1) in favour of the current SuperLega leaders shows one thing this game was Fabio Soli's men's revenge for the loss in the Italian Supercup. Basically, the whole battle was intense, although a loss for Perugia was expected. Regardless, I took a higher total points score and won, even with only 4 sets played instead of a logical 5. The European campaign for Angelo Lorenzetti's team was strictly tied to the Club World Championship. The Italian team looked the best of all, not dropping even a single set in four consecutive matches. The Perugia squad also has another trophy to their name the Italian Supercup, won through intense battles against Trentino and then Lube Civitanova. Lorenzetti's men only just managed to clinch the final. Perugia has a good enough squad to compete for first place in the regular season and contend for the golden medals of SuperLega. Undoubtedly, we must acknowledge the two attackers from the Umbria region, namely Oleh Plotnytskyi and Kamil Semenyuk, who provide much value to "erugia. An added boost comes from another spiker, Wassim Ben Tara, who has hit form in the last three matches. Milan is currently at full strength, so Angelo Lorenzetti's men need to gear up for an energy-intensive match, where "Perugia" definitely won't have it easy. Milan Milan faced problems at the start of the season, but the team picked up pace and are now winning more often than they lose. The only match from the last five SuperLega bouts that Roberto Piazza's men lost was against Verona (2:3). Alongside the relatively good performances in the championship, "Milan" also passed two rounds in the CEV Cup, beating not-so-formidable opponents. Still, the Italians looked impressive we'll see what happens next when Roberto Piazza's team faces the Polish "Zawiercie" in the 1/8 finals. The latter goes into the confrontation as a favourite against the Lombardy club. "Milan" has an excellent squad and should aim to qualify for the SuperLega playoff. I'd single out Ferre Reggers, whose play at the start of the season didn't impress, but is now looking strong. Hernandez Osniel Mergarejo is in great shape, even though he also faltered at the start. Now he has become one of the team's key leaders. The odds seem fairly placed, however, Milan are no pushovers and "Perugia" won't be able to have their way. The match should be engaging, and a straightforward (3:0) win for Angelo Lorenzetti's squad is not on the cards, given the current form of "Milan". Match Prediction: Perugia - Milan If Perugia is to win, they will do so with difficulty. Overcoming Milan convincingly will be quite a challenge, therefore I will venture to suggest that the visitors will definitely secure one set, and perhaps snatch the second if they don't lose their rhythm. My prediction will depend on the two starting sets of the match.

Expert

Volleyball

Italy - SuperLega

Perugia Umbria Volley

Handicap2 by sets (+2.5)

Odds: 1.66Stake: 5/10

win

+3.3

26.12.2023

226

Expert

Volleyball

Italy - SuperLega

Odds: 2.46Stake: 5/10

Hello everyone! Today will see half of the 11th round of the Italian SuperLega Volleyball take place. Of course, I've picked some intriguing matches for you to bet on. Let's start with a battle between two leading groups - Modena will play against Piacenza at the "Pala Panini". The latter team is slightly above its principal rival in the Emilia-Romagna region. Modena This season, Francesco Petrella's team missed out on the European cups, hence they can freely focus on the SuperLega. Basically, Modena isn't facing any issues in the championship, especially as the club has stringed together a series of 4 wins, which includes a sensational triumph against Trentino by a score of (3:1). Modena has a suitable lineup for accomplishing its primary goal, precisely to reach the playoffs. However, there would be difficulties later as Francesco Petrellas wards often look lacking against bigger teams. The victory over Trentino slightly eases this concern, as everything boils down exclusively to clashes with competitors, and this includes the match against Piacenza. Osmany Juantorena of Modena maintains a high utility factor, with an efficient performance by Tomazzo Rinaldi. Albeit, he has only been noticeable in the last two matches, particularly against Trentino with whom Vlad Davyskiba did a good job in his position, scoring as many points as Rinaldi in a demanding match for the entire Modena team. Modena may not have an upper hand over Piacenza; yet at this stage of the season, they are in exceptional form. Hence, deeming the visitors as favourites in this match is perhaps misjudged. Piacenza Piacenza is facing various challenges this season, but there are virtually no complaints about the performances of the volleyball players or coach Andrea Anastasi. Unlike Modena, Piacenza participates in the Champions League, which requires a substantial commitment. The Italians currently are topping their European cup group, however, the situation is complex, thus the volleyball players wouldn't have the chance to relax under Anastasi's guidance. In the championship, Piacenza is third, lagging behind its rivals both in head-to-head battles and on the long run. At times, they have lost to more modest competitors from the leading group under Andrea Anastasi's guidance. The team from Emilia-Romagna has a decent lineup to compete in two competitions concurrently. Santos De Souza Ricardo Lucarelli continues to be productive in attack while Robertlandy Simon remains excellent on the central block. Piacenza probably lacks additional resources because, even though the collection of volleyball players is good, it's not enough for higher goals. The match against Modena will likely be an even contest, but Francesco Petrella's team is currently in stride and can easily carve out a victory over Piacenza on their home ground. Match prediction: Modena - Piacenza I will not take a spread of points on Modena; instead, I will try to bet on its win. Both teams will have enough spirit, but I believe that ample preparation time and absolute attention directed towards the championship will serve as significant advantages for Modena in this particular match.

