It was a week of high summits, challenges that we inevitably dream of being able to take on one day. But it was still too high and too strong for Saint-Nazaire and Chaumont, the two French representatives in the Champions League.
Opposed to two cathedrals of the Continent, two regulars of the highest European spheres, the Italians of Perugia and the Poles of Jastrzebski Wegiel, the SNVBA and the CVB 52 logically fell, on the same score (0-3), without ever having been able to take even the smallest set.
After its resounding exploit in Ankara, at the opening of the competition last week, Saint-Nazaire awaited with emotion this historic meeting, its first home match in the Champions League. But against the Italians of Perugia, undefeated since the start of the season in all competitions and led by one of the finest passers in the world, Simone Gianelli, the Nazairiens were quickly powerless.
The Saucer was nicely packed, however, with more than 2000 people, but Fulvio Bertini's men only really resisted in the 2nd round, reaching a tie at 19, before giving in in the money-time. It was also a former member of the lnv who hurt the Nazairians the most, in this case the sharp Tunisian Wassim Ben Tara (14 pts to 12 out of 15 in attack), seen in Lyon, Chaumont and Ajaccio.
The next day, Chaumont could not do better against the Poles, double reigning finalists, from Jastrzebski Wegiel. In 73 minutes, the match was over without the Chaumontais attacking a single end of the set in front. Despite Pierre Toledo's 17 points at 64%, the Haut-Marnais were never able to contain the Polish attack brilliantly orchestrated by the French Olympic champion, Benjamin Toniutti, in which Timothée Carle, another member of the blue group at the Paris Olympics , did things properly (9 pts at 64%).
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