Both matches are about a weak spot that the opponent is equipped to hit. Vakifbank's elite core comes in with a rebuilt reception against a THY six that has stayed together and rarely gets swept. In Eindhoven, PSV's high press without its holding anchor meets a Brugge side that has scored in every recent match and gives up plenty of chances to good teams.
Vakifbank vs THY. Vakifbank are unbeaten and still win through Ozbay setting Boskovic. But libero Eylul Akarcesme Yatgin is out for the season, and Markova missed the last match with a back problem. That puts two of the three main receivers on the same weak point. In the only full league match without Eylul, Vakifbank dropped a marathon set at Afyon. They have won in straight sets in only three of their last ten.
THY under Mazzanti have kept the same six, with Caliskan setting to Lazareva at opposite, and in their last twenty matches they were held without a set only three times. The turning point is the first set that reaches twenty-all: that is where THY's serve tests the new reception. That's why I'm backing THY to take at least one set.
PSV vs Club Brugge. Under Bosz, PSV press high and push Dest and Kostic forward, and without Schouten there is less cover behind them. That is exactly the space Forbs runs into, with Tresoldi finishing. Brugge have scored in ten straight, including four at Inter and three against Lens. They have also conceded big shot counts to good sides: thirty at Inter and nineteen against Lens.
PSV have scored in all five of their recent home games, through midfield and wing arrivals rather than a nine. Both sides need the win, neither has a rotation reason, and whichever team scores first, the other has to open up. I expect goals at both ends in this match.