26.12.2023

175

The second match of Group B in the Volleyball Champions League promises to be interesting, although the odds claim that Trentino is the absolute favourite and the French side, Tours, won't stand a chance to clinch an away victory. Trentino The Italian team is doing splendidly at the moment, leading both in the Champions League group and the championship. Trentino played their key matches excellently, particularly the critically important clash with Resovia Rzeszow. Now Perugia finds itself in second place, having been defeated by Fabio Salid's team (1:3). Trentino must gear up for the remaining battles in the Champions League to avoid complicating their situation. A single surprising defeat against Tours could push the Italians to second place, with Resovia Rzeszow closing inas their victory over Ljubljana is almost certain. Fabio Sali has an optimal squad at his disposal. We should expect yet another impressive performance from Alessandro Michieletto, who, alongside Kamil Rychlicki, forms a powerful duo that Trentino can't do without in critical matches. The French side will try to maintain reception and, on serve, they have strong guys who could carve out an advantage, so the Italians must avoid any unnecessary mistakes in this match to win and simultaneously assist Resovia Rzeszow, who are trying to catch up with Tours and claim second place. Tours The situation for Marcelo Fronckowiak's side in Ligue A is somewhat mixed. On one hand, Tours are among the leaders, but on the other hand, it's not fitting for the French champions to be in 7th place. The season started off rather poorly for the team from the Loire department, but then followed a series of victories, including successes in the Champions League. Arguably, the most sensational result in the European cups has been Tours' away victory in Poland, where they outplayed Resovia Rzeszow. It was then clear that defeating Trentino would be beyond their capabilities, but the match against Ljubljana warranted an all-out performance, which Fronckowiak's players delivered, winning 3:1 away. Tours are having a bit of a tough time in the Champions League, yet the club could still make the playoffs if they perform commendably against Resovia Rzeszow and defeat Ljubljana. Their chances against the Italians are slim, so this game is an opportunity for Tours to let loose and try to play in a free style, as no one will be upset if the French side loses 0:3. Leandro Dos Santos and Abubakar Neto will need to deliver good stats, and they have the Estonian Mrt Tammearu, who was effective against Ljubljana in the previous round of the Champions League. Trentino has a more powerful team, so the French side won't place too much emphasis on this match, needing instead to defeat the Slovenians and not let Resovia Rzeszow control the match that will take place on Tours' home court. The Italians should definitely prevail over Marcelo Fronckowiak's team, likely in three sets. Head to Head Trentino allowed themselves a bit more leeway in the third set of their away match against Tours, when they should have won without a problem. Match prediction: Trentino - Tours My bet is on the French side not scoring many points against Trentino, who are expected to win 3:0 in sets in this match.

Expert

Volleyball

Europe - Champions League

Handicap1 by sets (-2.5)

Odds: 1.66Stake: 5/10

lose

-5.0

21.12.2023

192

Expert

Volleyball

Europe - Champions League

Odds: 1.78Stake: 5/10

The Volleyball Champions League continues to fascinate, as intrigue remains in many groups about who will make it to the playoffs and from which position. Group "A" draws our attention to a clash between Knack Roeselare and Olympiakos at the Tomabel sports hall. This match presents an opportunity for the Greek club to join the competition for playoff placement, and the Belgians face the same task, just a tad easier as Stephen Vanmedegael's team has already collected a solid 4 points in 3 rounds. Knack Roeselare The club has renewed their agreement with head coach Stephen Vanmedegael for another three years, a move that surprises no one as the Belgian coach has done an excellent job with Knack Roeselare, leading them to gold medals in the country's championship and a silver in the EKB Cup. This season, Knack Roeselare is clinging to a playoff spot in the Champions League in every possible way. I think it's time to aim for advancing from the group stage. Unfortunately for Ziraat Bankasi and Kedzierzyn-Kozle, Vanmedegael's volleyball players are not a formidable team. Still, with the Polish team in the last round, Knack Roeselare showed a commendable game only losing in the fifth set. If you look at the Belgian squad, a couple of players stand out. For example, libero Dennis Deroi, who was named MVP in his position in last season's national championship. Pieter Coolman is a competent blocker, and setter Stijn D'Hulst performs his role quite well. Against Olympiakos, they must strategise correctly; otherwise, the opponent will find their rhythm and at least dictate play against the Belgian team. Hence, besides having a class advantage, Knack Roeselare must control the initiative in this match. Olympiakos The Greek club typically loses in the Champions League, showing that they can look decent against the group's favourites. The match against Ziraat Bankasi turned out to be logical when Olympiakos took some time to adapt to the opponent but later got the hang of it, even winning a set. However, the Turkish team added the necessary push at the right time and won with a 3:1 score. In the Greek Premier League, the volleyball players of Daniel Castellani have only one competitor, Panathinaikos, with whom they played a match without fans last week. Olympiakos won, but it's still hard to call the Piraeus club an absolute favourite of their championship. Daniel Castellani has a strong lineup at his disposal. Salvador Hidalgo Oliva, although considered an older volleyball player, is nonetheless ready to give a run to any young player on the team. Toncek Stern looks decent at his diagonal position. There's also Gustavo Bonatto, a central blocker who's slightly younger than Oliva but no less effective at the net. Olympiakos may be considered the group's underdog, but only postfactum because after three lost matches, it's time for Daniel Castellani's team to pick up the pace while they still have the opportunity to compete for the third spot. They need to overtake Knack Roeselare and then strive to display full strength in their home match with Kedzierzyn-Kozle. All of this will be decided by the trip to Turkey, where they might not need to put in too much effort if they lack points for the playoffs. Head-to-Head Olympiakos didn't perform very well in their first game against Knack Roeselare, even though they started the match reasonably well. Match prediction: Knack Roeselare - Olympiakos The 3:0 score seen in the 2nd round is unlikely to be repeated. I believe both teams will display quality volleyball, and it would be great to see them play five sets. Thus, I'd propose the total over 182.5 points for this match.

