Sada Cruzeiro had a great debut in the Club World Championship – Photos: Agênciai7

Hosts Sada Cruzeiro came out on top of the rematch of the 2015 and 2016 finals of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship as the Brazilian side downed Russia’s Zenit Kazan in the teams’ debut in the 2019 edition of the tournament at the Ginásio Divino Braga, in Betim, on Tuesday.

Three-time world champions started the tournament at full pace as they prevailed over the five-time European winners in straight sets 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-22) in front of its passionate fan base.

Rio 2016 Olympic champion opposite Evandro Guerra was the main name of Sada Cruzeiro’s victory as the 37-year-old veteran contributed with 16 points in the match. Middle-blocker Isac Santos scored ten while outside hitter Facundo Conte and middle-blocker Otavio Pinto added eight each.

Setter Fernando Cachopa already focus on the next game

“We always leave everything we have on the court and today we were fantastic,” setter Fernando ‘Cachopa’ Kreling said. “We played really well and we neutralized their best skills. But it’s a long and tough week and more difficult games will be coming our way starting tomorrow, so we need to keep our focus.”

In the opening match of the tournament, Lube Civitanova displayed world-class volleyball to dominate Al-Rayyan as the Italians secured a 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-13) victory in just one hour and 16 minutes.

Zenit Kazan – Butko, Sokolov, Ngapeth, Mikhaylov, Kononov, Volvich e o líbero Golubev. Entered Zemchenok and Surmachevskiy. Coach– Alexey Verbov

Sada Cruzeiro – Fernando Cachopa, Evandro, Perrin, Facundo Conte, Isac, Otávio and libero Lukinha. Entered Luan and Rodriguinho Leme. Coach – Marcelo Mendez

Men’s Club World Championship – Betim – Brazil 

Preliminary Round

Tuesday, 03/12/19

18h – Lube Civitanova 3 x 0 Al-Rayyan

20h30 – Sada Cruzeiro 3 x 0 Zenit Kazan

Wednesday, 04/12/19

18h – Zenit Kazan x Al-Rayyan

20h30 – Sada Cruzeiro x Lube Civitanova

Thursday, 05/12/19

18h – Lube Civitanova x Zenit Kazan

20h30 – Sada Cruzeiro x Al-Rayyan

Semifinals

Saturday, 07/12/19

14h – 1º x 4º

17h – 2º x 3º

Finals

Sunday, 08/12/19

9h30 – Final 3 – 4

12h30 – Final 1 – 2