Allianz Milan in Padua to confirm: challenge at Kioene Arena on Saturday

After the bye week (recovery of the fifth day on Wednesday, 19 at Allianz Cloud at 8:30 p.m. against Grottazzolina) coach Roberto Piazza’s Allianz Milano returns to the court on Saturday, Nov. 15 (6 p.m., live coverage on Rai Sport and VBTV) to face Sonepar Padova at the Kioene Arena, one of the most difficult courts in the SuperLega. The Venetians, led by Jacopo Cuttini, have changed face from last season but have already shown solidity and character, earning two heavy victories in the salvation key against Cuneo and Grottazzolina and still selling their skins dearly on the road against three big names of the caliber of Perugia, Trento and Modena.

For President Lucio Fusaro’s Allianz Milano, it will be an important test to give continuity to the victory in the derby with Monza and look for the first points away from the Allianz Cloud. The group took advantage of the break to recharge energies and refine mechanisms, ahead of a calendar that from here on will get busier and busier and will have on Nov. 30 at the Assago Forum one of its seasonal peaks against Italian champions Trento.

Presenting the match is Matteo Staforini, one of the protagonists of this season’s start, used by Piazza not only in his natural role as libero, but also as a dunker in the backcourt. His floating serve, capable of putting many opposing receptions in serious trouble, has become a valuable weapon for Milan. “We didn&#8220t play last weekend, but we are nevertheless coming off a home win in the derby against Monza, a match that allowed us to become more aware of our potential”, Staforini explains.

“On Saturday we will face Sonepar Padua, a very troublesome team in many ways: playing at their home is always complicated, as confirmed by the results obtained so far between their home walls. To our equal they have never lost at home. We have to look for the first points outside the Allianz Cloud. The real difference will be how we approach the match and how we take the field from the first ball”.

It will also be a challenge between brothers. Milan center Nemanja Masulovic will find on the other side of the net his younger brother Veljko, a talented left-handed opposite and Serbian national team player. Another particular crossroads is with former Davide Gardini (the only ex of the challenge), in Milan last season and now starring diagonally with young Orioli.

Previous records smile on Milan, ahead 18-7 in the 25 overall confrontations, but tradition counts for only so much in an increasingly balanced league. Among the players chasing statistical milestones, Edoardo Caneschi is close to 1,000 career winning attacks (he has 11 to go), while captain Ferre Reggers is aiming for 100 season winning attacks and 100 total walls, as well as taking back the “bomber” record. Numbers that tell of the growth of a young but increasingly aware group.