Courtesy: UEFA.com


Ekaterinburg to face Shakhtar in Elite round

Friday 19 September 2008

UEFA Futsal Cup holders MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg will enter the competition against 2006 semi-finalists FC Shakhtar Donetsk, Luparense Calcio A5 and Slov-Matic Fofo Bratislava after the draw was made for November's Elite round.

Seeded sides
Ekaterinburg, like MFK Dinamo Moskva, Interviú Madrid and Kairat Almaty, have been seeded straight into this stage and have been joined by 12 teams from last week's Main round. Only the group winners will go into April's final four event, and while Ekaterinburg will be aiming to match their run on their debut last season as they host Group A, Dinamo – who lost hold of the trophy on home soil in the spring – will aim to earn another shot as they take on Araz Naxçivan, ACS Odorheiu Secuiesc and MNK Nacional Zagreb in Group C.

Interviú-SL Benfica rematch
Interviú, champions in 2004 and 2006, were absent from the competition last season but are back in Group D against Hapoel Ironi Rishon Lezion, KMF Ekonomac Kragujevac and SL Benfica who were runners-up to the seeded side four years ago and will host the matches. Kairat, meanwhile, were fourth last term after losing to Ekaterinburg and Dinamo in Moscow and will aim to ensure they at least match that as they face Group B rivals FK Era-Pack Chrudim, KMN Gorica – who are the only survivors from the Preliminary round – and 2005 victors Action 21 Charleroi.




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