Olympiacos took a decisive step towards semi-final qualification in the Challenge Cup with a 3-1 set win by Steaua in “Melina Merkouri”. The rematch will take place in Romania on January 26.

If the red-whites qualify, they will meet the winner of the match between Panathinaikos and the Dutch Orion Dortmund in the next round.

How he qualifies: After winning the set 3-1, Olympiacos has the semi-final qualification in their hands. If they win in Romania by any result or lose by 3-2 sets, they qualify. In a 0:3 or 1:3 defeat there is a golden set.

The match: In the first set there was a derby between the two teams who were tied point for point. In the final stretch, the Romanians’ serve played a decisive role.

Olympiacos took a 23-22 lead in the final sprint, but a 3-0 run by Steaua, from which Petsa scored two aces, saw the Romanians finish the first set 25-23.

Olympiacos came out stronger in the 2nd^the and quickly took the lead 4-1 and 5-2, making it 7-4 after a Dalakoura block. He then continued another run that made it 13-8 after following a block from Hidalgo to make it 15-10 with a first-time Pagenk. Hidalgo, with two consecutive aces, extended the “red-white” lead to +7 by writing 17-10, and then with a whistle made it 18-11 himself.

With Gustavao’s block, Olympiacos widened the difference in their favor to +8, which Pagenk increased even more with a new ace to make it 20-11. Stern won 21-13 and Gustavo 22-13 for Olympiacos who counted down to win the set they won 25-16 to tie the sets 1-1.

At the beginning of the 3^and Set, Olympiacos trailed 3-0, reacted and overtook to go 9-7 with a star. Then the “Red-Whites” extended their lead, with Dalacura scoring with a block to make it 11:7 and Stern with an attack to make it 14:9. Hidalgo won 16-11 and Stern with an ace 17-11 for the then dominant Red and Whites.

With a block from Travitsa it was 19:12 for the Piraeus, who had laid the foundation for the turnaround. Alain Pagenk with his freshman year wrote 20-13 and with a new ace 21-13 for Hidalgo to make it 23-15. After an attack by Stern, Olympiacos went 24:16 into the first bowl set, and an excellent defense by Dalakouras scored the point for 25:16, thanks to which the “Red-Whites” took a 2-1 lead in sets .

A block from Hidalgo gave Olympiacos a 3-1 lead early in the 4th^and Set, Steaua then equalized and the two teams went into the classification together. A serve that went wide made the visitors 15-13, but a new draw followed at 16-16.

Stern with one earned block and one block made it 18-16, putting the legend back in the driver’s seat, and Pagenk extended the “red-white” run to 3-0 for 19-16. With two consecutive aces, Stern increased the difference to +5 and wrote 22-17, and with an attack he gave the first match point at 24-19, allowing Pagenk to end the match with an ace at 25-19.

Olympiacos – Steaua 3-1

The sentences: 23-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-19

*Olympiakos’s points came from 13 aces, 35 attacks, 15 blocks and 28 errors while Steaua’s points came from 6 aces, 38 attacks, 8 blocks and 24 errors

OLYMPIAN (Alberto Giuliani): Pagenk 15 (8/10 ref, 4 aces, 3 blocks), Star 20 (13/30 ref, 4 aces, 3 blocks), Koumentakis 1 (0/2 ref, 1 ace, 60% ref-60 % excellent), Travitsa 4 (2/2 ref, 2 aces), Linardos 2 (1/2 ref, 1 block), Hidalgo 19 (13/26 ref, 4 aces, 2 blocks, 62% ref- 38% excellent) / Tziavras (l, 47% sub.–47% excellent), Koltsiakis (l), Gustavao 5 (2/3 ref., 3 blocks), Papagelopoulos, Dalakouras 4 (3/6 ref., 1 block , 76% sub.–65% excellent).

STEAWA BUCHAREST (Bogdan Kotnik): Peta 9 (5/20 ref, 3 aces, 1 block, 57% sub-43% excellent), Vologa 2 (1/4 ref, 1 block), Matei 19 (17/37 ref, 2 blocks) , % excellent), Sombala 3 (2/3 ref., 1 block), Dumitrou Iftime 1 (1/3 ref., 43% sub.-29% excellent), Bodea 1 (1/1 ref.).