In the four years Isabelle Haak and Sarah Fahr have played together, the Italian club Conegliano has won title after title.
After securing the club's ninth league title this spring, the focus has been on the national team for both Haak and Fahr, who were able to reunite for the first time during the ongoing European Championship in Scandinavium.
I'm excited, Sarah has never been to Sweden and it's not often we meet here in a volleyball context, says Haak.
Sweden began the group stage in Gothenburg with a 3-0 victory against Montenegro and followed that up by beating Slovakia on Saturday 3-2 in sets.
Haak describes today's match against Italy as the most difficult of the group stage.
Hopefully we can give them a good match, adds the Swedish star.
Reigning World Champion
Italy comes to the European Championship as the reigning world champion and Olympic gold medallist. Sweden's biggest success is reaching the quarter-finals of the European Championship in 2021.
We may not have expectations of winning that match, but we will give them a good challenge, says Isabelle Haak.
Yet it is a humble Sarah Fahr who is preparing for the meeting with the host country. She puts extra emphasis on the fact that the Swedes are actually hosting a home European Championship.
"It will of course be difficult. Sweden has a good team and playing in front of a big crowd is always difficult for the opponents," says Fahr.
The first time the friends meet
Even though they have played together on the same team for several years, the Italian team-mate believes that Haak has even more tricks up her sleeve.
I usually call her the superstar.
It will be the first time the friends have met in a European Championship. Sunday's match will be Sweden's third in the group stage, where four of the six best teams advance to the play-offs in Brno, Czech Republic.
It's great that Italy's level can be showcased in Sweden, that people can see what it looks like abroad, says Isabelle Haak.
Sweden's group stage takes place from 21-27 August at Scandinavium in Gothenburg. All matches will be broadcast on SVT/SVT Play.
Friday, August 21: 3-0 victory against Montenegro.
Saturday, August 22: Slovakia, 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 23: Italy, 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, August 25: Croatia, 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 27: France, 7:00 p.m.
