Verona and Lube open the league with a rematch shaped by service pressure and first contact. Their April series swung in both directions as each side found ways to move the opposing setter away from the net. Both teams now have different setter and opposite links, so the decisive rallies should reveal how quickly those new connections work under pressure.
Verona's Keita and Sani can create runs from the service line, but Lube has Balaso and Bottolo to steady the first pass. That gives Simeon Nikolov a chance to involve Alex Nikolov, Loeppky and the middles before Verona's block settles. Verona is expected to use Motta Paes with Buchegger, with Christenson reported to start on the bench and Cortesia unavailable; Motta Paes started the two recent tests. Lube's service and block turned this matchup in April, and its newer attack moved well through the Milano test. I expect those first-ball and transition sequences to carry over often enough. That's why I'm siding with Lube Civitanova.
Belchatow and Gdansk enter their opener with a similar contest at the net. Łomacz and Souza give Skra a strong route when their receivers hold up, while Gdansk's Niemiec and Nasevich can make those first passes difficult. Gdansk's recent win over Zawiercie showed Niemiec's service and block linking with Gierżot, Orczyk and Köykkä in defence, then turning recovered balls into attacks. Those players appeared in Gdansk's recent matches, and Skra also used Łomacz and Souza in its recent final. I expect Gdansk's repeated defensive touches and service runs to put more pressure on Skra's wing attacks. That's why I'm siding with Gdansk.
