# 2020–21 CEV Challenge Cup

The 2020–21 CEV Challenge Cup was the 41st edition of the CEV Challenge Cup tournament. 33 teams from 22 countries were participating in the competition.

## Participating teams

| Rank | Country | Number of teams | Teams |
| 1 | Turkey | 2 | Halkbank Ankara (BVA Cup winner), Ziraat Bankası Ankara |
| 3 | Italy | 1 | Allianz Powervolley Milano |
| 4 | France | 2 | AS Cannes, Nantes Rezé Métropole |
| 5 | Czech Republic | 1 | VK Lvi Praha |
| 7 | Switzerland | 2 | Lausanne UC, Lindaren Volley Luzern |
| 8 | Portugal | 3 | Fonte Bastardo Açores, Sporting CP, Sport Lisboa e Benfica |
| 9 | Bulgaria | 1 | Marek Union Ivkoni Dupnitsa |
| 11 | Austria | 3 | UVC Holding Graz, Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel, UVC Weberzeile Ried |
| 12 | Finland | 1 | Tiikerit Kokkola |
| 14 | Romania | 1 | Dinamo București |
| 15 | Israel | 1 | Hapoel Kfar Saba |
| 16 | Serbia | 1 | OK Partizan Beograd |
| 18 | Germany | 1 | Helios Grizzlys Giesen |
| 19 | Norway | 1 | TIF Viking Bergen |
| 20 | Slovenia | 1 | Calcit Volley Kamnik |
| 23 | Cyprus | 1 | Omonia Nicosia |
| 26 | Ukraine | 2 | Barkom-Kazhany Lviv, Epicentr-Podoliany |
| 27 | Hungary | 1 | VRCK Kazincbarcika |
| 29 | Estonia | 2 | Pärnu VK, Saaremaa VK |
| 46 | Latvia | 2 | Jēkabpils Lūši, RTU-R Jurmala |
| 50 | North Macedonia | 2 | GIO Strumica, Vardar Skopje |
| 55 | Sweden | 1 | Sollentuna VK |

## Format

Qualification Phase (Knock-out with Home and Away Matches): 1st Round (if needed) → 2nd Round
Main Phase (Knock-out with Home and Away Matches): 1/16 Finals → 1/8 Finals→1/4 Finals
Final Phase (Knock-out with Home and Away Matches): Semi-Finals → Final
Aggregate score is counted as follows: 3 points for 3–0 or 3–1 wins, 2 points for 3–2 win, 1 point for 2–3 loss. In case the teams are tied after two legs, a Golden Set is played immediately at the completion of the second leg.

## Qualification phase
### 2nd round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| UVC Holding Graz | 0–6 | Halkbank Ankara | 0–3 | 0–3 |

#### First leg

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 8 Oct | 19:00 | UVC Holding Graz | 0–3 | Halkbank Ankara | 16–25 | 26–28 | 21–25 | | | 63–78 | Report |

#### Second leg

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 15 Oct | 17:30 | Halkbank Ankara | 3–0 | UVC Holding Graz | 25–17 | 25–16 | 25–13 | | | 75–46 | Report |

## Main phase
### 16th finals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Halkbank Ankara | 6–0 | Hapoel Kfar Saba | 3–1 | 3–0 |
| VRCK Kazincbarcika | W.O. | Sport Lisboa e Benfica | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Sollentuna VK | W.O. | TIF Viking Bergen | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| AS Cannes | 2–1 | Nantes Rezé Métropole | Cancelled | 3–2 |
| Barkom-Kazhany Lviv | 1–2 | Dinamo București | 2–3 | Cancelled |
| UVC Weberzeile Ried | 0–6 | Marek Union Ivkoni Dupnitsa | 0–3 | 0–3 |
| Vardar Skopje | 0–6 | Calcit Volley Kamnik | 0–3 | 0–3 |
| Jēkabpils Lūši | W.O. | Allianz Powervolley Milano | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Epicentr-Podoliany | W.O. | OK Partizan Beograd | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Saaremaa VK | W.O. | Lausanne UC | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Sporting CP Lisboa | 4–2 | Helios Grizzlys Giesen | 3–0 | 2–3 |
| RTU-R Jurmala | W.O. | VK Lvi Praha | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Pärnu VK | W.O. | Tiikerit Kokkola | Cancelled | Cancelled |
| Lindaren Volley Luzern | 0–3 | Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel | 0–3 | Cancelled |
| GIO Strumica | 0–3 | Omonia Nicosia | 0–3 | Cancelled |
| Fonte Bastardo Açores | 2–4 | Ziraat Bankası Ankara | 1–3 | 3–2 |

