Spanish Clubs Set to Battle in UEFA Futsal Champions League Final Four
The draw for the UEFA Futsal Champions League Final Four took place last Saturday. At Espace Mayenne de Laval during halftime of a French League match between Etoile Lavalloise and UJS Toulouse. Spanish international Carlos Ortiz conducted the draw, which paired two-time European champion Illes Balears Palma Futsal against Portugal’s Sporting CP. While tournament debutant Jimbee Cartagena will face Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty.
The final phase will be hosted by Lavalloise Etoile on May 2 and 4 at the Antarès arena in Le Mans. Marking the first major UEFA futsal tournament to be held in France. Jimbee Cartagena will compete in the first semifinal at 6:00 PM, followed by the match between Sporting CP and defending champion Palma at 9:00 PM. If both Spanish teams advance, the May 4 final would represent the third all-Spanish championship match in tournament history.
Throughout the competition’s 23-year history since its inception in the 2001-2002 season, Spanish clubs have featured in 19 finals. No country had managed to place two teams in the final. Until Barcelona and ElPozo Murcia competed behind closed doors due to COVID restrictions on October 11, 2020. The second all-Spanish final occurred last season when Barcelona faced the Mallorcans in Yerevan, Armenia on May 5, 2024.
Kairat Almaty
Kairat Almaty enters its fifth semifinal against a Spanish opponent with a mixed record in these matchups. Having lost to Movistar Inter in 2009 and 2017, and splitting results against Barcelona with victories in 2013 and 2015, but a defeat in 2021. Led by Catalan coach Marlon Velasco, the Kazakh club aims to become the first non-Spanish team to win three continental titles. Kairat holds the record for most appearances in the competition with 109 matches across 21 editions, claiming championships in 2013 and 2015.
Eduardo Sao Thiago acknowledges Kairat’s extensive Champions League experience and their creative Spanish coach. While Velasco reciprocated by praising Jimbee Cartagena as “the current Spanish league champion, which in my opinion is the best league in the world.” He noted that Cartagena “is the team that has managed to break the 22-season dominance of giants such as Barcelona, Inter, and ElPozo Murcia.”
Following the loss of their Kazakh league supremacy, Kairat underwent significant roster changes with the departures of Higuita, Douglas, and Alex Viana to Al-Ula. Countered by acquiring Natanha, Zanotto, and Argentine Kevin Arrieta. Their squad features eight Brazilian players, including goalkeeper Dennis and pivot Alisson (on loan from Palma). The team also includes Kazakh internationals Orazov, Knaub, and Tursagulov, and recently signed Wendel and Thai player Hongen Thakam.
Jimbee Cartagena
Jimbee Cartagena hopes to join the exclusive list of teams who have won the title in their debut season, following Castellón (2002), Sinara Ekaterimburg (2008), Montesilvano (2011), Barcelona (2012), Ugra Yugorsk (2016), and Palma (2023). Coach Duda, who previously lost the 2008 final on penalties while managing ElPozo Murcia against Sinara Ekaterimburg. Expressed the team’s excitement about the competition while acknowledging the long preparation ahead.
Sporting CP
Sporting CP is seeking revenge against Palma Futsal after losing the 2023 final on penalties in Son Moix. The Portuguese champions are appearing in the final phase for the twelfth time. Having previously lost to Spanish teams in the semifinals of 2002, 2012, 2015, 2018, and 2022, while defeating Movistar Inter in both 2019 and 2021. A victory against Palma would send them to their eighth final, tying Inter’s record. Sporting holds the records for most victories (75) and goals (464) in tournament history, having won the competition twice (2019 and 2021).
Coach Nuno Dias will participate in his tenth final phase with Sporting and, like Palma’s Antonio Vadillo, is aiming for his third title—a record both friends are competing for. Dias acknowledged they will face “the current European champion, a strong team both individually and collectively.” Vadillo responded by calling Sporting “the favorite for this edition” and “a very complete team in all phases of the game” with extensive experience in recent finals.
semifinal
The second semifinal will feature teams that have collectively won four of the last six Champions League titles. Their most recent meeting occurred during Palma’s preseason last summer. In the XII Ciutat de Palma-Memorial Miquel Jaume tournament, with the Balearic side winning 5-4 at Son Moix. In just their third European campaign, Palma aims to become the first club to win three consecutive titles, as both Playas de Castellón (2002-2003) and Movistar Inter (2017-2018) currently share the record with two straight victories.
After losing star player Pany Varela to Al-Nasr, Sporting CP failed to sign Argentine Mati Rosa in the winter transfer window but welcomed back Vinicius Rocha from Italy’s L-84 to replace injured Allan Guilherme. They also added Bruno Rafael from Al Qadsia while sending Tatinho to Brazil’s Jaraguá. Captain João Matos, who holds the record for most appearances in the competition with 89 matches, is preparing for his eleventh final phase. The team features a solid international core led by defender Tomás Paço and left-footed pivot Zicky Tea, with goalkeeping duties shared between Brazilian Henrique (formerly of Jaén), Russian Sokolov, and veterans Merlim and Taynan (previously with ElPozo).
