Three Bulgarian volleyball players will be in focus for the playoffs for 5th place in the Italian SuperLega – a competition that grants the right to participate in the Challenge Cup tournament for the 2026/27 season. These are Martin Atanasov and Zhasmin Velikov from Vero Volley Monza, as well as Boris Nachev from Sonepar Padova.

Right at the start of the eliminations, the draw pits the two teams against each other in a direct clash, automatically turning the series into a "Bulgarian" derby.

Monza versus Padova – a direct clash with Bulgarian intensity

Vero Volley Monza, who finished the regular season in 8th place and were eliminated in the quarter-finals for the Scudetto, will face 9th-placed Sonepar Padova in one of the quarter-final series.

The series will be played to two wins out of a maximum of three matches, with the first and eventual third match being hosted by the team ranked higher in the regular season – in this case, Monza.

A specific format with 7 teams

The playoffs for 5th place are held in a less common format with seven teams:

• the four teams eliminated from the Scudetto quarter-finals

• plus the teams that finished in 9th, 10th, and 11th place in the regular season

Six teams start from the quarter-finals and form three series, which determine three winners. They are joined in the semi-finals by the highest-ranked team among those eliminated from the title playoffs, who skips this phase and starts directly from the top 4.

After that:

• semi-finals are played

• the winners meet in a final

All series are to two wins out of a maximum of three matches.

Playoff schedule

• Quarter-finals: April 5, 9, and 12, 2026

• Semi-finals: April 19, 26, and 29, 2026

• Final: May 2, 5, and 10, 2026

The indicated dates are approximate slots, with the exact schedule, including times and specific rearrangements, to be announced after each played phase.

A second chance for the European stage

The winner of this mini-tournament secures participation in the Challenge Cup – the third strongest European club tournament.

For Monza and Padua, this is an opportunity to compensate for their elimination from the Scudetto race, and for the Bulgarian players – a chance to establish themselves at a high level in decisive matches.

The presence of three Bulgarians in this phase adds extra value to the competition. Already in the first round, compatriots face each other, which guarantees Bulgarian participation in the next phase as well.

photos: Nikolay Varadinov and legavolley.it