The Italian SuperLega’s Post-Christmas Challenge: Defining the Top Six in Leg 13

While much of the world is still indulging in leftover holiday cheer, the Italian men’s volleyball SuperLega Credem Banca adheres strictly to tradition: the ball must fly on December 26th. The 13th leg of the 2025/2026 season presents a tightly packed schedule of six crucial matches, setting the tone for the second half of the domestic campaign. The stakes are highest in the mid-table, where the fight for crucial playoff positioning resumes immediately.

Civitanova vs. Piacenza: A Battle for Fifth Place

The spotlight falls squarely on the Eurosuole Forum, where sixth-placed Cucine Lube Civitanova hosts fifth-placed Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza. In the unforgiving landscape of the SuperLega, these two teams are separated by a razor-thin margin: Lube holds 22 points (7-5 record), while Gas Sales edges them out with 23 points (also 7-5). Simply put, the victor on Friday secures the superior position, entering the new year firmly within the top half of the league.

For Lube, this match offers immediate redemption. Historically, Civitanova has dominated this rivalry, boasting a commanding 13-3 all-time head-to-head record. However, the most recent encounter in November saw Gas Sales deliver a sharp, straight-sets sweep on their home turf. That earlier result provides Piacenza with significant psychological momentum, yet facing Lube at the Eurosuole Forum remains one of the season`s toughest technical tests.

From Global Glory to Domestic Grind: The Champions’ Return

The holiday schedule offers no respite for the league`s heavy hitters, especially those returning from international duty. Sir Susa Scai Perugia, freshly crowned Club World Champions after their triumph in Belem on Sunday, must immediately pivot back to the demands of domestic competition. This is where the glamour of a global title meets the pragmatic requirement of securing three SuperLega points.

Perugia currently occupies second place (19 points, 10-2 record), trailing only Itas Trentino Trento on set ratios. Their post-global-victory opponent is Cisterna Volley, struggling near the bottom in 11th place (6 points, 3-9). While the Block Devils comfortably swept Cisterna in November, the quick turnaround from Brazil introduces a factor of potential fatigue. It is a technical curiosity of professional sports: transitioning from the pinnacle of international success to the tactical grind against a relegation-threatened opponent in less than a week.

Defending champions Itas Trentino Trento, who managed to edge out Perugia for the top spot on Sunday based on superior set ratios, face a challenge of their own. They travel to the Opiquad Arena to meet Vero Volley Monza (8th place, 12 points, 4-8). Trentino had a straightforward victory over Monza earlier this season, but Monza, clinging to the final playoff spots, will be desperate to upset the league leaders and prove that they belong in the conversation.

The Mid-Table Melee and the Bottom Scenario

Beyond the top five, the SuperLega features several other critical matchups where points are highly contested and often decided in grueling five-set marathons:

• Valsa Group Modena vs. MA Acqua San Bernardo Cuneo: Modena, sitting comfortably in fourth place (25 points, 8-4), hosts the SuperLega rookies from Cuneo (10th place, 9 points, 2-10). Their first encounter required five sets for Modena to secure the win, suggesting the rookies possess the fighting capacity to push top-tier teams to their limit.
• Allianz Milan vs. Sonepar Padova Padua: Seventh-placed Milan (20 points) welcomes ninth-placed Padua (11 points). This matchup is a classic mid-table scramble. Their previous game was a five-set thriller claimed by Milan, underscoring the parity between these two ambitious clubs battling just outside the secure playoff zone.

Finally, there is the sharp contrast presented by the Rana Verona vs. Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina match. Verona runs third in the table (28 points, 10-2), showcasing one of the season’s best starts. Grottazzolina, conversely, is stuck at the absolute bottom (12th place, 2 points, 0-12). While Verona secured an easy straight-sets win in October, Grottazzolina’s quest for their first victory of the season adds a layer of dramatic desperation to this seemingly lopsided fixture.

The 13th leg serves as a vital marker, allowing teams to consolidate their positions before the heart of the winter schedule. For fans, it guarantees a high-density, technically proficient day of volleyball right when the holiday pace should, theoretically, be slowing down. The SuperLega rarely adheres to comfort.

SuperLega Credem Banca 2025-2026 13th-leg Schedule (December 26)