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Türkiye defeated Italy in the final of the Trendyol 2026 CEV Women's European Volleyball Championship on Sunday, September 6, with the two teams facing off at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul in front of a capacity home crowd of around 12,000 spectators. The match got underway at 6:00 p.m. local time (3:00 p.m. GMT).
The venue, one of Istanbul's largest indoor arenas, has hosted major sporting events for more than two decades and served as one of four venues across the tournament, which was co-hosted this year by Türkiye, Azerbaijan, the Czech Republic and Sweden.
Türkiye earned home advantage for the final after topping its preliminary pool and advancing through the knockout rounds on its own turf, while Italy arrived unbeaten, having swept its group in Gothenburg, Sweden, before eliminating Poland in the semi-finals.
Both nations came into the match among the most successful sides in the tournament's recent history. Italy has won the European title three times, in 2007, 2009 and 2021, and arrived in Istanbul as the reigning world champions after beating Türkiye in the final of the 2025 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship in Bangkok.
Türkiye, meanwhile, is the defending European champion, having claimed its first continental title in 2023, and has reached several major finals in recent years, including last year's World Championship decider against Italy.
The opening set was one-sided, with Italy jumping ahead early and closing it out 25-16, denying the home team any real foothold in the contest.
Türkiye responded in the second set, trading points with Italy through the middle stretch before pulling away late to win 25-22 and level the match at one set apiece.
Italy regained the upper hand in the third set, dominating from the outset and cruising to a 25-12 win to move back in front.
Türkiye came out with renewed intensity in the fourth set, holding off a late push from Italy to close it out 25-21 and force a decisive fifth set.
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Set as preferred source
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