The 2026 CEV Champions League group stage concluded with contrasting outcomes for Trentino Itas and ACH Volley, as both sides ended their campaigns with defeats but kept their European ambitions alive.
At the BTS Arena in Trento, Italian powerhouse Trentino Itas were beaten 3-1 by Ziraat Bankkart Ankara (20-25, 25-21, 21-25, 21-25). Despite the loss, the result had little impact on their overall standing, as Trentino had already secured second place in their group. With 11 points from six matches, they finished as the best runner-up and now move on to the Round of 16, where they will face Poland’s PGE Projekt Warsaw in early March.
Trentino entered the match without starting players Alessandro Michieletto and Flavio Gualberto, both sidelined due to injury. Even so, they showed determination, responding to a first-set loss by leveling the match in the second. They built an early lead in the third set behind strong performances from Theo Faure, who scored 20 points, and Jordi Ramon, who added 14. However, Ziraat’s offensive power proved decisive. Nimir Abdel-Aziz led the Turkish side with an outstanding 35-point display, earning MVP honors and guiding his team to victory in front of more than 3,400 spectators.
Meanwhile in France, ACH Volley Ljubljana achieved its main objective despite a narrow 3-2 loss to Tours (19-25, 25-23, 25-18, 16-25, 13-15). Needing at least two sets to continue their European season, the Slovenian champions regrouped after a slow start and secured progression to the CEV Cup quarterfinals. Tonček Štern delivered 28 points for ACH, while Tours’ Nik Mujanović responded with 27 in a tightly contested encounter.
ACH will host the first leg of their quarterfinal tie in early March, with their opponent to be determined between Fenerbahçe and Orion Stars.