Dinamo ready to defend crown

UEFA Futsal Cup holders MFK Dinamo Moskva begin the defence of their trophy in probably the toughest of the Elite round groups – but it is a challenge that coaches Yuri Rudnev and Aleksandr Shibaev relish.

Unbeaten start
Just under six months on from their dramatic defeat of Boomerang Interviú in Murcia to ensure a first victory in their third consecutive final, Dinamo return to European action in Group B in Padova against Montenegro's KMF Municipium Casino Pljevlja, 2004 runners-up SL Benfica and hosts Luparense Calcio A5. Dinamo are still unbeaten 14 matches into the Russian season and sit three points clear of TTG-Java Yugorsk after picking up one win and one draw from each of their recent two-game series against high-flying MFK Tyumen and MFK CSKA Moskva. The 3-2 win against Tyumen, who had not previously dropped a point, followed a 1-1 draw and Rudnev said: "We got a perfect test before the UEFA Cup encounters."

Responsibility
Looking ahead to the race for the one available final four place, Shibaev added: "Dinamo are up against strong opponents, but that is good because it is better to play the strong ones than the weak ones. Everyone realises the responsibility and will not spare themselves. If we look at all the big games in Dinamo's history, we usually play very well. Luparense and Benfica were undisputedly the strongest teams in the Main round and the Italians also did not concede a single goal." Anatoli Badretdinov, a summer signing from MFK Spartak Shelkovo, played against Luparense and Benfica last season and added: "Both the Portuguese and Italian teams have many Brazilians and that leaves a mark on their style. They all are very good on the ball, especially Benfica. The Italians might be a bit faster though."

Benfica hope
Benfica are in their third UEFA Futsal Cup campaign, having lost the 2004 final to Interviú but fallen before the last four two years later. A run of three straight wins has kept them within three points of Portuguese leaders CF Os Belenenses and in the Main round they scored 27 goals in their three victories. Coach Adil Amarante said. “We were unlucky with the draw. We will have to face the reigning champions Dinamo Moskva, who have seven good Brazilians. Besides that Luparense are at home and they also have seven players born in Brazil. Nevertheless, we will go to Italy with one goal in mind - qualifying for the final four. Against opposition like that we have to concentrate 1,000 per cent. At this level every single detail can make a difference. We will be without André Lima, Bebé and Sidnei but we can’t complain about their absences.”

Luparense run
Luparense also won their Main round group, scoring 12 goals without reply, and have a perfect record from five Serie A1 fixtures, gaining a morale-boosting 6-5 derby success at previously unbeaten Marca Trevigiana C5 on Saturday. League top scorer Nando Grana said: "We are expecting a difficult group but we are in good form and we are ready for the challenge. Our fans can give us great support, we want to get through."

Realistic
Municipium have won all the way through from August's Preliminary round, a fine performance from the first team to represent Montenegro in this competition. Realistic about their chances, captain Zoran Zarić said: "We want to show that we are not here by accident, but we can't say we will be better than Dinamo, Benfica and Luparense."

Additional reporting by Nuno Tavares, Paolo Menicucci & Aleksandar Radović