20.03.2009 | MATCH PREVIEW
Lokomotiv Looking Towards
Third European Title
ATHENS, 20 March -- Russia's
two-times European Champions (in 2003 and 2004), Lokomotiv-Belogorie of
Belgorod, embark on their quest for yet another continental title, as they take
on Spain's Unicaja Almeria in the second of two semifinals in the Final Four
tournamen of the 2009 Men's CEV Cup Final Four, Saturday evening here.
The Spaniards, on the other hand, will be seeking to better the silver medal
they won in the European Champions' Cup in 1998--their only international title
to date.
As with his colleagues of the first semifinal, Lokomotiv's head coach Gennady
Shipulin avoids predictions: "We know we have a difficult task ahead of us," he
said at the official Press Conference of the competition. "As to which I
opponent I would prefer if we qualify to the final, it is very difficult for me
to say. We will speak again after the semifinals.
Unicaja Almeria was the last of the participating teams to arrive in Athens,
expected late on Friday evening.
The match is scheduled to begin at 19:30 local time (17:30 GMT). Earlier in the
afternoon, Panathinaikos Athens hosts Italy's Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo in the
first semifinal of the competition, starting at 17:00 local (15:00 GMT).
The Final Four concludes Sunday with the bronze medal match at 14:00 local
(12:00 GMT) and the final at 16:30 (14:30 GMT).
