Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie failed to win the most important club trophy in Europe. In the Champions League final in Turin, the Polish team lost to Sir Susa Scai Perugia 0:3 and was really close to their rival only in the first set. The Italians defended the title, and the PlusLiga team was left regretting the missed opportunity and the controversial end of the premiere game.

Warta started with a point-for-point fight

The final in Turin was a repeat of the clash from a year ago, when Perugia and Warta met in Łódź. Then the Italian team was already leading 2-0, but the Zawiercie team managed to lead to a tie-break and only there they had to acknowledge the superiority of their opponent. This time, the fans of the Polish team were counting on a rematch, although it was clear from the beginning that the task would be extremely difficult. Perugia has a squad full of volleyball stars, huge experience and the confidence of a team that knows how to win finals.

However, the first set gave hope. Both teams took a lot of risks with their service, and the game went point by point for a long time. There was no shortage of powerful attacks, dedicated defenses and quick counterattacks. Warta even had a set ball, but was unable to use it. Perugia needed several opportunities to close the game, and the end left the Polish team very dissatisfied.

Controversy at the end of the first set

The most emotional moment was the action, after which Perugia won the premiere 29:27. Simone Giannelli moved his hand to Warta’s side, which should have been considered a mistake because it made the game more difficult for the opponents. However, the referee did not stop the action, and the challenge could not help the Zawiercie team because, according to the regulations, this type of situation was not subject to systemic verification.

It was a moment that hit the Polish team hard. The entire final cannot be reduced to one decision, because later Perugia’s advantage was already clear, but the first set could have changed the course of the match. If Warta had taken the lead, the match could have taken on a completely different dynamic. Instead, the Polish champions had to chase the result against a team that received an additional boost after such a finish.

Perugia took control of the final

The second set showed the difference between the teams. Perugia played almost flawlessly, and Warta began to lose stability. The Italian team quickly built an advantage: first 7:4, then 10:5, 13:7 and 17:9. The Zawiercie team couldn’t find a rhythm, had problems with reception and were unable to stop their rushing rivals. Replacing Bartłomiej Bołądź with Kyle Ensing did not change the game.

The game ended with the score 25:18 and Perugia was already one step away from defending the title. Warta found itself in a position where it could not afford any weaker parts. The problem is that the opponent looked more and more confident, and the Polish team increasingly had to react to events, instead of creating them.

The third set ended Zawiercie’s dreams

The beginning of the third set gave some temporary hope. Warta was leading 4:2, but after a while its game stopped completely. Perugia scored eight points in a row and jumped to 10-4. This was a key part of the final, after which it was difficult to believe in a return. The Italians played with great freedom, and the Zawiercie team looked like a team without arguments.

The last game ended with the score 25:15, which best reflects Perugia’s dominance. The Italian club with Kamil Semeniuk won the Champions League for the second time in a row, and Warta had to accept a painful defeat. Getting to the final itself remains a great achievement, but in Turin the difference was too big for the Polish team to realistically fight for the trophy.

Champions League final result

• Sir Susa Scai Perugia – Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie 3:0 (29:27, 25:18, 25:15)
• Sir Susa Scai: Russo, Giannelli, Płotnicki, Loser, Ben Tara, Semeniuk, Colaci and Ishikawa.
• Aluron CMC Guard: Gladyr, Tavares, Russell, Bieniek, Bolādz, Kwolek, Popivczak oraz Ensing, Nowosielski.