Trento, 05 February 2020

Itas Trentino-Allianz Milano 3-1, the match report

The chronicle of the match. The starting six do not present particular surprises; the Itas Trentino. Presents itself at the BLM Group Arena with the seven regulars seen on the field against Piacenza three days ago: Giannelli (setter), Vettori (opposite hitter), Cebulj and Russell (hitters), Candellaro and Lisinac (middle – hitters), Grebennikov (libero). The Allianz Milano responds with Sbertoli (setter), Abdel-Aziz (opposite hitter), Clevenot and Petric (hitters), Alletti and Kozamernik (middle – hitters), Pesaresi (libero). The start of the match is in the hands of Trentino Volley; Grebennikov defends and Vettori scores points 5-3. Milan tries to perform a come back with Petric, but Cebulj defends the lead and then increases the lead (10 – 6 time out for Piazza). A block of Alletti on Lisinac and an attack out of Vettori bring the teams back in close contact (12-11), before the draw signed by Abdel-Aziz (13-13, time out for Lorenzetti). To the resumption of the match Trento struggles so Allianz takes advantage (15-18, 17-22). The end of set comes quickly, already on 19-25 because Trentino Volley becomes nervous, Candellaro and Cebulj make mistakes and so they leave the set to the opponents.
After the change of the field the two teams start again to struggle point-to-point (5-6, 8-9, 10-11), but Milan is stronger and with Alletti runs away (10-13). Lorenzetti changes Kovacevic with Russell, but the score doesn’t get better (12-15 and 13-17); the service of Cebulj tries to shake the team that right with Kovacevic and Lisinac touch the minus one (17-18). A great defence of the Serbian power station was needed and it was rebuilt to the point of the left-handed compatriot to reverse the trend (19-18); the angry reaction of the locals also passed through the Candellaro wall on Abdel-Aziz (22-20). The Allianz does not break up, it gets even with the same weapons (the Dutchman's block on Vettori for 23-23) but then the Lisinac block on Petric which is worth 25-23 and 1-1.
On the wave of enthusiasm, the Itas Trentino restarted the momentum even in the third set in which Lorenzetti confirmed Kovacevic among the holders. Uros's services and Vettori's excellent game on block projected the Gialloblù from 6-5 to 10-6 (Piazza's time out). Milan also had to play Izzo with Sbertoli (a physical problem), but he didn't give up and thanks to the block he was able to go back up to 14-14; so the game was back to point to point (18-17, 20-20). Then Cebulj's services are needed to direct the set: 23-20, then corrected in 25-22 with an error in serving by Izzo himself.
In the partial quarter the battle shot-for-shot lasts only until 8-8, then the Gialloblù finds the cue (10-8, 14-11) taking advantage of Abdel-Aziz's goal difficulties. Without Sbertoli, who remained on the bench, the Allianz became very legible and Trento dictated the law in the break point phase (16-11, 19-14, 21-16), with a Kovacevic who really succeeded in attacking. The 3-1 final comes, after some suffering (23-18 to 24-22 with Abdel-Aziz unleashed), on 25-22.

Trentino Volley Srl
Press Office