Starting in mid October for men and late November for women, yet upcoming Champions League already thrilled their 44 participants from 15 countries and countless fans with initial drawing of lots held last weekend in Vienna.

 

 

Baku, Azerbaijan, as the place of women´s final four became the first of many surprises of the gala evening.

icon Champions League drawing of lots 2012

In men´s division, nobody wanted to meet Lokomotiv Novosibirsk (RUS) in their pool due to long travel distance. Nevertheless, three teams had to be “unlucky” – this time, Fenerbahce Istanbul (TUR), Hypo Tirol Innsbruck (AUS) and Macerata (ITA) created a very strong group in pool E which will have to undergo long and freezing trip to Siberia.

“As we were in fourth basket, we could not expect easy opponents. Our group is strong, but could be even more difficult, so we are content,” commented Lube Marco Macerata press officer Marco Tentella. “Fenerbahce seems to be the strongest team here, as Macerata went through many changes, mainly at posts of setter and hitter.”

Men´s Champions League triple winner Trentino (ITA) will match up with Zaksa Kedzierzyn (POL), Teruel (ESP) and competition first-timer Partizan Beograd (SRB), in women´s division, the last season champion Vakifbank Istanbul will cross their ways with their well-known opponent Bergamo (ITA), Constanta (ROM) and Azzerail Baku (AZE) in pool D.

“More than the results themselves, it is important what we will do and how we will prepare for the competition,” said Vakifbank organising director Ramazain Yildirim. “If we find the right motivation, we can qualify to final four again. But for now, we are going to think and prepare step by step.”

Pool B will Fenerbahce Acibadem (TUR), Mulhouse (FRA), Rabita Baku (AZE) and first-timer Dresdner SC (GER) matches. “We are very happy to play a great team like Fenerbahce” said the President of France’s ASPTT MULHOUSE Gérard Reeb.

Cuneo general manager Marco Pistolesi was content with the results of draw which has brought Poitiers (FRA), Unterhaching (GER) and Ceske Budejovice (CZE) into their pool. “All teams are strong in Champions League. I am mainly happy that we will not have to travel long distances. In this pool, the only unknown team for us is Ceske Budejovice – we do not have information on their actual strength.”