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Monza started out the first home match very badly, even though with a bit more experience they would have won more than just a single set against Trentino. The following match they lost 3-2 against Latina, but even the best of teams have problems when playing against them. Their first player Renan, who knows Ravenna very well because he played there last season, is slowly getting into shape, the receivers are constant, and the middle blockers are also very good. At home against teams such as Ravenna they need three points. Ravenna will be leading a fight to stay in the league against Padova. They lost a lot with Renan and Cebulj leaving, they don't have a constant with Van Garderen and Koumentakis at the reception. Opposite Torres oscillates a lot and they are a team who will collect points at home. I again expect Ravenna to lose, similar like they did against Molfetta who are similar to Monza, quality-wise. I expect the hosts to win easily... Details

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Lennik opened up the season great, they won in both matches with 3-0. Only Rooselare beat them in the Supercup. They have a great team who will probably earn the second round, next to Tzeszow. Overbeeke is the first offense option, and they won the most this year with maestro Depestelo as the setter. Tomis Constanta are weaker than last season, Rosic and Janic left them, as well as oposite Simeonov, and Petkov and Spinu. They're up for tough work in the group, even though the group itself in not that strong. They probably won't win points outside of their home Romania. They barely beat the first two rounds of the Romanian league with 3-2. I expect Lennik to dominate from the start and to win with a minimum of one set lost. Details

Trentino defeated Monza without any problems even though they were playing without Djuric and Urnaut. Today they have an ideal chance to win at home and forget their failure in the Supercup against Modena. Padova are a team that will be in the relegation battle, they were powerless in the first game at ome against Latina. Trentino have to go into this game with their strongest line up, because they have a game against Noliko on Thursday in the Champions League. This will be a game of cat and mouse, because Padova are probably the worst team in the league, and this handicap should be bigger. Details

Cruzeiro are now waiting on another chance against Zenit, in the final of course. But they will have their hands full in semifinals as well, even though they are the home team here. Opposite Wallace is still not at top level. Paykan have half of the Iranian national team, setter Vermiglio from Italy and blocker Nikolov from Bulgaria. They opened the game yesterday fiercely with the goal of beating UPCN. They now face Sada and hope for the final since Sada are not as tough an opponent as Zenit. It will be a close game, which either team can win. That is why the total points margin is simply set too low. Details

Zenit are the top favorite for the title here but their toughest challengers start now. They have the brilliant Anderson, Leon and Mikhaylov, but UPCN have a good team as well. They have two great Bulgarian internationals Aleksiev and Uchikov. There's also setter Jacobsen, middle blocker Krsmanovic plus some Argentine internationals. They played a good game against Paykan yesterday but lacked patience in the finish of every set. It seemed they stopped cashing after the opponent and started saving energy for this semifinals after falling behind. Zenit are the favorite but UPCN are a good-quality team that can be dangerous in at least one set. I would be surprised if they win a set here either. Details

It is clear how many problems the teams, whose players returned from the European Championship just a few days before the season started, have. Trentino are one among them, even though they already played the Supercup four days ago, they lost to Modena in the tiebreak. Trentino are candidates for Top 3 positions in the league, but they need more practices and games, to show their potential. The first league game is always difficult, especially if you are int he situation they are in, and that they are not playing at home. Monza are much better than they were last season, they acquired three good middle blockers: Verhees, Sala, Berreta. Their biggest acquisitions are definitely Brazilian opposite Renan Zanatta and Belgian receiver Rousseaux. They had more time for the team to train together, just like Trentino, they easily avoided relegation, and they are going after the play-off this season. Trentino are the favorites but they have a difficult game ahead of them so I choose the home team point handicap, even though over on overall points is also a good option. Details

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Even though some players just returned from the European Championship, I should bet on this, because Macerata have a good squad and they will easily find seven players that play good. At reception they have Juantorena and Cebulj, and Parodi and Kovar have returned after injuries. Legend Miljkovic has come into competition as opposite, and right next to him is their top opposite last season, Sabbi. Serbian blockers Stankovic and Podrascanin got Cester Enrico. USA's first setter Christenson and top French libero Grebennikov have arrived. With all of them, experienced Fei is also here, who can play as blocker or opposite. Miljkovic and Juantorena got the Italian citizenship, so they won't have any problems with the number of foreigners. Coach Talijanov Blegnini is also new in the club and he will need time to get to know them, but this bet is still against Ravenna. They lost Cebulj, Renan and Cester Enrico, and Della Lunga and Torres whom they acquired are not much of reinforcements. Macerata are the main title candidates in all competitions they participate in, and Ravenna are much weaker than last year. But this is the first game of the league, so I am betting on points handicap instead of 3-0. Details

The story continues for Slovenia. They displayed their quality to everyone and I don't see why this game would be any different. Almost all of Slovenia's starters played or are currently playing in Italy. That means they know the Italian players very well. The Slovenian receivers took everything to the next step this season. Utnaut will join Trentino, Cebulj Macerata. Slovenia's coach Giani is Italian and knows exactly what they have to do in order to win. The Italians are the favorites here, of course, but so were the Poles. Slovenia have been playing very well all though the championship and I don't see any reason for them not to cause problems for Italy for at least half the match. The Italians no longer have the home court advantage because they are now in Sofia, where Slovenia already played two matches. I expect a close match and I think Slovenia will get a set here. Details

