Courtesy: UEFA.com

Murcia set sights on Taça Ibérica

Wednesday, 10 January 2007

by Lucy Turner

from Barcelona

Spanish champions El Pozo Murcia FS are hoping to add the European title to their collection this year when they take part in the UEFA Futsal Cup final four from 26-28 April - but their immediate goal is to put one hand on some international silverware tonight, when they visit Loures, just north of Lisbon, to play Sporting Clube de Portugal in the first leg of the Taça Ibérica.

Boomerang example
It is the third edition of the competition matching the title-holders of Spain and Portugal, and Murcia are hoping to follow in the footsteps of league and UEFA Futsal Cup rivals Boomerang Interviú, who defeated SL Benfica in 2003/04 and 2005/06 - the seasons in which they also took the European crown. Boomerang would have met Sporting in 2004/05, but the Madrid side withdrew citing a long injury list.

European progress
Murcia ended 2006 in good style, progressing with relative ease from the UEFA Futsal Cup élite round in Budapest with wins against FC Dorozhnik Minsk, Kairat Almaty and Futsal Club Gödöllö. They are just a point behind Boomerang in the league, looking odds-on to reach the championship play-offs again, and hold the Spanish Super Cup, won in September.

Cup aim
In between the two legs of the Taça Ibérica - the return is on 31 January - Murcia hope to win the Spanish Cup for the third time, though they began their campaign in mixed form last weekend, surrendering a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with FC Barcelona. Sporting, meanwhile, lie only fourth in Portugal and finished bottom of an élite round group containing MFK Dinamo Moskva, CIP Deva and FC Shakhtar Donetsk in Russia.

Duo in doubt
For tonight’s match, Álvaro and Vinicius face late fitness tests after picking up knocks at Barcelona while Wilde Gomes will not play again until the summer after breaking a leg in the élite round. Esquerdinha has been promoted by Murcia coach Duda from the reserve squad.



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