Palma and Jimbi reach the Champions League Final Four by a foot and a half | Relief
Palma Futsal and Jimby Cartagena continue to challenge the level of Spanish futsal in Europe. Despite the unsuccessful performance of the national team at the last World Cup in Uzbekistan, First Division clubs continue to be the standard on the old continent. The two-time European and League champion has more than a foot and a half in the UEFA Futsal Champions League Final Four after second-round victories over Slovakia’s Lucenec (4-1) and Latvian side Riga (4-1). Elite round. Both have two wins and lead Groups D and A respectively. This will be the seventh time two Spanish teams will compete for the continental title, following the 2007, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2024 tournaments.
The Mallorcans must confirm in Son Moy their qualification for a historic third consecutive Final Four next Saturday (19:30) against Polish record holders Bijlsko-Biała. who lost to Semey (5-0) with four goals from Dedesinho. Beating Lusenek with another Fabinho hat-trick, his second in this Elite Round on the same day he turned 23, Antonio Vadillo’s side equaled Playas de Castellon’s record of 16 wins and 5 draws, without suffering any losses. one of the 21 matches of the first three editions of the old UEFA Futsal Cup.
They can overcome this next Saturday, even if they lose on goal difference, but if they win or draw with the Polish champions they will confirm their mathematical qualification for a third successive Final Four. They beat Semey with a score of 1-4, which will earlier meet Lusenets (16:30). It is worth remembering that Palma have been crowned European champions for the last two seasons and are the only team to lift the trophy in their first two campaigns since Playas de Castellon did so in the first seasons of 2001/02 and 2002 . /03. Additionally, along with two-time Balearic champions and Castellon, the only club to successfully defend the trophy was Movistar Inter, who won their fourth and fifth titles in the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons under current coach Jesus Velasco . .
In another magical evening of Spanish futsal, Jimby Cartagena beat Riga (3-1). after winning the opening goal from former Cartagena player Talles, two superb goals from Pablo Ramirez and Cortes and a double penalty from the Italian-Brazilian Motta, all in the first half. It was a titanic match between the Frenchman Cedric Pellissier and the Croatian Nikola Jelic, which allowed the Latvian champion to prove himself extremely tough, but this is the criterion for refereeing in UEFA tournaments. In the second period, regional pride: Chemi (Mazarrón) scored the goal to seal the result, while Mellado (Blanca) scored the fourth and final goal. Duda’s team, supported by the fans at the Palacio de los Deportes stadium, achieved their second victory (4-1) after yesterday’s victory over Meta Catania (1-8). The Italian team left a terrible image and were surprised by the Romanian United Galati, who lost to the Baltic countries (0-6).
Thus, the Spanish champion will have a historic date next Saturday (20:00) against the Romanian team led by the Brazilian Cacau. A draw or a win is worth it or even lose, maintaining the goal difference to equal Palma in futsal and reach the Final Four in the season in which he debuted in the UEFA Futsal Champions League. Jimby Cartagena will become the fifth Spanish team to reach the final phase in this format. Movistar Inter, ElPozo, Barça and the Balearic Islands have done it before. And be careful, at the moment, five debutant teams have reached the final round (Playas de Castellon, Dynamo Moscow, Sinara from Yekaterinburg, Kairat Almaty and Mallorca), and three of them managed to win the title in its first continental participation.
RFEF FUTSAL EVENTS WILL BE HELD IN THE MURCIA REGION
Cartagena will host the Spanish Super Cup.
Following the change in dates proposed by Relevo for Murcia, which will host the Copa del Rey from 20 to 23 March, The RFEF has announced that the Spanish Super Cup will be held in Cartagena. Jimby will defend the title in front of his fans at the Palacio Deportes on January 18 and 19, alongside Copa del Rey champion (Barça), Copa del Rey champion (Real Betis Futsal) and runners-up ElPoso Murcia Costa Cálida. in the regular league last season.
The presentation and draw for the Spanish Super Cup will take place on Thursday, December 5th at 12:30 p.m. The Cartagena Sports Palace replaces the Olivo Arena, the last venue of this prestigious tournament, and will once again host competitions organized by the Royal Spanish Football Federation following the 2024 Copa del Rey. It has not yet been announced who will host the Final Four of the Copa del Rey, which will also take place in the Murcia region (17 and 18 May).