Modena v Gas Sales (Photo source: legavolley.it)

Photo source: legavolley.it

Sir Susa Scai Perugia, Rana Verona and Cucine Lube Civitanova have already advanced to the semifinals of the Italian men’s SuperLega Credem Banca. The last available vacancy will be decided on Sunday, March 29, between Valsa Group Modena and Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza.

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Valsa Group Modena v Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza

The fifth and final leg of the quarterfinal playoff between Valsa Group Modena and Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza is set to serve off at 18:00 local time (16:00 UTC) on Sunday at the Panini hall in Modena. The score in the best-of-five series is tied at 2-2 in wins, so the one remaining match will decide everything in this duel.

This clash has already lived up to the expectations that the two neighbors in the final regular season standings would offer the toughest fight in the quarterfinal playoffs. First, fourth-placed Modena and fifth-placed Gas Sales traded wins in two nail-biting five-set battles, with Modena, led by Luca Porro, achieving a nail-biting 3-2 (23-25, 22-25, 25-20, 25-16, 17-15) reverse sweep at home, and Gas Sales, led by Luca’s older brother Paolo Porro, reacting with a 3-2 (18-25, 25-17, 28-30, 25-21, 18-16) victory at their own venue. The third match was won by the visitors from Piacenza in the dramatic fourth set, 3-1 (25-17, 17-25, 25-20, 30-28). Last Sunday, Modena struck back with a 3-2 (25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 16-25, 15-7) rollercoaster win on the road in Piacenza and levelled the series.

The all-time head-to-head record between the two clubs has now been unbalanced and rebalanced twice during this series and now stands level at 14-14 in wins. This season alone, they have already met seven times. Modena won four of the six SuperLega encounters, while Gas Sales beat their opponents in December’s Italy Cup quarterfinal.

“We know it's a very important match, but we're working as we have all year, without doing anything extraordinary. I think you learn a lot game after game – you understand your opponent better. Games like this are decided by a few points. In these situations, it's important not to overdo it and not to try to do something special. We have to do what we've done all year – nothing more, nothing less. We need consistency, limiting the mistakes, and staying in the game even in difficult moments, as we've already shown we can do. We want to reach the semifinals.” Paul Buchegger, opposite of Valsa Group Modena
“It will be a do-or-die effort for both teams, and we're preparing for another close match. The difference will be in the details and the serve. We'll need to be skilled and focused from the first rallies to avoid giving our opponents an advantage.” Dante Boninfante, head coach of Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza

SuperLega Credem Banca 2025-2026 quarterfinal playoffs, 5th leg:
Mar 29, 18:00 local (16:00 UTC): Valsa Group Modena v Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza