SuperLega Final match 1: Perugia - Lube Civitanova

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 Italian playoffs, where Perugia meets Lube Civitanova in a very interesting duel.

Perugia - the world's best volleyball team

Sir Susa Vim Perugia have once again shown why they are considered one of the best volleyball teams in the world in the 2025–2026 season. The team has had an incredibly strong season and is on a very low loss streak, while they have already secured major titles such as the Italian Supercoppa and the Club World Cup. They have also been among the very best in Serie A1 and finished the regular season at the top. Perugia also won the Supercoppa final against Verona with 3–1 and took their seventh trophy in the tournament.

The only major disappointment came in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia against Verona, where they lost 1-3. However, it says a lot about their level that a semi-final loss is seen as a surprise. Perugia are a team that almost always find a way to win, even when the games are close and the pressure is on.

What characterizes Perugia's game is their extreme confidence and winning mentality. No matter how close a set or match is, it feels like they come out on top 99 times out of 100. This confidence has been built up over several seasons of great performances and strong results.

The squad is full of world-class players. Simone Giannelli leads the team as one of the world's best set-piece players, while players like Oleh Plotnytskyi, Kamil Semeniuk, Wassim Ben Tara and Yuki Ishikawa provide the team with immense quality in attack.

Perugia is not just a team of stars, but a team with a culture of winning. That's precisely why they are still the team everyone else has to beat.

Lube Civitanova – youthful drive

Cucine Lube Civitanova have shown this season that youthful energy and hunger can challenge the biggest clubs in Italy. Although they don't have the same star status as Perugia, they have been among the most exciting teams in the league and have delivered strong performances throughout the season.

Lube finished the regular season as a top team in the SuperLega and have shown that they can beat anyone on a good day. They have taken important wins against strong opponents and have been difficult to face, especially at home.

What makes Lube particularly interesting is their young and offensive squad. The team plays with great energy, aggressive serving and high risk in attack. They may not be as consistent as Perugia, but when they hit their peak level, they can beat anyone.

Players like Mattia Bottolo, Aleksandar Nikolov and Mattia Boninfante represent the future of the club and have already become key players. Together with more experienced names like Fabio Balaso, Marko Podrascanin and Santiago Orduna, the team has a good balance between experience and talent.

Lube is a team in development, but they have already shown that they can compete with the very best. They play with hunger, pride and a clear belief in their project. Maybe they are not quite at Perugia's level yet - but they are getting closer.

Lube has a good chance of taking at least one set against Perugia because they play with high intensity and have several players who can decide even the ball exchanges. Especially the wingers Mattia Bottolo and Aleksandar Nikolov can cause big problems with aggressive serving and heavy attacking play. When Lube gets a rhythm on their serve, they often manage to put even the best teams under pressure.

Match analysis

Perugia are still the favourites because they are more consistent throughout the match and have more experience in the crucial moments. With players like Simone Giannelli, Oleh Plotnytskyi and Wassim Ben Tara, they have the ability to turn even sets in their favour. However, Perugia have shown this season that they can lose periods in matches, especially against teams that serve hard and dare to take risks.

Therefore, betting on Lube taking at least one set seems like a sensible choice. Although Perugia often wins in the end, it is rare for strong teams like Lube to be completely overwhelmed, especially in an important playoff match where the intensity is extra high.

Volleyball at 20:30: Perugia – Lube Civitanova: Lube Civitanova +2.5 handicap (1.50)