Polish Volleyball Clubs Shine In Champions League Drama

The 2025-2026 Volleyball Champions League is in full swing, and the third round of the group stage has delivered a volley of excitement for fans across Europe, especially those following the fortunes of the Polish clubs. With 20 teams vying for continental glory, the tournament’s structure is as demanding as ever: five groups of four teams, with only the group winners guaranteed a direct ticket to the quarterfinals. The remaining three quarterfinal places? They’ll be fiercely contested in playoffs between the five second-place teams and the best third-place finisher. And then, of course, the drama will crescendo in the Final Four, where the new kings of European club volleyball will be crowned.

For Polish volleyball enthusiasts, this year’s Champions League has been a showcase of both promise and challenge. Four Polish teams are in the mix: Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie, Asseco Resovia Rzeszów, Bogdanka LUK Lublin, and PGE Projekt Warszawa. It’s a rare treat to have so many Polish squads battling on the continent’s biggest stage, and their performances have given fans plenty to cheer about—and, at times, to bite their nails over.

Let’s start with Group D, where the Polish derby between Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie and Asseco Resovia Rzeszów set the tone in the opening round. Since then, both sides have shown their mettle. On January 20, 2026, Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie traveled to Germany and delivered a clinical performance, sweeping SVG Lueneburg 3:0 (19:25, 21:25, 22:25). That victory marked their third straight win in the group, cementing their place at the summit with a perfect record—nine points from three matches and a sparkling 9-1 set ratio. The Jurajscy Rycerze, as they’re known, have looked every bit the contenders so far.

Not to be outdone, Asseco Resovia Rzeszów also picked up a crucial win in the third round, dispatching Sporting Lisbon 3:0 (25:9, 25:23, 25:19) in front of their home crowd on January 21. That result keeps Resovia in second place in Group D, just behind Zawiercie. Their only blemish? That opening loss to their Polish rivals. But with two matches left in the group, there’s still everything to play for, and the rematch between these two sides on February 11 is already circled on every fan’s calendar.

Meanwhile, Group B has its own Polish drama unfolding. Bogdanka LUK Lublin, competing in their debut season in the Champions League, have been the revelation of the tournament so far. After two matches, they’ve racked up five points, sitting pretty at the top of their group heading into the third round. Their campaign began with a stunning 3:0 victory over Halkbank Ankara, followed by a hard-fought 3:2 win on the road against Knack Roselare. The team’s confidence is sky-high, and why not? They’re playing with the poise of seasoned veterans, not newcomers.

The next big test for Bogdanka LUK Lublin comes on January 22, when they travel to Istanbul to face Galatasaray HDI. The Turkish side, currently second in the group, boasts some familiar faces for Polish fans—Jean Patry and Thomas Jaeschke, both well-known from their time in the PlusLiga. Galatasaray is always a force at home, but Lublin’s form suggests they’re more than capable of springing another surprise. The match is set for 18:00 local time and will be broadcast live, so expect plenty of eyes glued to screens in both Poland and Turkey.

Elsewhere in Group B, the third round saw an epic five-setter as Halkbank Ankara fell to Knack Roselare 2:3 (18:25, 25:21, 26:24, 15:25, 12:15) on January 21. That result keeps the group wide open, with every point crucial as teams jostle for playoff positions.

Group E has proven to be a tough battleground for PGE Projekt Warszawa. After an opening win over Volley Haasrode Leuven, the Polish capital’s team faced Italian powerhouse Cucine Lube Civitanova in the third round on January 21. Unfortunately for Warszawa, the Italians were in ruthless form, sweeping to a 3:0 victory (18:25, 21:25, 24:26). That win keeps Cucine Lube Civitanova unbeaten atop the group, three wins from three and not a single set dropped. Montpellier HSC VB, meanwhile, sits second after their own straight-sets win over Volley Haasrode Leuven. Warszawa is third, still with work to do if they hope to reach the playoffs.

Group A’s headline clash saw Ziraat Bankkart Ankara stun Itas Trentino 3:0 (25:15, 33:31, 25:22) on January 21. Tomasz Fornal starred for the Turkish side, racking up 12 points, including two aces and two blocks. With three wins from three, Ziraat Bankkart Ankara has established itself as the team to beat in the group, while Trentino remains in the hunt with two victories of their own.

In Group C, defending champions Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia are showing no signs of relinquishing their crown. The Italians swept Berlin Recycling Volleys 3:0 (25:13, 25:23, 25:14) in the third round, with Kamil Semeniuk contributing eight points, including one ace. Perugia’s perfect start keeps them atop the group, though Berlin Recycling Volleys are close behind.

With the group stage nearing its halfway point, the stakes are rising with every match. Polish teams, in particular, have given fans plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie and Bogdanka LUK Lublin have both set the pace in their respective groups, while Asseco Resovia Rzeszów and PGE Projekt Warszawa remain in the hunt. The next few rounds will be decisive—can Lublin continue their fairytale debut? Will Zawiercie maintain their unblemished record? And can Warszawa turn things around against Europe’s elite?

One thing’s for sure: the 2025-2026 Volleyball Champions League is serving up drama, surprises, and world-class volleyball at every turn. With more marquee matchups on the horizon and the playoff picture still anything but clear, fans can expect the excitement to keep building as Europe’s top clubs chase continental glory.