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, marking their first appearance in the top eight since the 2010 World Championship in Italy.
The victory also extended Bulgaria’s unbeaten streak to four games, cementing their impressive run in the 32-nation tournament.
Apart from a brief scare in the second set, Bulgaria kept Portugal largely at bay, finishing the match with a blistering 18-6 run in the final frame.
The surge — powered by Martin Atanasov, Aleks Grozdanov, and Aleksandar Nikolov — sealed the win for the Bulgarians.
The older Nikolov led the charge with a game-high 19 points — 17 attacks, one block, and an ace — while adding eight excellent digs. He finished as the only double-digit scorer in the fast-paced, one-hour-and-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 orchestrated the offense flawlessly, distributing 23 precise sets. Atanasov and Grozdanov added nine and eight points, respectively, in the Round of 16 clash.
Bulgaria asserted its dominance at the net throughout the match, outscoring Portugal 37-23 in attacks and 11-2 in blocks. The team showcased both its offensive firepower and defensive presence 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,” added Aleksandar.
Bulgaria will now aim for its first 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.
Lourenco Martins finished with 10 points for Portugal.
Nuno Marques was limited to just six points — a stark contrast to his pool-phase form, where he averaged 15.35 points per game.