20.12.2023

164

Hello all! In the 12th round of the Polish PlusLiga, all the matches have been played except one. Resovia Rzeszw will host the Ukrainian club Barkom at the "Podpromie" sports centre. Curiously, it remains to be seen whether this game will attract a large number of spectators, given that Giampaolo Medei's squad will play their next match on the same court, against Ljubljana in the Champions League, where only a victory for Resovia Rzeszw will allow them to hope for a prolongation of competition in the group for getting into the playoffs. Resovia Rzeszw Almost all seats were taken in the "Podpromie" stadium, further stressing the importance of the game against "Trentino" in the 3rd round of the Champions League group stage. The plan was to see 5 sets and, hopefully, their team's victory. Still, it turned out the opposite - a 0:3 defeat and plenty of discussions on the subject of this match, which the Italians won with class. More was expected from Rzeszw, especially in the 2nd set, when everything seemed set for a 1:1 score, and a clean slate for the match. However, Trentino found a way to snatch this set as well, and from there, the Poles fell behind, even though they knew how crucial the match with the Italians was. Now all attention is focused on the match against Ljubljana, where a win in 3 or 4 sets is needed. Preparation for an away mission in France is required in the second round of the group stage, aiming to outplay humble "Tour," which seemingly accumulated excessive points in 3 Champions League matches. Thinking of Resovia Rzeszw's championship is, of course, inevitable because you need to win many matches, even if many of them are expected victories for Medei's team. With the Ukrainians from Barkom-Kazhany, a confident victory is needed while simultaneously preparing for the Champions League match. Medei won't be featuring all his Rzeszw leaders regularly, so a rotation policy will be in place. Barkom The Ukrainian team is sitting at the 10th position in the PlusLiga, managing to win 5 matches out of 11, which is quite decent for a squad that performed much worse last season, especially in the 2nd round of the championship. Barkom-Kazhany is one of the most wisely developing clubs in Ukraine, quickly stepping up to professionalism from amateurism. Within a little over 10 years, they managed to become three-times champions of their country, clinch the Ukraine Cup and Super Cup four times each. In the PlusLiga, it's a different story. The Lviv-based club takes places in the lower part of the table. Yet, compared to the previous season, Barkom-Kazhany has noticeably improved. It is still hard to compete against the leaders of the Polish championship, but it's feasible to outperform some rivals from top-tier teams, for instance, "Luk Lublin" and "Olsztyn". Ugis Krastiņ has a good team to choose from. There are leaders, for instance, Vasily Tupchy, without whom the Ukrainian team struggles, as shown in the game against "Project Warsaw". Ilya Kovalev is in form, and the foreign players in Barkom-Kazhany's squad, Moussa Gujye, and Luciano Palonski, are pretty impactful. Given the Ukrainians' decent form, they can play intelligent volleyball against Resovia Rzeszw, for whom this match doesn't have prime importance. Match prediction: Resovia Rzeszw - Barkom Undoubtedly, Rzeszw has everything to confidently win, except for the strong desire, as all thoughts and training preparation are directed towards the Champions League match. Conversely, the clash with Barkom-Kazhany can turn out to be more exciting for supporters who visit the Podpromie sports complex. I'll bet on the Ukrainian team's victory in one of the sets, which seems reasonable for such a match plan.

Expert

Volleyball

Poland - Plus Liga

Asseco Resovia Rzeszow

Handicap2 by sets (+2.5)

Odds: 2Stake: 5/10

win

+5.0

18.12.2023

180

Expert

Volleyball

Italy - SuperLega

Perugia Umbria Volley

Total over (183.5 )

Odds: 1.87Stake: 5/10

Hello everyone! A highlight match of the 10th round of the Italian SuperLega of volleyball will take place, where two championship leaders: Trentino and Perugia will clash. The clubs have previously crossed paths in this season, competing in the semi-final of the Italian Super Cup, however, a match in the regular season holds different significance - measured pacing is required here, and a loss won't severely tarnish the reputation of one of the teams, the triumph of the other will, however, warrant temporal praise. Trentino A lacklustre match against Modena in the championship did not prevent Trentino from defeating the Polish Żeszw on the opponent's territory, even with a score of 3:0. The volleyball players of Fabio Soli displayed two different matches - let's include the confrontation with Lube Civitanova which was the first of the entire away streak for the club from northern Italy. Now the club returns to the "Pala Trento" arena, to play a key match against Perugia, a victory over which will add some extra confidence in their own capabilities for the Trentino players, and this confidence will contribute to the future successful performance of the team in the Champions League. The team under Soli's management is quite powerful in all aspects. Alessandro Michieletto is performing well and Kamil Rychlicki is useful in his position. Daniel Lavia, in my opinion, operates effectively in many combinations. Trentino faces a tough adversary after the away stint in the season, but the schedule will be a bit easier going forward, although it will still have a match which won't be a simple task for Soli's players. It is important for the SuperLega leader to keep the score under control because the opponent is quite good at using their advantage, which they managed to gain by winning more than half of all matches this season with a score of 3:0 in sets. Perugia Under the management of Angelo Lorenzetti, the volleyball players have already won two trophies this season: the Italian Super Cup and the Club World Championship. It should be noted that it was much harder to win the domestic title than the international one. Arguably, only Halkbank could challenge Perugia at the Club World Championship, nevertheless, the Italians allowed themselves to play just a bit lax in the third set. All four matches at this relatively simple tournament were won by the Italians with a score of 3:0, convincing everyone that the team is ready to aim for higher achievements. The journalists praise the head coach of Perugia, considering him the main driving force behind the team's achievements this season. Of course, some players also need to be noted, who by their own hands win trophies for the club. Quite often, Kamil Semyonuk and Oleg Plotnytskyi are the main actors on the court, the ones upon whom the foundation of the team's game rests. Sometimes Herrera and Ben Tara can bring good matches. Flavio Resende - the central blocker, occasionally impresses in combinations with his team-mates. Like Trentino, Perugia finds itself in a difficult schedule, when there is no downtime for a little rest from the trips. Lorenzetti's team is fortunate to not have European cup direction in this season's schedule, otherwise, they would also have to use vital energy there, which will now be exclusively allocated for the Italian SuperLega. Head-to-Head The teams crossing paths in the semi-final of the Italian Super Cup happened relatively recently. There, Perugia defeated Trentino with a score of 3:1, losing the first set to the opponents. Match prediction: Trentino - Perugia In this case, the bet is on the total over 183.5 points in the match. The teams have been strained from the intense calendar, but a maximum effort is required for the main match of the 10th round to secure a victory.

