"Zenit-Kazan" is closer to losing the championship than ever: "Lokomotiv" is currently stronger than the Kazan team.

      Verbov considers Novosibirsk residents a "super team"

      Photo: Dinara Fatykhova

      Last week in Kazan, the first matches of the semifinal series of Kazan's "Zenit" in the playoff of the volleyball Super League took place. Alexey Verbov's team faced serious difficulties against Novosibirsk's "Lokomotiv" and lost the opening game, but then took revenge, leveling the series. Against this backdrop, discussions intensified about the potential loss of the championship title by the Kazan team. An analysis of the situation is presented in the material of "Realnoe Vremya."

      "Zenit-Kazan" won the "regular season"

      As befits a multiple champion, "Zenit-Kazan" began the current playoffs as the main favorite of the tournament. Following the regular championship, the team secured first place in the Super League standings. The Kazan team suffered only two defeats against 30 victories, prematurely guaranteeing themselves the final leadership.

      Dinara Fatykhova / realnoevremya.ru

      At the start of the playoffs, Kazan's "Zenit" confidently dealt with "Nova." The opponents from Novokuybyshevsk were defeated in Kazan with a score of 3:0. The home team arranged a rout in the first set — 25:11, after which they confidently brought the matter to victory — 25:16, 25:20. In the return match, Alexey Verbov allowed himself to rotate the lineup, bringing the closest reserves onto the court. This was still enough for victory in three sets — 25:19, 25:19, 25:20.

      Having dealt with two matches, "Zenit" awaited its semifinal opponent. In the quarterfinals, "Lokomotiv" faced the unyielding "Belogorye." The Belogorye team managed to grab one victory but still lost in the series — 1:2. As a result, the Novosibirsk team advanced, while "Belogorye" was eliminated.

      Dinara Fatykhova / realnoevremya.ru

      By all accounts, "Zenit-Kazan" should not have faced problems with "Lokomotiv." On the side of the Kazan team were cup experience, a championship lineup, and the status of the regular season winner. However, in practice, everything turned out to be more complicated.

      "Lokomotiv" won the first match and took home advantage

      "Lokomotiv" unexpectedly for many won the very first game in Kazan. "Zenit" won the opening set without problems — 25:21, but then Kazan's libero Ilya Fedorov got injured. The guests surged ahead both in initiative on the court and in the score on the scoreboard. Kazan volleyball players struggled to bring the match to a tiebreak, but there the Novosibirsk team played better. 2:3 — and Kazan essentially lost the advantage of the home arena.

      Dinara Fatykhova / realnoevremya.ru

      In the second match, the "Zenit" team could not afford to lose. In a best-of-three series, correcting the situation from 0:2 would be catastrophic. Although not hopeless. Therefore, the Kazan team played in the return match with the coveted zeal. Dmitry Volkov, who ultimately became the most productive player on his team with 17 points, and the legendary Maxim Mikhaylov (15 points) performed remarkably. Their performance proved decisive. "Zenit-Kazan" won with great difficulty with a score of 3:1 (25:18, 18:25, 25:22, 27:25).

      — In fact, in both the last match and this one, it's all about some little things. The teams deserve each other. It's very hard to play against them — they always serve excellently, pushing away from the net. Today we played a bit better on high balls, held the reception a bit better. Long rallies gave emotions, but at the same time fatigue, — commented the victory of "Zenit-Kazan" player Volkov.

      The "super team" from Novosibirsk

      With the score at 1:1, the Novosibirsk team became the favorite of the series and the entire playoffs. Too many difficulties arise for the "Zenit" players: Verbov's charges struggle with the opponent's serve and barely hold back the attack. After the second game, even the coach of "Zenit-Kazan" spoke about the superiority of "Lokomotiv."

      — We understand who is standing opposite. They are really a super team. They feel free because they made it to the top four after several years. They play against a certain favorite, but we understand that they not only do not fear us but seem to always be waiting for us. The emotions, of course, are incredible. This is what you live for, what you work for. It's nice to beat a team that is just wow! In the first game, out of six aces, four were unnecessary. And today all 11 — this is the merit of Novosibirsk. It was impossible to receive those. We won the third set with 19% reception against 70% for "Loko," somehow managed to hold the attack. It's just gritting your teeth, some inner character and understanding of where we are going. I understand that true hell awaits us there. We need to switch now, rest, because a huge amount of energy was spent in these two games, — Verbov was quoted by the club's press service.

      Dinara Fatykhova / realnoevremya.ru

      The coach knows what he is talking about; it is unlikely to be just ordinary flirting with the opponent. In the regular championship, "Zenit" lost only two games, but both defeats occurred in matches against "Lokomotiv." The Novosibirsk team remained undefeated against the Kazan champions in the "regular season."

      There is a high probability that "Zenit-Kazan" will not reach the finals for the first time in four years and will lose the championship title. Moreover, Verbov's charges have lost only one match in the last three playoffs (over nine games) during this time. The defeat by "Lokomotiv" in the first semifinal game is already a sensation in itself. Plamen Konstantinov has finally assembled a team capable of playing on equal terms with "Zenit-Kazan."

      Dinara Fatykhova / realnoevremya.ru

      The next two matches will be held in Novosibirsk: on April 10 and 12 at 19:00 Moscow time. Kazan's "Zenit" needs to win at least one game to bring the series back to Kazan. The maximum task is to win twice, the minimum task is not to lose twice in a row.

      Zulfat Shafigullin