Olympiacos secured the qualification to the next round of Challenge Cup in the golden set of the rematch against Tours. Although the French team won 3-0 sets, the ‘’Reds’’ kept calm and won the golden set. Now, Olympiacos will face Lokomotiv Baku for the next phase. 

Key action:

Olympiacos was back in the two technical timeouts of the first set (8-7, 16-10 respectively). After the 20-15 for Tours, the ‘’Reds’’ tried to close with a Bohme’s block (20-18). Rawverdink tied the game 21-21 and Oivanen 22-22. Then, Tours reacted and won the first set 25-22. 

In the second set, Tours went ahead 16-12 in the second technical timeout. Olympiacos run a 6-0 streak and equalised the set 17-17 and went ahead with points of Rawverdink, Bohme and Drzyzga. Then, some mistakes by the referee assisted Tours to take the lead (21-18) which retained it until the end of the set. Although Olympiacos had the lead in the second technical timeout of the third set (15-16), Tours reacted and won it with 25-20. 

In the golden set,  the ‘’Legend’’ led 6-8 in the technical timeout. The French team achieved to tie 9-9 but then, Olympiacos went ahead again with three consecutive points (9-12). Finally, a block by Petreas gave the victory to the Greek team and so, the qualification in the next phase of the Challenge Cup. 

Match stats: 

The sets: 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-20), Golden set: 11-15

1st set: 8-7, 16-10, 21-18, 25-22

2nd set: 8-6, 16-12, 21-18, 25-21

3rd set: 8-7, 15-16, 21-19, 25-20

Golden set: 4-5, 6-8, 10-12, 11-15

Statistics: 

Tours (Cedric Enard): Hernan 2 (1 ace, 1 block), Gotsev 8 (4/8 attacks, 4 blocks), Egleskalns 25 (22/35 attacks, 2 aces, 1 block), Diefenbach 5 (2/11 attacks, 3 blocks), Reichert 8 (5/12 attacks, 2 aces, 1 block, 45% pos-32% exc.), Wounembaina 17 (14/34 attacks, 2 aces, 1 block, 59% pos-35% exc.), Henno (L, 67% pos-33% exc.), Huchot (L), Nevot, Rabiller

Olympiacos (Munoz Benitez Fernando): Oivanen 18 (15/37 attacks, 1 ace, 2 blocks), Petreas 7 (6/7 attacks, 1 block), Bohme 6 (1/8 attacks, 5 blocks), Drzyzga 3 (1 ace, 2 blocks), Aleksiev 13 (13/23 attacks, 40% pos-17% exc.), Rauwerdink 10 (9/20 attacks, 1 ace, 59% pos-35% exc.), Stefanou (L, 50% pos-33% exc.), Daridis (L), Christofidelis, Zoupani, Stivachtis, Andreadis

Quotes: 

Benitez stated: ‘’First of all, we are very satisfied with the winning of golden set. It was an important game not only for the team but also for the club and the President as Tours spread lies during the previous days. As far as the game is concerned, it was a tough one and we were careless in a large part of it. However, we had been prepared appropriately and so, kept our focus during the golden set and achieved our goal.’’

Petreas said: ‘’Finally we did. It was proven that the win in the first game was so important as we qualified although we lost today. Our qualification is fair and we are satisfied because we proved that we were a better team even if Tours had Wounembaina in its squad. This qualification is also a reply to everyone criticized our club and country.’’