Benfica Eliminated From CEV Challenge Cup After Five-Set Loss to Olympiacos
Benfica’s women’s volleyball team exited the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup on Wednesday night following a 2–3 defeat against Olympiacos at the Pavilhão n.º 2 da Luz. slbenfica.pt reported that the 32-avos de final second-leg match required five sets to resolve, ending with set scores of 25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 26-28, and 16-18. The result completed a 50th European appearance for the Lisbon club with a tournament elimination, following a previous 3–2 defeat in Greece.
The hosts opened the elimination match with a 25-22 win in the first set after 33 minutes of play. Olympiacos leveled the score by taking the second set 23-25. Benfica reclaimed the lead by winning the third set 25-22, but the Greek visitors forced a decisive fifth set by edging a tight fourth set 26-28 in extra points. In the final tie-break period, Olympiacos secured the 16-18 victory and the series progression.
Match Statistics and Starting Lineups
Benfica utilized a starting formation featuring Mara Leão, Mayara Barcelos, Jutta Van de Vyver, Gabiru, Joana Garcez, Beatriz Santos, and libero Tatiana Rizzo. Head coach Henrique Furtado also called upon substitutes Martina Bednarek, Mariana Garcez, Marta Aleixo, Claudia Tarín, Marlene Pereira, Camila Giraudo, and Aleksandra Saykova during the contest.
The visiting Olympiacos squad deployed Eirini Chatziefstratiadou, Ifigeneia Sampati, Anastasia Gallou, Georgia Andrikopoulou, Gaia Traballi, Vasiliki Zafeiriou, Melani Shaffmaster, Kiriaki Terzoglou, Mariya Krivoshiiska, Michaela Mlejnkova, Manolina Konstantinou, Taylor Bannister, and libero Maria-Eleni Artakianou.
| Team | 1st Set | 2nd Set | 3rd Set | 4th Set | 5th Set | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benfica | 25 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 16 | 2 |
| Olympiacos | 22 | 25 | 22 | 28 | 18 | 3 |
Reactions From Benfica Coach and Captain
Benfica head coach Henrique Furtado stated after the match that his players fought against a strong opponent with significant offensive power. We fought a lot.
It was not enough, it’s true.
Team captain Tatiana Rizzo acknowledged the difficulty of the elimination while praising the squad’s persistence on the court. It’s hard to talk after a defeat, but we have that feeling that, even at times not playing very well, or at times playing well, there was a constant fighting spirit,
Rizzo said.
Upcoming Domestic Fixture Against GC Vilacondense
Benfica returns to competition on Sunday, November 8, hosting GC Vilacondense at the Pavilhão n.º 2 da Luz. The match is scheduled for 17:00 as part of the fifth round of the first phase of the Campeonato Nacional.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Match
What was the aggregate score of the European tie between Benfica and Olympiacos?
Olympiacos won both legs of the 32-avos de final by identical 3–2 margins, taking the series after Wednesday’s 16-18 win in the fifth set in Lisbon.
How many European matches has Benfica played in total?
Wednesday’s fixture marked the 50th European match in the history of Benfica’s women’s volleyball program.
Who is Benfica’s next opponent in domestic competition?
Benfica plays GC Vilacondense at home on Sunday, November 8, at 17:00 in the Campeonato Nacional.
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