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After Czech Republic, Germany also demolished Belgium and saved a lot of strength for another game against Bulgaria. The Bulgarians haven't played all that well in the group stage, and they are having a lot of problems with injured players. It is hard to defeat the same team twice at the same competition and the same will happen here, because Germany finally caught their rhythm. The Bulgarian coach still can't get over the calculations made by the German coach Heynen and he is talking more and more about the support of the fans, but they are not the ones on the court. I'll say it again, the Germans are a better team, and they have more rotation options, and this time I expect them to win, unlike in their strange first head-to-head game. Details

The Slovenians finally showed their true face at big competitions and outclassed Netherlands, so they can go into this quarter-final relaxed. It is important we play good volleyball with a lot of confidence. We played well the first head-to-head game here, where we won a set, and played three even sets. Poland are still medal candidates, but they had a lot of time to rest before this game. Most of the time against Belarus, their second team was on the court, so their first team hasn't played a game in three days. I am not saying that they will completely fall apart, but Slovenia could already win a set by the time Poland gets back into their best rhythm. I am sure that Slovenia will have their chance here. Details

The Italians lost the match for the first place to France, after leading 2-0, and they should play an additional match now. The good thing for the Italians is that this match is still played in Italy. The bad news is that the Italians have to change the city and the court, and the Finns are playing in the same court they played in the group stage. The Italians didn't show much in the group, Estonia and Croatia were close to winning a set. The Finns started the EC badly, but beat Slovakia 3-0 in the only match that really mattered to them. They've got a lot of offensive potential, Teervaporti is playing fas, and they've got a big support from their fans here. This win boosted their confidence, and they'll be a tough opponent for the Italians. This is the real time for them to show they can deal with the best, like they did in the previous championships, but couldn't show in the group stage against Russia and Serbia. I expect Finland to win at least one set this time, or a tie-break that would take this margin to an over. Details

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I already wrote everything about Belarus. It's an amateur team which was demolished in the previous two games. Poland had some problems yesterday but they finished the game routinely and took three points. I am sure that they won't send their first team out here, but that shouldn't have any effect. Venezuela took a set from them at the World Cup, and they were furious because of such relaxing even though their second team was playing. Poland will play this game at their maximum, and players Szalpuk-Buszek, Konarski-Lomacz and Nowakowski-Modzonek are still three levels above their opponent today. Even though the margin is very low, I should bet on this because I doubt Belarus can win 20 points in any set. Details

What Belarus displayed yesterday was a disaster. It's not only that their reception is horrible, but they also don't have a single dangerous player. Also, their setter is at amateur level, always delivering horrible balls. Belarus' coach doesn't know what to do. They are the worst team here beyond any doubt. Slovenia did nothing special yesterday but still won by 25 points. Belgium didn't use a few chances for the second set but the first game against Poland was extremely tough for them. They now have a chance to find rhythm and form for the key game against Slovenia tomorrow for spot 2. I expect Belgium to win easily because they are better in all segments of the game. Belarus are at amateur level and this will be a one-sided win. Details

Looking at this year, Russia don't look like a trustworthy team. I doubt they could reach a medal here. After the terrible edition in the World League, they changed their coach, returned Tetyukhin, but they still didn't beat neither of the top teams of the World Cup in Japan. Now Tetyukhin is out again, Musersky returns as the blocker and Mikhaylov as the opposite. They have two receivers who didn't play very well throughout the year. Sivozhelez and Ilynkh will have a lot of problems here. Finland did a great job with the preparation matches and they were always very dangerous on European championships. In 2013 in the group with Slovenia, Serbia and the Netherlands they won 1st place. The most important thing is that Siltalu and Kunnarija are back, and they will secure a good reception because Sivula can't play here. The great Ojansivu is at the opposite position, and the experienced Oivanen is also back. They're playing very fast with Teervaporti and this is the key to the success of avoiding the Russian block. I think Finland can stand up to Russia and win a set, and this low margin can pass into an over and in three sets. Details

I expected 1.50 for Germany, and Bulgaria will hardly reach a win here even though they will have their fans supporting them and their home court. Germany are one of the top teams on the European Championship. They have a very good coach and two excellent opposites (Grozer, Schops), and excellent players on all positions. Sokolov and Skrimov are leaving this championship because of injuries, first setter Zhekov is also questionable, but he will probably play. The experienced opposite 38-year-old Nikolov will also play - he had a very good season in Lyon, but I doubt he will play at his best. I don't know what to expect from Uchikov. Everything will depend on Penchev and Aleksiev at the reception, and they will have big problems with the Germans' float serves. It's tough to expect anything good from receivers Petkov and Gradinarov. These odds are equal because of the Bulgarians' home court, but I think Germany holds the quality. Details

Czech Republic are complete outsiders for me. Because of the weak reception they will have big problems. Opposite Stokr is out, as well as Konecny, and thus Finger will take that position, but he can't play on that level. The Dutch have a very good team, after the first win against the Czech in this group they have at least the third place and they can relax against Germany and Bulgaria, whom they can surprise on a good day. They have a long roster and I expect them to win 3-0. Because of the dangers of the first matches, I take the point handicap here which is low enough to pass in four sets. Details