Only Panathinaikos – of the three Greek participants in volleyball’s European Champions League – qualified for the next stage of the competition after the group phase, but was handed a tough draw yesterday as it will face Italian champions Macerata in the second round on February 13 and 20.

“We have a very difficult draw, probably one of the most difficult that could have happened,” said Panathinaikos board member Theodoros Liakopoulos. The Greek champions and league leaders finished second in their group with seven wins in 10 games.

Iraklis, who played in the final in 2005 and 2006, was eliminated from the first round this time, finishing fourth in its group of six with just four wins, while Olympiakos ended fifth with only three wins.