17.12.2023

182

In the solitary match of the French Volleyball League A game day, "Montpellier" and "Paris-Volley" are set to face off. "Montpellier" Last season, "Montpellier" was a step away from the final, succumbing to "Saint-Nazare" in three sets in the League A semi-final match.This season, "Montpellier" also started with a loss, but then produced a sequence of five consecutive victories and was unbeaten until mid-November, where it was halted by the same "Saint-Nazare" (22:25; 25:22; 23:25; 16:25). In the following matches, "Montpellier" defeated "Nice" and "Toulouse" which allowed the team to reinforce their position within the leading trio. However, in their last game before this encounter, "Montpellier" fell in four sets to the championship leader "Chaumont" (25:18; 15:25; 22:25; 22:25). At present, the club occupies 3rd place in the French Championship. "Paris-Volley" Once a standout of French volleyball, it has been 9 years since "Paris-Volley" reached any national championship medals, and it appears that this season the team may not even make the playoff cut. Although the club's start was promising with three victories in the first five matches, the team then lost five games in a row and dropped outside the top eight. In their last match before this encounter, "Paris-Volley" defeated "Le Plessis-Robinson" in a tie-break, but this success cannot yet be considered a breakthrough from the crisis, rather it is the first step towards it. At the moment, the club is placed 10-11 in the French Championship. Head-to-Head Meetings In their most recent face-to-face encounter, "Paris-Volley" surprisingly defeated "Montpellier" in three sets (23:25;22:25; 13:25). Match Forecast Matches against "Paris-Volley" historically have not been straightforward for "Montpellier", therefore I don't believe in a landslide victory in this encounter. I think we should expect at least 4 sets in this match, thus I propose we back the visitors with handicap.

Expert

Volleyball

France - Pro A

Montpellier Volley UC

Handicap2 by sets (+2)

Odds: 1.9Stake: 5/10

win

+4.5

14.12.2023

190

Once again, we touch upon the topic of European volleyball. On the agenda is an interesting Champions League game, or to be more specific, we're going to mull over Group B, where a face-off will occur between Resovia Rzeszw and Trentino. The Italians are currently in the top spot, while the Poles are just above the French Tours, which has as many points as the team of Giampaolo Medei. Resovia Rzeszw The Polish team Resovia Rzeszw is one of the strongest in their country, having won bronze in the previous PlusLiga season, and this year, Giampaolo Medei's volleyball players will strive for the championship in Poland. Regarding their European journey, it's a mixed bag. Their home defeat against 'Tours' has been forgotten and the result complicated the group situation for Resovia Rzeszw, but I think that at least a spot in the play-offs will be reserved by the Poles, however, they wouldn't want to lose the opportunity to make it straight to the quarter-finals. Despite Medei's strong assets, capable of showing great volleyball in both the PlusLiga and the Champions League, there's still criticism about the overall game of the team who lost two key matches in this season's Polish championship and created problems for themselves with a single defeat in the Champions League group. I would like to highlight some volleyball players that impress the most. Of course, the first on the list is response player Klemen Čebulj, then there's Yassine Louati, who puts in as much effort as the Slovenian in all matches without fail. Fabien Giża often performs at a level worthy of being recognised as MVP in matches, like against Skrz Bełchatw, where the captain was the best. Rzeszw is capable of beating Trentino, but to do so, they'd need to play an extraordinary quality match, leaving no room for any complaints against the Poles. Trentino The surprising guest defeat of Modena should benefit Trentino, the team has played too many flawless matches and it's better to have a small setback in the Championship than in the Champions League, where they need to keep the top spot under watch. In essence, the Italian team has no issues on the game-field, the majority of the interactions are honed to perfection - there's interchangeability which allows Solly to involve more volleyball players in those confrontations where they can give their leaders a rest. The 'Trentino' roster is fairly large but quality. Spiker Gabriele Nelli, who has a knee injury, will not compete against 'Resovia Rzeszw', otherwise, all is well, assuming the sources are reliable. While the Italians are the favourites, it's not overly obvious because Medei's team is currently in form and able to vie for the top spot in the group, where Trentino resides. Match prediction: Resovia Rzeszw - Trentino We must seize the chance and succeed in a home game against the Italians who occasionally show that it's entirely possible to confidently defeat them. The Poles have a stronger team line-up - their crowd will additionally set them up for the win. I'll try betting on the underdogs, which the Resovia Rzeszw volleyball players are considered to be, and I think they'll manage to beat 'Trentino' in this match.

