Rana Verona to visit Milan in weekend’s SuperLega highlight

With three legs to play to the end of Italy’s SuperLega Credem Banca regular season, five of the quarterfinalists are already known. Another two are likely to emerge this weekend as the matches of the 20^th leg are played on Saturday and Sunday. One of the candidates is Allianz Milan, who will try to put a stop on a bad spell as they welcome rising Rana Verona for the highlight of the weekend. Securing better starting positions for the playoffs will also be at stake over the next three legs, even for the teams that have already qualified.

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Within their five most recent SuperLega games (seven combined with the Coppa Italia and the CEV Cup matches),  Allianz Milan have managed to win only once, against bottom-of-the-table Farmitalia Catania, while Rana Verona have been on a fantastic 10-1 run in the league, losing only to defending champions and table leaders Itas Trentino Trento along the way, which has raised them to fifth place in the current standings on 33 points and a 12-7 win-loss record, and among the sure playoff participants. Allianz are seventh on 30 and 9-10, eight points above the cut-off, and just two points from the remaining three matches would also guarantee them a spot in the quarterfinals. The two teams will meet in the leg’s closing match on Sunday, February 18, at 19:00 local time (18:00 UTC).

Rana Verona’s successful run actually started with the previous meeting with Allianz on December 10, when they were down to 10^th place in the table. They claimed a hard-fought home victory, coming back from a set down twice in the match, with Slovenian outside Rok Mozic leading the way with 21 points. His Iranian teammate Amin Esmaeilnezhad and Allianz’s Cuban outside Osniel Mergarejo finished with 20 points each. Since the club from Milan earned A1 promotion in 2014, the two clubs have met 26 times and Verona lead the head-to-head series by 16-10.

Mint Vero Volley Monza are the other team that could book a spot in the playoffs this weekend. They are currently sixth on 30 and 10-9 and any win over visiting rookies Farmitalia Catania, 12^th on 6 and 1-18, in the leg opener on Saturday at 17:30 (16:30) would place them out of reach for the teams below the cut-off. As unlikely as salvation may seem for them at this point, Farmitalia still have a mathematical shot at the coveted 11^th place.

Valsa Group Modena, who are currently right above the red line for the playoffs, in eighth place on 24 and 10-9, have a difficult trip to leaders Itas Trentino Trento (52, 18-1) on Sunday at 18:00 (17:00). Modena’s spot among the top eight is far from safe as ninth-placed Cisterna Volley are just two points below, on 22 and 7-12. However, Cisterna also have a difficult task on the road this weekend, on Sunday at 18:00 (17:00), as they travel to fourth-placed Cucine Lube Civitanova (35, 13-6).

On Saturday at 18:00 (17:00), third-placed Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza (36, 11-8) will host 11^th-placed Gioiella Prisma Taranto (12, 2-17), and on Sunday at 16:00 (15:00), 10^th-placed Pallavolo Padova Padua (18, 7-12), who are already safe from relegation and even still have a mathematical shot at the playoff spots, will entertain second-placed Sir Susa Vim Perugia (44, 14-5).

SuperLega Credem Banca 2023-2024 20th leg:
Feb 17, 17:30 local (16:30 UTC): Mint Vero Volley Monza v Farmitalia Catania
Feb 17, 18:00 local (17:00 UTC): Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza v Gioiella Prisma Taranto
Feb 18, 16:00 local (15:00 UTC): Pallavolo Padova Padua v Sir Susa Vim Perugia
Feb 18, 18:00 local (17:00 UTC): Itas Trentino Trento v Valsa Group Modena
Feb 18, 18:00 local (17:00 UTC): Cucine Lube Civitanova v Cisterna Volley
Feb 18, 19:00 local (18:00 UTC): Allianz Milan v Rana Verona

SuperLega Credem Banca 2023-2024: full schedule and results

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