#### First leg

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 4 Nov | 17:30 | Halkbank Ankara | 3–1 | Hapoel Kfar Saba | 28–26 | 25–19 | 19–25 | 25–17 | | 97–87 | Report |
| 4 Nov | 19:00 | Barkom-Kazhany Lviv | 2–3 | Dinamo București | 25–22 | 25–19 | 21–25 | 22–25 | 9–15 | 102–106 | Report |
| 10 Oct | 18:00 | UVC Weberzeile Ried | 0–3 | Marek Union Ivkoni Dupnitsa | 21–25 | 16–25 | 16–25 | | | 53–75 | Report |
| 17 Nov | 20:00 | Vardar Skopje | 0–3 | Calcit Volley Kamnik | 12–25 | 15–25 | 17–25 | | | 44–75 | Report |
| 3 Nov | 20:00 | Sporting CP Lisboa | 3–0 | Helios Grizzlys Giesen | 25–20 | 25–22 | 25–23 | | | 75–65 | Report |
| 4 Nov | 19:30 | Lindaren Volley Luzern | 0–3 | Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel | 18–25 | 21–25 | 19–25 | | | 58–75 | Report |
| 2 Nov | 18:00 | GIO Strumica | 0–3 | Omonia Nicosia | 20–25 | 19–25 | 18–25 | | | 57–75 | Report |
| 13 Nov | 19:00 | Fonte Bastardo Açores | 3–2 | Ziraat Bankası Ankara | 25–23 | 21–25 | 27–25 | 22–25 | 15–9 | 110–107 | Report |

#### Second leg

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 6 Nov | 17:30 | Hapoel Kfar Saba | 0–3 | Halkbank Ankara | 27–29 | 23–25 | 24–26 | | | 74–80 | Report |
| 11 Nov | 18:00 | Nantes Rezé Métropole | 2–3 | AS Cannes | 25–20 | 18–25 | 25–20 | 28–30 | 13–15 | 109–110 | Report |
| 11 Oct | 18:00 | Marek Union Ivkoni Dupnitsa | 3–0 | UVC Weberzeile Ried | 25–23 | 25–21 | 25–21 | | | 75–65 | Report |
| 18 Nov | 20:00 | Calcit Volley Kamnik | 3–0 | Vardar Skopje | 25–16 | 25–17 | 25–17 | | | 75–50 | Report |
| 10 Nov | 19:00 | Helios Grizzlys Giesen | 3–2 | Sporting CP Lisboa | 25–22 | 21–25 | 22–25 | 25–18 | 15–12 | 108–102 | Report |
| 11 Nov | 19:00 | Ziraat Bankası Ankara | 3–1 | Fonte Bastardo Açores | 25–23 | 23–25 | 25–18 | 25–21 | | 98–87 | Report |

### 8th finals

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Halkbank Ankara | 3–1 | Sport Lisboa e Benfica |
| Sollentuna VK | 0–3 | AS Cannes |
| Dinamo București | 3–0 | Marek Union Ivkoni Dupnitsa |
| Calcit Volley Kamnik | 0–3 | Allianz Powervolley Milano |
| Epicentr-Podoliany | 3–2 | Saaremaa VK |
| Sporting CP Lisboa | 1–3 | VK Lvi Praha |
| Pärnu VK | W.O. | Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel |
| Omonia Nicosia | W.O. | Ziraat Bankası Ankara |

#### Group A

* Place: Ankara
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 15 Dec | 16:00 | Sollentuna VK | 0–3 | AS Cannes | 20–25 | 18–25 | 18–25 | | | 56–75 | Report |
| 15 Dec | 19:00 | Halkbank Ankara | 3–1 | Sport Lisboa e Benfica | 21–25 | 25–18 | 25–16 | 25–21 | | 96–80 | Report |

