A decisive night in Pool B of the CEV ZEREN Group Champions League saw the leading contenders confirm their status, with Fenerbahçe Medicana Istanbul sealing first place and Igor Gorgonzola Novara booking a spot in the next round.
Fenerbahçe delivered a controlled away performance in Lisbon, overcoming Sport Lisboa e Benfica in straight sets. Despite rotating their lineup, the Turkish side managed the key moments well, especially in a tight second set, before pulling clear to confirm top position in the group with one match still to play. Ana Cristina led the scoring with 18 points and was named MVP, while Benfica earned credit for their fighting display in front of a home crowd.
In Italy, Novara recovered from a slow start to defeat PGE Budowlani Łódź 3–1 in a crucial clash between the teams placed second and third. After dropping the opening set, the hosts increased their pressure from the service line and dominated the final stages of the match. Tatiana Tolok starred with a match-high scoring performance (24 pts) to guide Novara safely into the knockout phase.
Results – Pool B
- Sport Lisboa e Benfica vs Fenerbahçe Medicana Istanbul: 0–3 (20–25, 29–31, 17–25)
- Igor Gorgonzola Novara vs PGE Budowlani Łódź: 3–1 (20–25, 25–17, 25–22, 25–10)
