Russia (bbabo.net), - Zenit St. Petersburg, led by the head coach of the Russian national team Tuomas Sammelvuo, in the fifth penultimate round of the group stage of the men's Champions League defeated the local Benfica at the guest site in Lisbon, Portugal, with a score of 3:0 ( 25:16, 25:18, 25:16).
It took the St. Petersburg team 78 minutes to do everything, so that the spectators gathered in the stands, about a thousand in number, did not have time to really enjoy the volleyball. But three of our silver medalists of the Tokyo Olympics were among the guests - blocker Ivan Yakovlev, finisher Yegor Klyuka and diagonal striker Viktor Poletaev. Plus, let's add to them the Olympic champion in the ranks of the French national team, the Zenit libero Zhenya Grebennikov. No wonder that with such formidable opponents, Benfica, again, as in the December starting round, could not take a single set.
– We were extremely focused, and the hosts at the beginning of the meeting acted too emotionally and made a number of mistakes, – said after the game coach “Zenith” Tuomas Sammelvuo. - We know perfectly well that Benfica is not only volleyball, but a large sports society with rich traditions, especially football. This factor gave us motivation.
The winners of all five groups and three more clubs from second places advance to the Champions League knockout stages
The serial number of the tour is fifth, but the team from the banks of the Neva played only its fourth match in group "D". Earlier, on the appointed date, due to coronavirus problems at Berlin, the meeting in Germany was postponed by mutual agreement of the parties to a later date in Russia. And now the Petersburgers will play at home with the German club twice in a row - on February 16 and 17.
"Berlin" late last night, with 3 wins in three matches and 9 points, played on the road with the Serbian "Vojvodina". The indicator of "Zenith" became 3-1 (9). The winners of all five groups and three more teams from second places will advance to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. St. Petersburg have good chances for the playoffs, especially since they play two meetings with their main competitor at home.
bbabo.Net