Azerbaijan's women's volleyball club Turan will face Bulgaria's Maritsa today in a decisive match for a place in the main stage of the CEV Women's Champions League. Victory would not only mark a historic achievement for the young club but also bring Azerbaijan back to Europe's premier women's club competition after a decade-long absence.
As reported by İdman.Biz, Azerbaijani teams last competed in the main stage of the Women's Champions League in the 2016/17 season, when two Baku-based clubs, Azerrail and Telekom, formerly known as Rabita, represented the country. Both qualified directly for the group stage without having to go through qualifying rounds. Meanwhile, no Azerbaijani men's club has yet reached the equivalent stage of the Men's Champions League.
Azerrail were drawn into Group C alongside Turkey's Fenerbahce, Poland's Tauron MKS and France's Saint-Raphael. The Baku side won four of their six matches and finished second with 11 points. They defeated both the Polish and French clubs twice but suffered two 3-0 defeats against Fenerbahce, who completed the group stage unbeaten with 18 points.
However, second place was not enough to secure qualification for the Playoffs 6, the next stage of the competition, and Azerrail's European campaign ended after the group stage.
Telekom, meanwhile, competed in Group A against Italian clubs Modena and Imoco, as well as Poland's Chemik. The Azerbaijani team lost all six matches, winning just two sets throughout the campaign and finishing bottom of the group without a point.
Despite that disappointing campaign, Telekom represented the continuation of the Rabita club project, which had delivered Azerbaijan's greatest achievements in Champions League history.
Rabita reached the podium three times, winning silver medals in the 2010/11 and 2012/13 seasons and bronze in 2013/14.
In 2010/11, Rabita advanced to the final after defeating Italy's Scavolini Pesaro 3-1 in the semifinals. However, the Baku club lost the title match 3-0 to Turkey's VakifGunesTelekom and finished as runners-up.
Two years later, Rabita once again reached the final. This time, the Azerbaijani side defeated Italy's Unendo Yamamay Busto Arsizio 3-2 in the semifinals before losing 3-0 to VakifBank in the championship match (17-25, 20-25, 23-25).
The club claimed another medal in the 2013/14 season, when Baku hosted the Final Four. Rabita suffered a 3-0 semifinal defeat against Russia's Dinamo Kazan but recovered to beat Turkey's Eczacibasi VitrA by the same score in the third-place match.
Even before Rabita's achievements, Azerrail had established themselves among Europe's leading volleyball clubs.
In the 2003/04 season, the Baku team won all four group-stage matches without dropping a single set. They then defeated Turkey's Eczacibasi twice in the playoff round, winning 3-1 both at home and away, to qualify for the Final Four.
At the tournament in Tenerife, Spain, Azerrail lost 3-0 to hosts Tenerife Marichal in the semifinals before suffering a 3-1 defeat against France's Racing Club de Cannes in the bronze-medal match. The Azerbaijani side ultimately finished fourth.
Against this historical background, Turan's potential qualification for the main stage carries particular significance.
The club, based in Tovuz and currently competing in only its second season, has already made remarkable progress and now has an opportunity to restore Azerbaijan's presence among Europe's strongest women's volleyball teams.
In the previous qualifying round, Turan defeated Croatia's Mladost twice, winning 3-0 at home and 3-2 away.
The Azerbaijani side also made an impressive start to their tie against Maritsa, securing a convincing 3-0 victory in Plovdiv (25-22, 25-22, 25-20).
The return leg will take place today at the Tovuz Olympic Sports Complex, with the match scheduled to begin at 18:00 Baku time.
Turan now stand on the verge of a historic breakthrough that could open a new chapter for Azerbaijani women's volleyball in European competition.
