There are a number of interesting fixtures in the programme of the 19th leg of Italy’s SuperLega Credem Banca regular season, offering midweek action on Wednesday, February 14. In one of the most anticipated games, defending champions Itas Trentino Trento will host 2023 runners-up Cucine Lube Civitanova in another remake of last season’s final. In another high-level meeting, Rana Verona will try to continue their rise as they welcome Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza. The match between Allianz Milan and Mint Vero Volley Monza will constitute not only a face-to-face encounter between Japanese stars Yuki Ishikawa and Ran Takahashi, but also a direct duel for the sixth place in the current standings. That is the only game that will start at 20:00 local time (19:00 UTC). The other five matches of the 19th leg will get underway half an hour later.
Superlega 2023
Trentino to welcome Lube in another remake of 2023 final
Watch the 19th leg of Italian SuperLega matches live on VBTV
Published 02:16, 13 Feb 2024
Civitanova vs. Trentino | Highlights | Superlega | 8a Giornata
“The match against Civitanova has always been a high-level classic of the Italian championship. Cucine Lube, thanks to the many successes achieved recently, are fully in the running to conquer at least third place in the standings and in the Champions League they have secured a ticket to the quarterfinals, winning the pool well in advance. I expect a very close match against a team full of talent, which can make life difficult for any opponent. We are happy to play in front of our fans again, confident that their support will give us a great boost. The meeting will require a determined, quality and continuous performance in all fundamentals.” Fabio Soli, head coach of Itas Trentino Trento
“We want to make life difficult for the league leaders and redeem ourselves after the first match. On the court I might even have a bit of a headache thinking back to the final lost in Trento, but I will look ahead and focus on our game! It will be a good challenge. Lube is now more united thanks to the work in the gym and the bond that is being cemented between us, players. Trentino are a complete and solid rival. It will be essential to focus on the necessary attention to detail in order to create opportunities.” Mattia Bottolo, outside hitter of Cucine Lube Civitanova
“We have reached the stage, in which the points are crucial for the playoffs. The next two or three matches can change many things and we can go up or down. So it is essential to keep our attention high. Piacenza play well and are very strong at serving. They do a lot of damage with players like Lucarelli, Brizard, Romano... We need to find the right key so as not to waste the chances that arise. It won't be easy at all. We need a lot of positive energy around the team and the support of the fans.” Radostin Stoytchev, head coach of Rana Verona
“Verona are certainly the strongest team in the championship physically. They play excellent volleyball and are strong in every fundamental. It's a young team that has grown a lot over the course of the season and we know that a very difficult match awaits us. We are working to be at our best in the crucial moments of the season. In Verona we will have to fight for every ball.” Andrea Anastasi, head coach of Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza
“We want to do well in tomorrow's match, given that in the first leg Milan put us in great difficulty in all the fundamentals and we were unable to react. It is an opportunity that we want to make the most of, against a very strong team. Typical of such a derby, we feel the drive, the motivation and the desire to succeed.” Massimo Eccheli, head coach of Mint Vero Volley Monza
