It was 23:25, 13:25, 24:26 at the end of the first final game in the second highest European competition. The Neuchâtel women paid the lesson in their first European Cup final in the club’s history. In front of a sold-out hall and a frenetic audience, they were able to keep up with last year’s Challenge Cup winner from Piedmont in the first and third sets. But in the end they were left empty-handed.
For a long time it looked as if Neuchâtel would be able to beat UC. The team coached by Swiss national coach Lauren Bertolacci was in the lead until 20:20 in the opening set, before the guests made use of their experience and were able to win the set. Bitter for the home team: the decisive point was lost due to a mistake in the pass.
The second set was a clear affair for the fifth in the Italian championship. The French-speaking Swiss women were able to make the third set even again. But here too, the crucial nuance was missing in the end.
In order to become the first Swiss team to win a European Cup title, they need to improve their performance in the second leg in a week. The Neuchâtel women have to win 3-1 or 3-0 to force a so-called “golden set”.
2024-03-13 19:27:56
#Neuchâtel #leg
