2026 Women's CEV Cup Final: Galatasaray Daikin - Reale Mutua Fenera

Galatasaray Daikin - Reale Mutua Fenera (AA)

2026 Women's CEV Cup Final is a two-leg match between Galatasaray Daikin and Italian representative Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri '76 to determine the champion of the 2025–2026 season of the CEV Cup, Europe’s second-tier club volleyball competition. Galatasaray defeated their opponent 3–2 in Italy during the first leg and then won the return match in Istanbul on 8 April 2026 by a 3–1 scoreline, securing the tournament title. With this result, Galatasaray has added volleyball to its list of European titles previously won in football and basketball, becoming the first sports club in Türkiye to win international cups in all three major sports.

Final Series and Match Details

The return leg was played at the TVF Burhan Felek Vestel Volleyball Hall in Istanbul. The match was officiated by a duo of referees: Bosko Milic from the Austrian Volleyball Federation and Eldar Aliyev from the Azerbaijan Volleyball Federation. The contest, lasting a total of 106 minutes, ended with a 3–1 victory for the home team.

Set Progression

The first set began with both teams exchanging points. The Italian side capitalized on home team errors to take a 14–10 lead. Although Galatasaray Daikin’s player İlkin Aydın helped level the score at 16–16, the guest team won the first set 27–25 after a 36-minute battle. Facing an 8–5 deficit at the start of the second set, Galatasaray Daikin called a timeout. After the break, they turned the tide and won the 24-minute second set 25–22 to level the match at 1–1. In the early stages of the third set, Galatasaray took a 10–8 lead thanks to Yasemin Güveli’s middle attacks and blocks, forcing the opponents into a timeout. Following the break, a service run by İlkin Aydın extended the lead, and Galatasaray Daikin won the 24-minute third set 25–18. In the fourth set, Galatasaray Daikin maintained control and sealed the match with a 25–18 win in the 22-minute final set.

Galatasaray Daikin - Reale Mutua Fenera (AA)

Team Rosters and Coaching Staff

Galatasaray Daikin took the court under the guidance of Italian head coach Alberto Bigarelli. The starting lineup featured İlkin Aydın, Yasemin Güveli, Alexia Carutasu, Myriam Sylla, Wang Yuanyuan, Britt Bongaerts, and libero Eylül Akarçeşme Yatgın. Kaja Grobelna and Naz Aydemir Akyol entered the match later as part of the rotation. Reale Mutua Fenera fielded Van Aalen, Künzler, Alberti, Nemeth, Nervini, Cekulaev, and libero Spirito as their starting seven; Antunovic, Ferrarini, Bah, Degradi, and Dambrink came on as substitutes. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the final tournament was awarded to Galatasaray Daikin’s team captain, İlkin Aydın.

Galatasaray Club President Dursun Özbek (right), former head coach Fatih Terim (center), and Galatasaray Board of Directors Chairman Aykutalp Derkan (left) also watched the match. (AA)

Ceremony and Attendees

Following the match, a medal ceremony was held. First, medals were presented to Reale Mutua Fenera, the tournament runners-up. Galatasaray Daikin’s players received their medals from Aykutalp Derkan, Chairman of the Galatasaray Board of Directors, and board member Timur Kuban. The championship trophy was presented to team captain İlkin Aydın by Galatasaray Club President Dursun Özbek.

Among those observing the match from the protocol tribune were Mehmet Akif Üstündağ, President of the Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF); Semih Oktay, Vice President of the TVF; Ivan Knežević, Vice President of the CEV; TVF Board Members Altuğ Erim and İlker Dinçay; and head coach Fatih Terim.

Following the match, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Turkish Football Federation issued official congratulatory messages. In remarks to the press after the match, club president Dursun Özbek recalled that Galatasaray had secured victories on the same day in football, basketball, and volleyball, and stated that this cup marked the first step in the club’s trophy season.

Ceremony (AA)

Achievements and Statistics

This victory marks the 26th international trophy won by a Turkish women’s volleyball club in the history of Turkish volleyball. Previously, Galatasaray Daikin had finished third once in the CEV Challenge Cup (2009–2010) and second three times in the CEV Cup (2011–2012, 2015–2016, 2020–2021). This triumph is the club’s first-ever international title, bringing the trophy home for the first time. With this result, Turkish clubs have increased their total number of CEV Cup championships to six.