Copra Piacenza edged out Italian rivals Lannutti Cuneo 24-26 18-25 25-23 26-24 15-13 to take a slender lead in their final 12 encounter in the men's Champions League.

The two Serie A clubs meet again in the second leg in Piacenza next week.

Cannes won in Paris in the all-French battle 25-20 20-25 25-19 25-19 and Friedrichshafen downed Dinamo Moscow 25-20 25-20 26-24.

Panathinaikos and Dinamo Kazan are in line for spots in the last six after straight sets win over the Belgians of Knack Randstad Roeselare and the Poles of Jastrzebski Wegiel respectively.

Eurosport