Maxim Mikhaylov aims for a sweep and gold for Zenit Kazan at the 2015 FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship in Betim, Brazil
Head-to-head
· Zenit Kazan beat Sada Cruzeiro Volei 3-1 on Wednesday in their first ever meeting at the club world championships.
· Zenit Kazan's Wilfredo Leon Venero scored a match-high 22 points in that previous meeting, 18 of which from spikes. Wallace Leandro De Souza was Sada Cruzeiro's top scorer with 13 points.
· Sada Cruzeiro have lost three of their four matches against Russian sides in the competition, a 3-2 defeat to Lokomotiv Novosibirsk (2013), a 3-1 defeat to Belogorie Belgorod (2014) and the 3-1 loss versus Zenit Kazan on Wednesday.
· Sada Cruzeiro's only win against a Russian team came in the 2013 final to Lokomotiv Novosibirsk (3-0).
· Zenit Kazan won their two club world championships meetings with teams from Brazil, 3-1 against Sesi-Sao Paulo in 2011 and 3-1 against Sada Cruzeiro on Wednesday.
Sada Cruzeiro Volei
· Sada Cruzeiro Volei have reached the club world championships final for the third time.
· In 2013, Sada Cruzeiro became the first non-Italian club to win the men's club world championships, beating Russia's Lokomotiv Novosibirsk 3-0 in the final.
· Sada Cruzeiro also claimed a silver medal, in 2012, and finished in fourth place in last year's edition.
· Cruzeiro can become the third team with multiple gold medals in this tournament, after Diatec Trentino (ITA, 4) and Misura Mediolanum Milano (ITA, 2).
· They can also become the third team with multiple silver medals in this tournament, after Skra Belchatów (POL, 2) and Banespa Sao Paulo (BRA, 2).
· Only once in 18 club world championships matches have Sada Cruzeiro failed to win a set, the 3-0 loss versus Diatec Trentino in the 2012 final.
Zenit Kazan
· Zenit Kazan have qualified as 2015 champions of the European club championships. Since 2009, four of the six editions of the club world championships have been won by the European champions of that year.
· Zenit won the bronze medal in 2009 and 2011. They could win Russia's fifth medal in the competition. Only Italy (12) and Brazil (5) have won at least five medals prior to this final.
· Last year Russian side Belogorie Belgorod won the title. Russia could become the second nation with consecutive club world championships wins, after Italy.
· Russia could also become the second country with two different winners of the club world championships, after Italy (four different teams).