Will this be the first Portuguese final? :: zerozero.pt

The UEFA Futsal Champions League party is just around the corner. The turning of the page from April to May brings with it the decision of the European title, in a final four which could produce a two-time champion or a new king for the throne of Europe. A guarantee is given: the party will have its epicenter in the Iberian Peninsula, where the four semifinalists come from.

Sporting, Benfica, Illes Balears Palma – defending champion – and FC Barcelona. Two Portuguese and two Spanish. Two wars Iberian teams for places in the decisive meeting, scheduled for next Sunday. On the table is the possibility that, for the first time in history, two Portuguese teams will compete against each other in the final of the biggest European club competition.

The 2023/24 edition is not unprecedented in terms of this possibility. In fact, the last two editions could have had the same outcome, a Second Round derby in the UEFA Futsal Champions League final. Before, more than ten years ago, the first hypothesis of this happening had arisen. In 2024, Benfica and Sporting – the same protagonists as the last three times – will have a fourth chance to write another unprecedented (and golden) page in the history of national futsal.

Another curious fact: on the three previous occasions when the final could have been between eagles and lions and ended up not being, the European champion was never Portuguese. The three finals were played by Sporting and always ended with the Lions team defeated.

2010/11: the first assault in Almaty

April 2011. Benfica and Sporting traveled to Almaty, in Kazakhstan, to compete in the final phase of what was then known as the UEFA Futsal Cup. The semi-final program placed the lions on the route to Kairatthe home team, and the eagles face to face with the Italians of Montesilvano. Here was the first chance for the final of the biggest European club competition to be written in good Portuguese.

Sporting fulfilled its role and secured its ticket to the final in the first semi-final. Against the host Kairat, the lions prevailed by 2-3. Divanei (25′) and Caio Japa (28′) gave the lead within a few minutes, but the Kazakhs responded with goals from burst by Léo Santana (34′ and 36′), now an Eléctrico player. In this crazy final stretch, Caio Japa’s double (37′) decided in favor of the team led by Orlando Duarte.

Then, Benfica faced Montesilvano. Defending champions, after the mythical final at the Pavilhão Atlântico, Clube da Luz sought to reach the final with their eternal rival to revalidate the trophy, but got stuck at the penultimate barrier. Leandro Cuzzolino goals (23′), Cristián Borruto (35′) and Stefano Mammarella (36′) left the Reds out of the decision and helped the Italians to the European title, achieved with a victory by 2-5 about Sporting.

2021/22: from heaven to hell in Riga

Second hypothesis: Riga, April 2022. 11 years after Almaty, Benfica and Sporting are once again the Portuguese protagonists. More than ever, the chance of a Portuguese final was close.

Let’s do it by steps. Sporting measured forces with the ACCS, by Ricardinho, and had no major difficulties in ensuring victory and respective access to the final. The lions won by 2-6 and waited for their Benfica rival, who faced the powerful FC Barcelona.

An absolutely brutal first half from the Eagles left the final just a short step away. Goals from Tayebi (1′, gp), Rocha (9′) and Afonso Jesus (17′) put Benfica up 3-0 during rest time and very close to progressing.

However, from heaven to hell it was a very small step: an own goal by André Sousa (21′) started a reassembled Catalan, based on almost burst goals from Ferrão (31′), Pito (35′) and Dyego (37′). In a last effort, Chishkala (38′) sent the game to extra time, where Adolfo resolved it in the last minute (50′). For the second time, the Portuguese final slipped through their fingers and Sporting were once again defeated in the final, this time with a Spanish victory by 4-0.

2022/23: Palma’s drama

Third hypothesis. Palma de Mallorca, May 2023. Sporting complies with the theoretical favoritism and sweep O Anderlechtby Cristiano Marques, 7-1. First Portuguese finalist guaranteed and again the chance of having the Portuguese final. The ball was, once again, in Benfica’s side.

@UEFA

The reds had to overcome the Mallorca Palma, the home team. A festival of waste was at the origin of the fall (4-3) of the team led by Mário Silva, but the semi-final did not end without drama: in the last play of the match, Benfica reached a draw, but the video system (VS) helped the referees decide that the ball crossed the goal line beyond the horn. The goal was invalidated, Benfica fell flat and the Portuguese final did not happen again. Furthermore, Sporting came to lose in the final to the Spanish.

After Almaty, Riga and Palma, Yerevan follows. In Armenia, the illusion of a final between eagles and lions is once again present. Separating the illusion from reality are, for now, the defending champions and the Catalan giant. Next Friday it will be decided whether the dream will become reality or whether the wait will be longer.