World champions Italy triumphed over Brazil with a 3-1 victory, starting strong in Pool B. Romanò delivered an outstanding performance, helping the Europeans seize crucial moments to secure all three points.
The Italian Men’s Team began their Olympic journey with a strong performance, defeating Brazil 3-1 (25-23, 27-25, 18-25, 25-21) in their opening match. Italy, led by coach De Giorgi, showcased an impressive game, conceding only the third set to their opponents.
De Giorgi’s starting lineup included Giannelli as setter, Romanò as opposite, Michieletto and Lavia as outside hitters, Galassi and Russo in the middle, and Balaso as libero. Brazil’s coach, Bernardinho, fielded Bruno on setter position and Darlan as opposite, Leal and Lucarelli as outside hitters, Lucas and Flavio in the middle, and Thales as libero.
In the first set, after a nervous start, Italy managed to stay focused and counter Brazil’s initial momentum, eventually winning 25-23. The second set saw Italy take an early lead (5-1) before Brazil leveled at 7-7. A tight contest followed, with Italy maintaining a slight edge and securing the set 27-25 after a dramatic finish.
Brazil dominated the third set, leading 16-10 and 23-16, ultimately winning 25-18 as Italy struggled with their play. However, in the fourth set, Italy regained control, leveraging strong serves and blocks to win 25-21, thus clinching the match.
Yuri Romanò led Italy to victory with an impressive 20-point performance, including 17 kills, two aces, and one block. Outside hitters Alessandro Michieletto and Daniele Lavia also made notable contributions, scoring 13 and 12 points, respectively. In his Olympic debut, Brazilian opposite Darlan de Souza made a strong impact, topping the match with 25 points (23 kills, one block, one ace). Outside hitters Yoandy Leal and Ricardo Lucarelli also played important roles, scoring 15 and 14 points, respectively.