#### Group B

* Place: Milan
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 8 Dec | 16:00 | Dinamo București | 3–0 | Marek Union Ivkoni Dupnitsa | 25–22 | 25–19 | 25–22 | | | 75–63 | Report |
| 8 Dec | 19:00 | Calcit Volley Kamnik | 0–3 | Allianz Powervolley Milano | 19–25 | 18–25 | 16–25 | | | 53–75 | Report |

#### Group C

* Place: Horodok
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 8 Dec | 16:00 | Sporting CP Lisboa | 1–3 | VK Lvi Praha | 25–21 | 24–26 | 23–25 | 15–25 | | 87–97 | Report |
| 8 Dec | 19:00 | Epicentr-Podoliany | 3–2 | Saaremaa VC | 25–20 | 20–25 | 25–22 | 23–25 | 15–13 | 108–105 | Report |

### 4th finals

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Halkbank Ankara | 3–1 | AS Cannes |
| Dinamo București | 0–3 | Allianz Powervolley Milano |
| Epicentr-Podoliany | 0–3 | VK Lvi Praha |
| Pärnu VK | W.O. | Ziraat Bankası Ankara |

#### Group A

* Place: Ankara
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 16 Dec | 17:30 | Halkbank Ankara | 3–1 | AS Cannes | 25–18 | 25–21 | 22–25 | 25–19 | | 97–83 | Report |

#### Group B

* Place: Milan
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 9 Dec | 18:00 | Dinamo București | 0–3 | Allianz Powervolley Milano | 18–25 | 22–25 | 19–25 | | | 59–75 | Report |

#### Group C

* Place: Horodok
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 9 Dec | 18:00 | Epicentr-Podoliany | 0–3 | VK Lvi Praha | 17–25 | 22–25 | 22–25 | | | 61–75 | Report |

## Final phase
### Semifinals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg | Golden Set |
| Halkbank Ankara | 0–6 | Allianz Powervolley Milano | 1–3 | 0–3 |
| VK Lvi Praha | 3–3 | Ziraat Bankası Ankara | 3–0 | 1–3 | 12–15 |

#### First leg

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 24 Feb | 17:30 | Halkbank Ankara | 1–3 | Allianz Powervolley Milano | 25–22 | 22–25 | 18–25 | 13–25 | | 78–97 | Report |
| 24 Feb | 17:10 | VK Lvi Praha | 3–0 | Ziraat Bankası Ankara | 25–22 | 25–14 | 25–23 | | | 75–59 | Report |

#### Second leg

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total | Report |
| 3 Mar | 19:00 | Allianz Powervolley Milano | 3–0 | Halkbank Ankara | 25–20 | 25–22 | 25–20 | | 75–62 | Report |
| 3 Mar | 18:00 | Ziraat Bankası Ankara | 3–1 | VK Lvi Praha | 26–28 | 25–18 | 25–21 | 25–19 | 101–86 | Report |
| Golden set | Golden set | Ziraat Bankası Ankara | 15–12 | VK Lvi Praha |

### Finals

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Allianz Powervolley Milano | 4–2 | Ziraat Bankası Ankara | 3–2 | 3–2 |

#### First leg

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 17 Mar | 19:00 | Allianz Powervolley Milano | 3–2 | Ziraat Bankası Ankara | 22–25 | 25–19 | 18–25 | 25–18 | 15–9 | 105–96 | Report |

#### Second leg

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 24 Mar | 18:00 | Ziraat Bankası Ankara | 2–3 | Allianz Powervolley Milano | 23–25 | 25–23 | 25–16 | 18–25 | 8–15 | 99–104 | Report |

## Final standing

| Rank | Team |
| | Allianz Powervolley Milano |
| | Ziraat Bankası Ankara |
| Semifinalists | Halkbank Ankara VK Lvi Praha |
* 2021 CEV Challenge Cup winner
* Allianz Powervolley Milano 1st title
* Matteo Staforini, Luka Basic, Jan Kozamernik, Nicola Daldello, Riccardo Sbertoli, Stephen Maar, Luan Weber, Jean Patry, Matteo Meschiari, Matteo Piano, Leandro Mosca, Yūki Ishikawa, Tine Urnaut, Nicola Pesaresi
* Head coach
* Roberto Piazza