Nordmeccanica PIACENZA are hoping to deliver a superb performance on Wednesday night when they host Russia’s Dinamo KAZAN for their re-match in the Playoffs 6 of the 2016 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Women. Two weeks ago Dinamo claimed a comfortable 3-0 home victory (25-14, 25-23, 25-21) to set their sights on a ticket to the Final Four Tournament, which is due to take place on April 9-10 in Montichiari, Italy.  

The 2014 CL gold medallists and club world champions are travelling to Italy knowing that they ‘only’ need to win another two sets to secure their progression to the Final Four of Europe’s elite competition. However, the members of the Italian team around coach Marco Gaspari are determined to perform their best before the home crowd hoping to turn the odds.  

“After our heavy loss in Kazan I said that everything is possible in Volleyball,” Gaspari says, “and we still strongly believe in our chances of making it to the Final Four, which is the ultimate dream of all teams. Dinamo KAZAN have a very strong team and we are taking on this challenge after losing the final of the Italian national cup [to Foppapedretti BERGAMO], so we have to reset our mind and get ready to play a great match.”

The Italians already caused a sensation at the beginning of the season when they claimed a home victory against another Russian powerhouse, Dinamo MOSCOW.

Though the re-match with Dinamo KAZAN looks like an uphill climb, Nordmeccanica PIACENZA are determined to make history for their club in an attempt to join their compatriots of Pomì CASALMAGGIORE in the final stage of Europe’s elite club competition.