Expert

Volleyball

Europe - Champions League

13.12.2023

177

Once again, let's pay attention to the CEV Cup, where the first knock-out games of the Round of 32 are starting. A match, featuring two diverse teams with different capabilities, is set to take place in the Netherlands. Draisma Dynamo will be hosting guests from Istanbul, the volleyball club Fenerbahe. Draisma Dynamo During the Champions League qualification, the Dutch club played three unconvincing games, subsequently moving on to the CEV Cup. There, they found it challenging in the first face-off with Montenegrin "Budvanska Riviera". Although having scored 3:0 at home, it seemed like a significant head start for the second match, yet the opponent returned the 0:3 and only stumbled in the golden set, losing 17:19 to Draisma Dynamo. In the Premier League, the team coached by Redbad Strikwerda faces almost no issues, excluding competition with the leader Orion, against whom Dynamo did not show impressive volleyball skills, losing 0:3 away. As per the lineup, the Apeldoorn team is not the strongest among the CEV Cup participants, yet they cannot be classified as distinct underdogs. Kas Abraham, the competent setter who, according to his stories, considered ending his playing career, has managed to take a fresh view on his capabilities thanks to his work in Draisma Dynamo. The central blocking performed by Dyuko Kruk also provides value in the CEV Cup. Fenerbahe is a strong opponent, thus Draisma Dynamo appears to be an underdog in the stand-off, and it seems to me that the Dutch team will lose both matches. Fenerbahe The last season didn't go quite as planned for this Istanbul-based club. Still, the team, coached by Kerem Eryılmaz, is performing significantly better this time and undoubtedly aims to be the main contender for the gold medals in the Efeler League and make it to the main European Cup tournament, as the CEV Cup is below "Fenerbahe"'s ambitions. In the championship, Eryılmaz's team has won all 11 matches, however, in the CEV Cup, there were challenges with "Tirol", which had a home victory of 3:2 over the Istanbul club and even looked clever in the return match, winning the first set 34:32 and owning a pair of set points in the second set which they couldn't realise, otherwise the Austrians would have advanced to the next round based on the total of two matches. Fenerbahe is somewhat lacking the motivation for the CEV Cup, but now that they don't face any challenges in the championship, they can devote more attention to the local league and focus exclusively on the battle with Draisma Dynamo. Kerem Eryılmaz has a great lineup at his disposal. The head coach of the Istanbul club has many strong volleyball players, but it's challenging to motivate them for the second-tier European Cup, hence the struggles seen in the double confrontation with Tirol. Prediction for the match: Draisma Dynamo - Fenerbahe I'm betting on the negative handicap points for Fenerbahe. I believe we will witness a confident 3:0 in favour of the guests in this match.

Expert

Volleyball

Europe - CEV Cup

Fenerbahce SK Istanbul

Handicap2 by sets (-2.5)

Odds: 1.67Stake: 5/10

win

+3.4

12.12.2023

191

Nantes Reze Metropole Volley

Expert

Volleyball

Europe - CEV Cup

Total over (177,5)

Odds: 1.78Stake: 5/10

It's time for the volleyball Euro Cup battles, which, naturally, we can't ignore. The 1st matches of the 1/16 finals will take place in the CEV Cup. We'll start with the clash between the Czech "Kladno" and the French "Nantes". The favourite in this pair is obvious, yet nobody cancels out the sensation that the club from the eponymous city, located near the capital city of Prague, can create. Kladno The start of the season for the Czech team was slightly unsuccessful, as if the "Kladno" players didn't manage to set up their volleyball so that they look equally clever in all tournaments. Here they got knocked out of the Czech Cup by Arno Josseran's wards, losing 2:3 to the club "Dobřkovice" from the First League. "Kladno" allowed "Gent" to defeat them in the Euro Cup competition, but then the Belgians were surpassed 3:0 in the sports complex "Kladen". Afterward, Josseran's volleyball players only scored victories, except for the game with "Prague" in the championship, when the "Kladno" opponents looked better in almost the capital derby, surprisingly, the visitors were the favourites of this match. There are truly skilled players in the line-up under Josseran's management who make up the foundation of the team. Niclas Seppianen, in his role as an outside hitter and Kristaps Platahs, as a diagonal, tries to be useful in every match. "Nantes" is a mobile team, effective in defence, so much will depend on the attack leaders of "Kladno", and also on their service, which sometimes poses problems for many of the Czech club's players. Nantes The French team appears near-perfect this season, losing only one championship match. Hubert Henno tunes his wards so that they manage to work equally useful in League 1 and in CEV. In principle, the "Nantes" coach copes with his responsibilities. Of course, the French want to qualify for the Champions League, but they can't play any old how in the CEV, yet the task stands before Henno to get the maximum out of this tournament, and the management also doesn't intend to treat the Euro Cup mediocrity, therefore, the "Nantes" volleyball players should definitely be ready to work on two fronts this season. The "Nantes" line-up isn't bad. There's an excellent setter Anatole Shabouassan and C. Neves acts wisely. Journalists praise the Argentine libero Franco Massimino, who pulls out balls of varying difficulties. "Nantes" is rightly considered the favourite of this double confrontation, but I think the away match will not be easy for Henno's team as "Kladno" is currently playing no worse, even though it is inferior in class to the French team. Match Forecast: Kladno - Nantes I'll bet on a Total Over (TO) 177.5. We might see 4 equal sets with an advantage in the direction of "Nantes" or there will be a 5th set in the match.

12.12.2023

182

Expert

Volleyball

Russia - Super League

Odds: 1.67Stake: 5/10

In the first match of the men's Super League volleyball gameday, "Belogorie" will be facing off with "Dynamo" from the Leningrad Region. "Belogorie" The Belgorod club has once again found home in Tula and hosts all its matches in the sparkling new "Tula-Arena", which also hosts "Tulitsa" matches in the women's Super League. Significant changes have taken place in the coaching staff during the off-season. Astonishingly, the management appointed Alexander Volkov as the head coach, who has a vast playing experience, but has never led a men's professional club. The Belgorod team started off with successive victories over "Gazprom-Yugra" and "Samotlor", not allowing their opponents to take a single set. However, this was followed by an unexpected defeat against Orenburg's "Nefteyanyk" (3:1). The second half of November saw the team's inconsistent performance: victories over both "Zenits" with a score of 3:1, and losses in four sets against Moscow's "Dynamo" and Novosibirsk's "Locomotive". In their most recent match, the Belgorod squad (Tula players) beat Soligorsk's "Shakhter" in three sets. "Dynamo" LO Last season, Dynamo finished the Super League in 6th place, losing in a five-match series to their opponents today. They started this regular season with two victories in a row. However, November wasn't particularly fruitful for the team from the Leningrad Region: 4 losses in 7 matches. In their last game before this upcoming match, "Dynamo" surprisingly defeated St. Petersburg's "Zenit" (3:1). Head-to-Head The teams have already met this season in May. The victory was confidently claimed by the team from Belgorod (3:0). Match Forecast "Belogorie" is vying for medals this season and clearly doesn't intend to squander points in matches against teams from the lower part of the leaderboard. Nonetheless, I hardly believe in a rout in this encounter. I think Dynamo will manage to get on the board, and maybe even take a set.

