ElPozo Murcia Costa Cálida secured a convincing win over Fútbol Club Barcelona in their 2024/2025 Futsal First Division debut, with both teams seen as title contenders. This opening match, however, showed that the Murcian side is currently several steps ahead of the Catalans. The “delicatessen” team started strong, but it was their goalkeeper, Edu Sousa, who made the first crucial save, denying Erick’s shot. Later, after the halfway mark in the first half, Sousa thwarted Touré as well. Rafa Santos came close to scoring, but Miquel Feixas made the stop, only for Antonio to find the net shortly after, capitalizing on a defensive mix-up between Edu Sousa and Marcel to put Barça ahead in the 14th minute.
Despite missing key players like Sergio González, Adolfo Fernández, Sergio Lozano, and former mainstay Ferrao, Barcelona struck first. Dani Martínez’s side responded quickly though, with Marlon equalizing in the 18th minute with a volley that deflected off Ortas. Less than a minute later, Ricardo Mayor completed the comeback with a great strike, sending ElPozo into halftime leading 2-1.
In the second half, Marcel extended the lead with a well-executed team move to make it 3-1, opening his scoring account for the season after a stellar previous campaign. ElPozo’s solid defense stifled Barça’s attacking efforts, and the 4-1 seemed more likely than a comeback for the Catalans. Marcel added a second goal after another strategic play, and with six and a half minutes remaining, Fits donned the player-goalkeeper shirt for Barça, but David Álvarez sealed the match with an empty-net goal after recovering possession.
Barcelona kept pushing and Matheus pulled one back after a play from Touré, but ElPozo’s superiority was clear. New signings César and Ricardinho made their debuts for ElPozo in a match that ended with a commanding 5-2 victory.
Match Details:
- ElPozo Murcia Costa Cálida (5): Edu Sousa, Ricardo Mayor, Gadeia, Ricardinho, Esteban (starting five), Dani Álvarez, Rafa Santos, Marlon, Felipe Valerio, César, Marcel.
- FC Barcelona (2): Miquel Feixas, Erick, Touré, Matheus, Fits (starting five), Eric Martel, Álex Yepes, Antonio, Dyego, Ortas, Pol Cano.
Goals:
- 0-1, M.14: Antonio
- 1-1, M.18: Marlon
- 2-1, M.18: Ricardo Mayor
- 3-1, M.23: Marcel
- 4-1, M.34: Marcel
- 5-1, M.37: David Álvarez
- 5-2, M.39: Matheus
Referees: Jairo Leiva Martínez and David Pizarro Mejías (Andalusian committee). Yellow cards were shown to Marlon and Esteban for ElPozo, and Antonio for Barça.
Attendance: About 3,000 spectators at the Palacio de los Deportes in Murcia. Before the match, a tribute was paid to the five world champions from both teams: Marlon, Felipe Valerio, Marcel, Rafa Santos (ElPozo), and Dyego (Barça).