PlusLiga final match 2: Lublin – Zawiercie

The Norwegian volleyball season is over, but that doesn't mean the volleyball year is over. On the contrary – there is still a lot of excitement to be had out in Europe. This weekend we turn our attention to the final of the Polish playoffs, where Zawiercie meets Lublin in a very interesting duel.

Lublin – Tired stars and uncertain form

Lublin enters the final with a slightly different story. Last season was adventurous – they won both the series and the playoffs in Poland, in addition to a European title. One of the main reasons was the signing of Wilfredo Leon, one of the world's best volleyball players, who has won titles in Russia, Italy and now Poland. And we can see after the first game that Lublin is struggling with tired players and injuries. Leon has just been in the media and reports that his hand is swelling after the games.

This season, however, has been more uneven. Lublin has struggled with injuries to several key players, and Leon has not quite been at the same level as last year. This has led to more variable performances throughout the season.

Nevertheless, the team has shown clear progress in the playoffs. On the way to the final, they have gradually found their way back to the form that made them so dominant in the past, and it seems like the timing may be right. As the underdog in this final, they can play with less pressure, which can often be an advantage in close matches.

Zawiercie – The most stable team of the season

Zawiercie, under the management of Michał Winiarski, have been the most consistent team in the PlusLiga this season. They won the regular season comfortably, seven points clear of second place, and have shown an impressive combination of structure, physicality and squad breadth throughout the year. They have also qualified for the Champions League Final Four, to be played in Turin on 16-17 May, which further underlines their level.

The road to the play-off final was not without drama, however. In the quarter-final against Zaksa, it looked easy for a long time when Zawiercie led 2–0 at home, but they made a surprising comeback and lost the match. This made the road ahead more demanding than necessary. Nevertheless, the team showed mental strength in the subsequent matches, where they won both matches 3–1 and advanced. In the semi-final against Rzeszów, however, there was a difference in class – Zawiercie made a clean sheet and won 3–0 in both matches.

Heading into the final, Zawiercie appear as clear favorites. And they are no less favorites after they comfortably won 3-0 in the first leg of the playoff final against Lublin.

Analysis of Game 2 of the Finals Series

This match will be a battle between stability and top level. Zawiercie has been the most complete team throughout the season, with a strong structure and few weak points. We saw that in the first match and they made very few mistakes. Lublin, on the other hand, has a potentially higher top level when key players like Leon deliver, but they have been more unstable. In the previous match, Lublin struggled a lot to figure things out and it seems like the players are tired.

For Zawiercie it's about controlling the tempo, exploiting the width of the team and avoiding the fluctuations we saw against Zaksa. For Lublin the key will be to get the most out of their star players and create pressure in serve and block.

All in all, Zawiercie is a deserved favorite, but Lublin has shown enough in the playoffs that this could be a much more even final than the odds suggest. And considering it is a best of five series, we can expect some incredibly fun and long matches.

I think we will get the same match picture as in the first match and that the stability of Zawiercie will once again make it difficult for Lublin. My betting tip: Zawiercie continues its dominance

Volleyball at 17:30: Lublin – Zawiercie: Zawiercie win (1.85)