11.12.2023

178

Let's contemplate the face-off between two renowned volleyball squads. Trentino is journeying to the home ground of Modena, with the aim to reclaim supremacy in the SuperLega, while the hosts need to stake out their position in the middle of the table to avoid blending in with the underdogs, some of whom are vying to swap spots with the club from Emilia-Romagna region. Modena Modena is undertaking the season without any EuroCups, which allows them to centralize their attention on the championship and attempt to build a series of strong matches in the regular competition, then exhibit their best in playoffs. There's an unspoken contest among mid-table teams, and Modena is proficient at demonstrating sturdy volleyball in it. For instance, Francesco Petrella's wards coped well in matches against Milan and Padova, while Monza surpassed them, excelling in three sets with identical scores (19:25) each time. Modena's squad is compact, but currently sufficient, with the absence of additional tournament. Osmani Juantorena's efficacy fluctuates, at times more efficient work is demanded from him in blocks and offence. Among those who consistently appear mighty, Maxim Sapozhkov needs a mention, cause if he makes an appearance in the line-up, that signifies Francesco Petrella confidently relies on him, because exactly this Russian athlete makes a difference in many of Modena's matches. There's a need to act in unison with Trentino, especially when their offensive needs to be displayed, capable of creating plenty of inconvenience for the defence of one of the league leaders. Trentino The club from northern Italy plays well enough to be dubbed one of the main contenders for the SuperLega championship. At the minimum, Trentino must compete for the top spot in regular season's table with Perugia. Last round saw Fabio Soli's players easily defeat a robust adversary, Lube Civitanova, without conceding a single set to the hosts. This was regarded as a bigger sensation than Trentino's victory itself. Spiker Alessandro Michieletto consistently performs well in Soli's line-up, as he did in the match against Lube Civitanova. Daniele Lavia sometimes proves he's worth his place on the court, but I presume, Trentino's head coach expects more from this guy. Probably, one may regard Fabio Soli's team as the match favourites against Modena, but I believe it's about time the northern Italian crew acknowledges their dues, as many matches this season have been too easy for them. In any case, fatigue is building up, it's pivotal for Trentino to be efficient in the Champions League also, where they need to clinch the first spot in their group and advance to the quarterfinal playoffs. Match forecast: Modena - Trentino I'll place a bet here on Modena's handicap (+2) on sets, because Petrella's squad is sufficiently robust in the front line, their defence is sound as well, suggesting the hosts are likely to overthrow the formidable Trentino team in this match.

Expert

Volleyball

Italy - SuperLega

Handicap1 by sets (+2)

Odds: 1.68Stake: 5/10

win

+3.4

10.12.2023

185

Good day! We're back again deliberating on volleyball. Two matches of the Italian SuperLegue 9th round are on the agenda today, which we can't ignore. Let's start with the showdown to be played at the Viale-delle-Provincia sports hall. The home club, Cisterna, is ready to host the guests, Lube Civitanova. Cisterna The team, coached by Guillermo Falasca, hold the 9th place in the league, striving to qualify for the playoffs, which consist of the top 8 clubs. I wouldn't label "Cisterna" an underdog this season, rather, they could climb to a more comfortable position, like being represented in the group of leaders. Volleyball players from Lazio are far from being pushovers, but they truly lack that universal class. This season, "Cisterna" has not lost 0:3 even in matches against sizeable rivals. They've only had two wins, one of which was impressively obtained in the match with "Milan" on their home ground. Of the failures, I remember their unsuccessful match in Catania, where Falasca's team lost to "Farmitalia", despite not looking worse than their rival. Lube Civitanova is a different kettle of fish, here you have to look much more effective in the attack and pay careful attention to zone defence. Let's look at Teo Fore, who is performing very well this season, as well as libero Alessandro Piccinelli, who excels at his position. Lube Civitanova In the previous round, the club from Macerata failed to impress in the match with "Trentino". The game didn't go well for "Lube Civitanova" from the start, and then the opponent stepped up in various parameters of the encounter. The main misstep happened in the second set, with effective guest attacks, while the balls from Blengini's players frequently went out of bounds and their serves often lacked effectiveness. The setback against "Trentino" could not have been more out of place, given the tight standings. Yet, "Lube Civitanova" remains the favourite for a playoff spot, but in the regular season, catching up with "Perugia" and their recent rivals will prove a challenge. Gianlorenzo Blengini has a solid team to play well in the Champions League and to be among the SuperLega leaders. Adis Lagumdzija deserves a mention for his many attacks for "Lube Civitanova". Also, Alexandar Nikolov, who didn't have a great match against "Trentino", but prior to that, he performed well under Blengini's lead. Here, we have a clear favourite, who needs to prove with actions that a one-off setback in the previous match has not thrown them off their path. Match prediction: Cisterna - Lube Civitanova I'm betting on a handicap 2(-1,5) on sets. I believe that Lube Civitanova will confidently win this match.

