UEFA Futsal Champions League Elite Round Kicks Off this week

Top Teams Battle for a Spot in May’s UEFA Futsal Champions League Finals

The UEFA Futsal Champions League elite round will take place from November 26 to November 30. This critical stage of the tournament features 16 teams, including reigning champions Illes Balears Palma, former winners Kairat Almaty and Sporting CP, 2022–23 season semi-finalists Sporting Anderlecht, and newcomers such as Cartagena Costa Cálida, Catania, and Semey. These teams will compete in one-venue mini-tournaments, with the winners of each group advancing to the finals scheduled for May 1–2 and 3–4. The host venue for the finals is yet to be confirmed..

UEFA Futsal Champions League elite round draw: Source UEFA.com

Group A (November 27–30)

Group A features Cartagena Costa Cálida (ESP, hosts), United Galati (ROU), Catania (ITA), and Riga Futsal Club (LVA).

Cartagena and Catania both made their European debuts in this season and none of the clubs in this group have previously reached the finals. Cartagena won their main round group 1 but Catania stands out as the only team to have progressed from the preliminary round. Domestically, the Italian club is currently fifth in Serie A Futsal, trailing Feldi Eboli, Ecocity Genzano (new home of futsal legend Ricardinho), Napoli Futsal, and AS Roma, which recently merged their futsal operations with the professional football club.While Cartagena sit in fourth place behind Barca, ElPozo Murcia and Movistar Inter. Their top goal scorers in the league so far are Pablo Ramírez González with 5 goals so far and Gabriel Rodrigues Motta with 4.

The home of Cartagena Costa Cálida also known as Jimbee Cartagena Costa Cálida. Source of the picture: The club’s facebook page!

United Galati, a returning elite round participant from last season, is coached by Cacau, a two-time UEFA Futsal Champions League-winning manager with Kairat. The Romanian side is performing well domestically, holding second place behind Odorheiu Secuiesc.

Riga, who also participated in last year’s elite round, represented Latvia but have never reached the finals themselves, they currently lead their domestic league with a game in hand over second-placed RFS Futsal. Historically, neither Romanian nor Latvian clubs have reached the finals.

Group B (November 27–30)

Group B includes Kairat Almaty (KAZ), Olmissum (CRO), Etoile Lavalloise (FRA), and Futsal Dinamo (CRO, hosts).

Kairat Almaty, champions in 2012/13 and 2014/15, have qualified for the elite round in all six seasons since the UEFA Futsal Cup was rebranded as the UEFA Futsal Champions League in 2018/19. Domestically, they sit in second place in the Kazakh league, trailing Jetisu Taldykorgan but with two games in hand over their closest rivals, Ordabasy.

Kairat Almaty – UEFA Futsal Cup champions 2015. Source of the picture: The club’s facebook page!

Olmissum is making their fourth elite round appearance in five seasons and is enjoying a strong start to their domestic campaign. They currently lead the Croatian table, one point ahead of Osijek with the same number of matches played.

Etoile Lavalloise, who debuted in the elite round last season and finished third in their group behind Barcelona and Riga, has started their domestic season impressively. The French side sits at the top of the D1 table and comes into this week’s fixtures full of confidence after an emphatic 8-2 victory over KB United. They will also derive confidence from dominating and winning their group in the main round.

Hosts Futsal Dinamo are making their elite round debut. The club has won the last two Croatian league finals against Olmissum, adding spice to their upcoming clash. This match will mark only the second all-Croatian encounter in UEFA futsal competition history. Despite sitting mid-table in Croatia’s domestic league, Dinamo hopes to use this tournament as a springboard to reignite their season.

Group C (November 26–29)

Group C comprises Braga (POR), Sporting CP (POR, hosts), Sporting Anderlecht (BEL), and Plzeň (CZE).

Braga is making their second elite round appearance after debuting in 2017/18. They secured a convincing 4-1 victory over Plzeň during this season’s main round. They will be confident they can challenge the Czech club again, along with Sporting Anderlecht, and may consider Sporting CP their ultimate challenge to make history. Domestically, they sit third in Liga Placard, trailing group rivals Sporting CP, who lead the table.

Sporting CP, two-time champions, made history during the main round by becoming only the second team after Kairat to surpass 100 matches in the competition. They hold records for the most wins (73) and goals scored (449). Sporting has a fierce rivalry with Anderlecht, having defeated them multiple times in recent tournaments, including last season’s elite round and 2022-23 semi-finals.

Anderlecht stunned many by reaching the Final Four in the 2022/23 season, notably eliminating Barcelona in the process. The Belgian side currently leads their domestic league by three points with a game in hand over second-placed Charleroi. This group will be their toughest test yet as they aim to replicate their past success.

Pivot for Sporting Club Anderlecht Futsal, Steven Dillien!

Plzeň, aiming to become the first Czech club to reach the finals, previously competed in the elite round in 2021/22. Despite finishing second on goal difference in that group, they secured a memorable victory over Anderlecht when the Belgian club was still known as Halle-Gooik. Domestically, they currently sit in second place, just three points behind league leaders Chrudim. Their hard-fought 2-2 draw with Croatian side Olmissum in the main round highlights their resilience and will give them confidence as they aim to challenge their group rivals. With their competitive spirit and determination, they will aim to make this group exceptionally difficult for any team to navigate.

Group D (November 27–30)

Group D features Illes Balears Palma (ESP, hosts), Record Bielsko-Biała (POL), Semey (KAZ), and Lučenec (SVK).

Palma, the reigning champions, are unbeaten in 19 European matches across their debut campaigns in 2021/22 and 2022/23. If they remain undefeated in this round, they will surpass Castellón’s record of 21 unbeaten games from the competition’s early years. However, Palma has struggled domestically, sitting fifth in the Spanish league after a hard-fought 2-2 draw with El Pozo Murcia Costa Cálida. However, we derive inspiration from wherever we can, and this club enters the elite stage as the two time champions and the winners of the recent Intercontinental Futsal Cup over Magnus Futsal, the current holders of the Copa Libertadores de Futsal . I have no doubt that this club will fight in every game to make history again!

Intercontinental Futsal Cup 2024 winners, Illes Balears Palma and Magnus Futsal, the current holders of the Copa Libertadores de Futsal. Source of the picture: Illes Balears Palma Facebook page

Record Bielsko-Biała returns to the elite round after debuting in 2018/19. Poland has yet to produce a finalist since the competition’s format changed in 2006/07, but Record’s strong main round performance, including a 1-1 draw with Cartagena, boosts their confidence.

Semey, competing in their first European season, features key players like Higuita and Ferrao. The Kazakh side is currently sixth in their domestic league but has four games in hand. Their experience in the main round, where they faced top teams Sporting CP and Kairat, could prove invaluable as they aim to defy expectations.

Lučenec, another debutant, sits atop the Slovakian league table with eight wins and no losses. Their impressive form continued in the main round, where they remained undefeated against Luxol St. Andrews (Malta), Georgians Tbilisi (Georgia), and Akaa Futsal (Finland). However, the elite round will be a significant step up in competition.

These exciting matchups will determine the four finalists, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the UEFA Futsal Champions League in May.

Organ Donation

Futsal Focus is a supporter of Dáithí Mac Gabhann and his family’s campaign to raise awareness of Organ Donation. We encourage our readers to learn more about Organ Donation: https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/

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