Courtesy: UEFA


Benfica target another Futsal final

Thursday, 12 January 2006

by Rui Matos Pereira

from Lisbon

Portuguese title holders SL Benfica are preparing to stage the UEFA Futsal Cup second qualifying round for the second time in the last three editions.

Familiar foes
Apart the presence of the Portuguese club itself and the return of European Futsal to its impressive Pavilhão da Luz, the other main feature of the Group A mini-tournament is the return to Lisbon of Benfica's nemesis Boomerang Interviú. The Spanish side famously clinched the two-legged 2003/04 UEFA Futsal Cup in the Portuguese city.

Strong section
The other two teams in the section are the Kazakhstan champions Kairat Almaty and last season's Belgian runners-up Cristal Noir MB Morlanwelz. Neither should be disregarded and they will face each other on 1 February - the final matchday of the pool - just before the much-anticipated meeting of Benfica and Boomerang. The first two matchdays fall on 29-30 January.

Main threat
Benfica and Portugal captain André Lima told uefa.com that he expected the Spanish side to be Benfica's "main rival", but added that "the other teams will pose many problems, especially as both of them have some Brazilian players". Talented players from the South American country are rife in European Futsal and Benfica are no exception.

Tactical ability
The Lisbon club have seven Brazilian-born players in their squad, namely Rogério Vilela, William, Ricardo Moretti (who has Italian nationality), Sidnei, Pica-Pau, Wilson and Doménico. Add in a Brazilian coach in Adil Amarante, and it is not hard to see why the club are highly regarded for their tactical ability.

New arrivals
André Lima added: "The team is now a much more balanced one [than in 2004 and 2005]. That probably does not show right now, but the fans will notice it during the UEFA Futsal Cup. In recent days we have bought two defensive players and a pivot. The team has more options than last season, both in defensive and attacking positions".

First place wanted
He added that the Portuguese club would not just settle for a second-place finish and one of the two spots on offer in the semi-finals. "Of course, Benfica will play to win the group as we always play to win any match," André Lima said. "We know that Boomerang will be a very strong challenger, but we will be ready to face them. And, with the full support of our fans, we will be ready for the challenges to come."

Team spirit
While Moretti, Sidnei, Coco, Wilson and William are all new arrivals, Benfica have lost lost Miguel Almeida, Majó and Zé Maria. A training camp in northern Portugal has provided the perfect opportunity for the new faces to integrate. He said: "What I have been feeling is that we are growing as a group. I feel that the players who are arriving want give their best, to evolve and to win honours for the club."

Domestic form
Benfica are going well in the league but were six points adrift of Premier League leaders Sporting Clube de Portugal at the turn of the year, and four behind second-placed GD Fundação Jorge Antunes. Their demanding but loyal fans will expect them to have cut the gap further by the time they enter European competition again.

Fitting venue
The club will expect to sell out the 2,434-seater Pavilhão da Luz for all three days. Certainly the venue is fitting for such a prestigous competition, having proved that in its inauguration for the 2003/04 second qualifying round. The venue was then used again for the second leg of that year's final and, although Benfica won 4-3 they lost 7-5 on aggregate to Boomerang. However, a similar one-off result this time around would more than delight the Lisbon faithful.



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com