Expert

Volleyball

Italy - SuperLega

Handicap2 by sets (-1.5)

Odds: 1.54Stake: 5/10

win

+2.7

08.12.2023

196

Expert

Volleyball

Russia - Super League

Odds: 1.78Stake: 5/10

In the second match of the Men's Volleyball Super League game day, Gazprom-Ugra will host Neftyanik. Gazprom-Ugra The team from Surgut started the season with three consecutive losses against Belogorye (3:0), and Fakel. Then, surprisingly, the northerners outplayed Dinamo from the Leningrad region (3:0). This was then followed by two more losses. If the defeat to Kuzbass can be excused due to the lack of class, the three-set loss to Nizhniy Novgorod ASK was a nasty shock for Gazprom-Ugra"fans. The team partially redeemed themselves in the sixth round against Ural (3:1). However, in the two most recent rounds, Gazprom-Ugra suffered another defeat. Away games against Enisey (3:0) and Shahter (3:2) yielded Surgut only one point. Neftyanik The Orenburg club has won only one victory this season. Surprisingly it defeated the off-season reinforced Belogorye (3:1). In the rest of the matches, Neftyanik lost to Saint Petersburg's Zenit (3:0), Dinamo from the Leningrad Region (3:0), "Torch (2:3), ASK (3:0), Kuzbass (2:3), Ural (3:1), and Enisey (2:3). The only reason Neftyanik is not at the bottom of the league table is due to the number of tie-breaks they have been able to push for. Head-to-Head In the last head-to-head encounter in February of this year, "Gazprom-Ugra" emerged victorious in four sets. Match prediction Neither team can be called middle-of-the-pack for the championship, so I do not expect a rout from the hosts. I think the optimal wager for this match would be a total over (TO) 182.5 points.

07.12.2023

187

Expert

Volleyball

Europe - Champions League Women

Odds: 1.67Stake: 5/10

Tomorrow, in the fourth round of the group stage of the Women's Volleyball Champions League, "Rzeszow" will host "Asterix Kieldrecht" on their home ground. "Rzeszow" The Polish club lost to "Lodz" in three matches in the final of the national championship last season. Despite this defeat, the team maintained its place in the Champions League. In the first round, "Rzeszow" achieved a hard-fought victory over "Stuttgart" in five sets (23:25; 26:24; 17:25; 25:23; 15:12). In the second round, the Polish club triumphed over their current opponent in four sets (19:25; 24:26; 25:22; 14:25). In the third round, "Rzeszow" succumbed to the Italian "Conegliano" (1:3) "Asterix Kieldrecht" To reach the group stage of the Champions League, the Belgian team had to pass two qualifying rounds, in which it defeated "Gachko" (3:0), "Mladost" and "Herceg Novi" (3:2), "Brno" (3:0) and "Alba Blaj" (3:0). This has been the extent of "Asterix Kieldrecht's" victories in Europe so far. In the first round, the Belgian club lost in three sets to "Conegliano" (27:25; 25:16; 25:16) and "Stuttgart" (20:25; 18:25; 16:25), and in four sets to their current opponent (19:25; 24:26; 25:22; 14:25). Head to head encounters In the first-round match, "Rzeszow" won in 4 sets (19:25; 24:26; 25:22; 14:25). Match Forecast "Asterix Kieldrecht" is undoubtedly the weakest team in this group, and the fact that it took a set from "Rzeszow" in a home game was a big surprise. I think this meeting will end much faster: in three sets and without contention for at least two sets. Therefore, I will focus on the individual total for "Asterix Kieldrecht" under 64.5 points.

06.12.2023

178

Today, in the fourth round of the group stage of the Women's Volleyball Champions League, Volero Le Cannet will host Alba Blaj on their home turf. Volero Le Cannet This French club, boasting an extensive Russian representation (Victoria Kobzar, Victoria Russu, Anna Kotikova, Yelizaveta Kochurina, Anastasia lyashko), had claimed victory in the French League A last season, overpowering Mulhouse in two matches (3:1; 1:3). However, the European season wasn't as successful for the team. Despite securing a confident victory in the first match (3:0) of the 1/8 final, they fell short in the return away meeting and on the tie-break (15:13), exiting the tournament before reaching the quarter-final stage. This season, Volero Le Cannet kicked off with three victories in five matches in the domestic championship. Their debut in the Champions League turned out to be more successful: a win in three sets against Prometey (25:20; 25:22; 25:20). The French side overcame their today's opponents in a tough five-set away battle in the second round (18:25; 25:22; 25:15; 20:25; 13:15). The third round also concluded with a hard-fought tie-break victory, this time over Polish team Lodz (23:25; 25:18; 25:15; 20:25; 15:7). Currently, Volero Le Cannet leads Group E with three victories in three matches. Alba Blaj The Romanian club is an undisputed leader and once again won the national championship last season. However, victory in the Romanian championship doesn't guarantee a direct entry to the group stage, and Alba Blaj had to go through two qualification rounds. In the first stage, the Romanians won all three matches, only losing in one set. In the second stage, the club lost the final match to Asterix Avo (0:3), but based on additional indicators, earned the right to participate in the group stage of the Champions League. In the first round, Alba Blaj defeated Polish Lodz in four sets (23:25; 25:19; 29:31; 17:25). However, this victory remains their only one so far. The Romanians fell in five sets against both Prometey and Volero Le Cannet. Nevertheless, with points, the Romanians currently hold the sole second place in the group. Head-to-head In the first-round match, the French club clinched a tie-break victory (18:25; 25:22; 25:15; 20:25; 13:15). Match prediction In the away match, Volero Le Cannet had a tough time indeed and even trailed during the contest. I suspect that for the home match, the French club will secure a rather more convincing victory. I believe the handicap -1 be sets on the hosts represents an optimal betting choice for this game.

