Croatia's Mursa Osijek had an impressive journey within a single season, becoming the champion of the MEVZA League 2025/2026. Just a few months after being definitively eliminated by Levski Sofia in the Champions League qualifiers, the team from Osijek reached its first international trophy.
In the tournament final, held in front of their home crowd, Mursa defeated Hungary's MÁV Előre Foxconn Székesfehérvár 3:2 (25:21, 25:20, 21:25, 14:25, 15:11) and deservedly celebrated the title.
A memory from November: a dominant Levski
The context surrounding this success is particularly interesting from a Bulgarian perspective. In November 2025, Levski Sofia faced Mursa precisely in the second qualifying round of the Champions League – and eliminated them after two victories.
In the return leg at the 'Levski Sofia' hall, the 'Blues' left no doubt about their superiority:
Levski – Mursa 3:0 (25:17, 25:16, 25:16)
The convincing success sealed the Bulgarian champion's qualification for the next phase and showed a difference in class at that point in the season.
How Mursa reached the trophy
Within the MEVZA League, the Croatian team showed a different face. After a shaky regular season (4 wins, 2 losses), Mursa found its best form in the Final Four.
In the semifinals, the team prevailed over Mladost Zagreb with 3:1 (25:20, 25:23, 22:25, 25:18), and in the final, they withstood the pressure from MÁV Előre in a five-set clash.
The Final – a test of character
The decisive match went through two clearly distinct periods. Mursa dominated the first two sets with good block-defense organization and attacking efficiency.
After that, the Hungarian team reversed the momentum, but in the tie-break, the hosts showed greater resilience and control in key rallies – a factor often lacking at this level.
The Individual Leader
Opposite hitter Leo Andrić played a key role in the success and was logically chosen as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament. His experience in decisive moments proved crucial in the final.
Mursa Osijek's story this season is indicative of the level in Central Europe – dynamic, evenly matched, and with small differences between teams.
