Futsal's finest chase final four

The teams competing in this season's UEFA Futsal Cup final four from 24-26 April will become clear over the next week as the Elite round unfolds from Sunday.

Ekaterinburg launch
Holders MFK Dinamo Moskva and three fellow top seeds join 12 Main round qualifiers in four mini-tournaments, and the first games come in Group D in Russia. That pool is hosted by MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg, who are making their European bow having been domestic runners-up behind Dinamo last season. They face a tough opener against the team that beat FC Shakhtar Donetsk to the Ukrainian title, SK Energia, while Hapoel Ironi Rishon Lezion – one of two teams to have survived from August's Preliminary round – take on CIP Deva, the Romanian side who produced some impressive results in this stage in 2006/07.

Murcia return
Two more pools start on Monday. Poland's Clearex Chorzów stage Group A and start against Croatia's HMNK Gospić, but much attention will be on Spanish champions ElPozo Murcia, who hosted the final four last season, taking bronze, and are up against KMF Marbo Beograd. Over in the Czech Republic, FK Era-Pack Chrudim begin against top seeds Kairat Almaty, while Belgium’s Futsal Topsport Antwerpen – who ended the previously ever-present record of 2004/05 European champions Action 21 Charleroi - play Slov-Matic Fofo Bratislava.

Holders in action
Dinamo, only the second team to take the trophy outside Spain, are in Group B and start on Thursday against KMF Municipium Casino Pljevlja, Montenegro's first-ever representatives and the other team along with Hapoel to have come through two stages to reach the Elite round. Italy's Luparense Calcio A5 are staging the group and begin against 2003/04 runners-up SL Benfica.