Bulgaria continued its relentless charge, overwhelming Portugal in straight sets, 25-19, 25-23, 25-13, to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025 on Monday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
It was a historic night for the Eastern European squad, as they made their first appearance in the top eight since the 2010 World Championship in Italy. The victory also kept the team unbeaten in four games, extending their impressive run in the 32-nation tournament.
Except for a brief scare in the second set, Bulgaria kept Portugal largely at bay, culminating in a blistering 18-6 run in the final frame. The surge, powered by Martin Atanasov, Aleks Grozdanov, and Aleksandar Nikolov, sealed the win for Bulgaria.
Elder Nikolov delivered a game-high 19 points on 17 attacks, a block, and an ace, complemented by eight excellent digs, finishing as the sole double-digit scorer for Bulgaria in the quick one-hour, 19-minute match.
“It’s great. I’m super proud of the team. That’s all I’m going to say. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but we’re feeling confident. We’re going to come out swinging in the quarterfinals,” said the 23-year-old outside hitter.
Moni Nikolov, meanwhile, ran the offense flawlessly, distributing 23 excellent sets. Atanasov and Grozdanov provided solid support with nine and eight points, respectively, in the Round of 16 clash.
Bulgaria asserted its superiority at the net throughout the match, outscoring Portugal 37-23 in attacks and 11-2 in blocks, showcasing both offensive firepower and defensive presence above the net that kept the Portuguese on the back foot.
“It means a lot, just because of the work we’ve put in. I think our federation and national team are starting a new process, and reaching the quarterfinals shows the effort we’ve invested. I’m happy that we’re here,” said the younger Nikolov.
Bulgaria will aim to reach its first-ever World Championship semifinal in 19 years when it faces either the United States or Slovenia in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
For Portugal, the campaign ended in the Round of 16, concluding their return to the World Championship after more than two decades.
Their last appearance in the top eight was in 2002.
No Portuguese player reached double figures, with Nuno Marques and Lourenco Martins leading the team with six points each—a stark contrast to their pool-phase form, where Marques averaged 15.35 points per game and Martins 11.
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