Expert

Volleyball

Europe - Champions League Women

Handicap1 by sets (-1)

Odds: 1.62Stake: 5/10

lose

-5.0

05.12.2023

179

Expert

Volleyball

Italy - SuperLega

Odds: 1.79Stake: 5/10

A little bit of volleyball in my blog today. In the 8th round of the men's Italian SuperLega, the last season's finalists "Civitanova" and "Trentino" will meet. The teams are in tip-top shape, hence the match should be extremely sensational. "Civitanova" This season, the club from Macerata is performing well, although there is room for criticism. For instance, in the Italian SuperCup, Giani Lorenzo Blengini's volleyball players succumbed in the final to "Perugia," scoring 2:0 in games, with a 32:34 defeat in the 4th. There were also two SuperLega defeats with the same 0:3 score against "Monza" and "Milano". In contrast, things are going smoothly for "Lube Civitanova" in the Champions League, even against moderate opponents, emerging victorious without additional games. Blengini has a solid squad capable of handling two fronts, so there's nothing for the "Lube Civitanova" coach to complain about regarding the selection of players. For example, Barthlmy Chinenyeze, a blocker by stats, is capable of attacking from any position. Fabio Balaso is the main libero, swiftly covering many balls in defence. "Trentino" The club from the northern city of Italy is almost flawless this season. The matchup with "Perugia" in the SuperCup of Italy didn't quite pan out, but volleyball connoisseurs know that "Trentino" is currently no match for the team from Umbria, eyeing the SuperLega championship. In the Champions League, Fabio Soli's team is on an even keel, though they had to exert effort to outscore "Ljubljana" in the first round, in spite of being the overwhelming favourites prior to the match. Soli's team is packed with strong volleyball players. Kamil Rychlicki has a powerful attack, is diligent in double and triple blocks, and has previously spent two whole seasons with "Lube Civitanova". "Trentino" is slightly higher in the championship table than Blengini's team, yet in terms of ability, the clubs are on the same level, meaning this game could possibly last up to 5 sets. Match Prediction: "Lube Civitanova" - "Trentino" My bet is for a total over 184.5 points. We're bound to see at least one tight set and a minimum of 4 games in this intriguing match.

03.12.2023

210

Expert

Volleyball

Russia - Super League

Odds: 1.75Stake: 5/10

In the only match of the men's volleyball Super League game day, Soligorsk "Shakhter" will meet Belgorod "Belogorie". "Shakhter" The Belarusian club returned to the elite division this season and it can't be said that it got lost in the serious company. Having started the season with two consecutive defeats from the grands: Kazan "Zenit" (1:3) and Moscow "Dynamo" (3:0), the Belarusians restored the balance of victories and defeats in matches against "Kuzbass" (3:2) and "Ural" (3:0). The balance was maintained until this round: two defeats (from Novosibirsk "Lokomotiv" and St. Petersburg "Zenit") and two victories over "Yenisey" and "Gazprom-Ugra". "Shakhter" has so far only lost to teams significantly surpassing it class. "Belogorie" The Belgorod club has once again acquired a Tula registration and conducts all its matches at the brand-new "Tula-Arena", which also hosts matches of "Tulitsa" in the women's Super League. Significant changes have taken place in the coaching staff during the off-season. The management unexpectedly appointed Alexander Volkov, who has a vast playing experience, but has never headed a men's professional club, as the head coach. Belgorod started with two consecutive wins over "Gazprom-Ugra" and "Samotlor", not allowing rivals to take a single set. However, a surprising defeat followed from the Orenburg "Nefteyani" (3:1). The team spent the second half of November squashed: a victory over both "Zenits" with a score of 3:1 and defeats in four sets from Moscow's "Dynamo" and Novosibirsk's "Lokomotiv". Head to Head This season, the teams have already met in the Russian Cup. Both victories were taken by Belgorod (0:3; 3:1). Match Prediction "Belogorie" is aiming for medals this season and the team is certainly not going to scatter points in matches against teams from the lower part of the tournament table. I believe that Belgorod can take the win without going into the tie-break, so I see the handicap -1.5 sets as an excellent option to bet on this game.

01.12.2023

172

In the second match of the Men's Volleyball Champions League game day, Portuguese side Benfica meets with Italy's Piacenza. Benfica The Portuguese club earned the right to participate in the Champions League after a triumphant victory in last season's national championship. The team overcame "Fonte Bastardo" in a best-of-five series. Their current season in the national championship has shot off to a phenomenal streak of eleven consecutive wins. Interestingly, in these 11 matches, the team allowed the opponent to win only 3 sets. However, the start to the European competition for "Benfica" was less fortunate. In the first round of the Champions League group stage, the Portuguese side succumbed to Germany's "Berlin" in three sets (27:25; 25:19; 25:21)."+ Piacenza Last season, "Piacenza" claimed the bronze medals of the Italian Superleague, defeating "Milano" in a series for third place. This season, the team had a splendid start, taking away their defeat in the Super Cup. In the championship, "Piacenza" did not lose a single set in the first three matches, overcoming "Padova," "Milano," and "Saturnia." However, this was followed by a downhill run with 4 losses in 5 matches, including a defeat by Turkey's "Halkbank" in the first round of the Champions League (3:1). Therefore, similar to their opponents today, "Piacenza" begun its campaign in the European competition with a defeat. Head to Head The teams haven't previously met in any official matches. Match prediction Piacenza is enduring a rough patch and I refrain from expecting a straightforward victory from the designated favourite today. I believe the hosts will succeed in imposing a contest in at least two sets, and thereby managing to hold onto their plus handicap. As a similar option, I suggest considering a handicap 1 by sets (+2,5)

Expert

Volleyball

Europe - Champions League

Handicap1 by sets (+2.5)

Odds: 1.85Stake: 5/10

win

+4.3

30.11.2023

175

Yuzgu-Atom Kurskaya Oblast

Expert

Volleyball

Russia - Super League Women

Handicap 1 (-22.5)

Odds: 1.75Stake: 5/10