Olympiacos fell heroically from Fener after an improbable match at Rentis

He fought like a beast, but was defeated in detail o Olympic.

In a game with a lot of tension, big battles and terrible changes in the score, the “red and white” lost in the tie-break with 3-2 sets from Fenerbahce at “Melina Merkouri”, in a crucial match in the context of the 4th matchday of the Champions League.

Andrea Gardini’s side were stunning in the first set, which they won 25-16, before losing the next two 25-14 and 25-19. In the fourth, he showed tremendous mental reserves and after an improbable match, equalized at 2-2 with the impressive 37-35! In the tie-break, however, some decisions of the referee, as well as the mistakes of the Olympiakos players, gave the guests the opportunity to win 15-8.

Somehow, Fener overtook Olympiakos in the 2nd place of the 2nd group of the competition, with the two teams now they have 5 points eachat the time when Monza is in 7th. We remind you that the first five of the groups go directly to the quarter-finals of the competition, with the second five and the best third of the groups playing knockouts, in order to complete the 8th.

The match:

THE Olympic started the match very strongly, taking the upper hand in the score from the beginning. Taking advantage of service mistakes, as well as Fenerbahce’s poor receptions, the “red and whites” took a 9-5 lead and shortly after with 13-8. In fact, Andrea Gardini’s players continued to test the reception of the Turks and with protagonists in their attack Payenk, Atanasijevic, Perrin, Masulovic and Koumendakis, they were constantly increasing their difference. Making just one error against 8 of the guests (6 on serve) and playing at a very high pace and tempo, the Piraeus team saw their block work exceptionally well, thus reaching the comfortable victory of the set with score 25-16.

The scene was completely different in second setwhere Fener sharply improved its image and performance in the attacking part of its game, making it difficult for the home team’s defense. With Luburic, Salehi and Baltacci in the foreground, the visitors took the lead, keeping difference in 2-3 points at the beginning of the set (6-9). Then the effortless mistakesbut also the weakness of Olympiakos to take out the defenses and at the same time finish his attacks with confidence as he did in the first set, allowed Fener to “build” big differences and dominate the match. Somehow, Slobodan Kovac’s team even made it at +11 (11-22), tying the game at 1-1 shortly after scoring the set with 14-25.

His start was balanced third set, with the two teams going toe-to-toe at 5-5, with blocks dominating these early stages. A quick 3-0 run saw Fener take an 8-5 lead before Olympiacos responded with a flurry of points from Atanasievic reduce to 9-11. However, the Piraeus defense could not find solutions to Luburic’s strikes with the Turks going as far as the +4 (12-16). Atanasijevic and Payenk found points from nails and blocks respectively to close the gap at 15-17, with Fener answering with back-to-back blocks and winners, going +5 for the first time (16-21). The “red and white” could not return to claim the set, which they lost by score 25-19.

With acquired speed it started fourth set the Istanbul team, which led 4-2 and 5-3. At that point, Mr Olympic with the improbable as an ally block of – got three points with a triple block – ran a 5-0 run for the overtaking 8-5, putting the world found in “Melina Merkouri” into the equation of the struggle! Despite Fener’s draw (8-8), the hosts with his points Atanasiewicz they regained the lead (13-10), at the time when the visitors equalized again at 13-13. The Turks’ service errors, but also his amazing point Koumendakis in the single block, he brought Piraeus to 16-14, with Fener a little later responding and this time with Olympiakos’ mistakes, going ahead with 17-18. From Drzygka’s lost serve and Koumendakis’ point, the hosts made it 19-18, with the match going point-to-point from then on. Fener reached match point three times (24-25 and 28-29 shortly after), which were erased by the Piraeus. The sequel was improbable, with both teams refusing to lose. Atanasijevic took it…personally and with a terrific run of points, and with Koumendakis providing valuable assists on defense and offense, Olympiacos tied the score at 2-2 sets and sent the match to a tie-break, winning his 11th set point for the impressive 37-35!

In the tie-break, Olympiacos appeared to be draining mentally and physically, and combined with some refereeing decisions that created frustration among the team, they were never really able to claim victory, with Fener running out 15-8 winners.

The sets: 25-16, 14-25, 19-25, 37-35, 8-15.