The volleyball team at MTV Stuttgart has something historic to look forward to: For the first time in the history of the club, coach Tore Aleksandersen’s team is contesting an international final and can thus crown an outstanding season early. The Stuttgart women are unbeaten in the Bundesliga, are in the final of the German Cup and now have two finals in the second highest European cup competition.
The way to the CEV cup final: from Italy via Germany to Istanbul
On the way there, the team has beaten several top-class players. In the round of 16 they were still big outsiders against the Italian top team Busto Arsizio, followed in the quarterfinals by the German duel with twelve-time German champions SSC Palmberg Schwerin. Since the first leg in Schwerin had to be canceled due to corona and the game was therefore rated 3-0 for MTV, the 3-1 win in the second leg secured the Swabian women’s entry into the next round. After they then defeated Mladost Zagreb in the semifinals in the first and second leg (3:1 and 3:0), it was clear: “Stuttgart’s most beautiful sport” can continue to hope for the really big coup. There they expect another heavyweight in volleyball with Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul. The Turkish club beat Romania’s CS Volei Alba-Blaj 3-0 in the second semi-final (first leg also 3-0).
Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul has a top team with a top star
The opponents from Istanbul around top star Tijana Bošković are Turkish record champions and have already played nine European finals. Most recently, they won the CEV Cup in the 2017/2018 season. Turkey international Simge Aköz told Turkish sports daily Fanatik: “We want to become champions by doing our best. I invite all our fans to our fight, which we will play on Tuesday.” Around 1000 fans are expected in the local sports park. Volleyball is one of the most popular sports in Turkey, especially among women.
Nevertheless, MTV has a lot planned and is very excited about the upcoming games: “Even if we’re the underdog, we’re in the final and of course we’re not playing to lose it,” said Aurel Irion, the manager of the Stuttgart volleyball team . The second leg of the game will take place on March 22 in front of a sold-out crowd in Stuttgart.
Source: SWR