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Head-to-Head

· Russia (incl. predecessors) won nine of their previous 12 European championship meetings with Italy.
· The most recent European championship meeting between these nations came in the 2015 quarter-
finals. Russia defeated Italy 3-1.
· Italy has three wins over Russia in European championships came in their last four meetings: 3-2 in 2005
(group stage), 3-0 in 2007 (2nd group stage) and 3-0 in 2007 (semi-finals).
· In major world level tournaments, Italy won their two most recent matches against Russia: 3-1 wins at
the 2018 World Championship and in the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Nations League.
· In the 2019 VNL, Indre Sorokaite won 31 points for Italy, at least 14 points more than any other player
on court.

Italy

· Italy won five of their six matches this European Championship in straight sets, with the only exception the 3-2 defeat against Poland in their last group match.
· Italy could record at least six straight-set wins at a European championship for the third time, after 2007 and2009 (both 6). They won the title in both years.
· Italy could reach the semi-finalsf or the first time since 2011.
· Paola Ogechi Egonu was Italy's top scorer in all six of their matches, including 17 points in their round of last16 win against Slovakia (3-0).
· Indre Sorokaite won 16 points against Slovakia, only one fewer than Egonu (17).

Russia

· Russia won four of their six matches this European Championship in straight sets. They lost 3-2 against Germany in the group stage and won 3-1 versus Belgium in the round of last 16.
· Russia could claim at least five wins in straight sets at a European championship for the first time since five in 2007.
· The last two times Russia reached the semi-finals at the European championship they ended up winning the title, in 2013 and 2015.
· Russia won seven of their last eight European championship knockout matches, with the only exception a 3-0defeat against Turkey in the 2017 quarter-finals.
· Nataliya Goncharova won 30 points in their round of last 16 win against Belgium, at least 13 more than any otherplayer on court.
· Goncharova also collected the most points for Russia in their group stage matches against Belarus, Switzerland and Germany (joint with Kseniia Parubets).