Ekaterinburg begin bid at Benfica

MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg begin their bid to regain the UEFA Futsal Cup on Thursday in Elite round Group B, hosted by former finalists SL Benfica. Those two meet in the last game on Sunday, but challenges also come from Dutch champions FC Marlène and European debutants MNK Potpićan 98 of Croatia.

SL Benfica
Benfica clinched their fifth Portuguese title since 2002 last season, their third in a row, and are now aiming to match their run to the 2004 UEFA Futsal Cup final. Unbeaten in the league, they trail CF Os Belenenses by two points but their dominant Main round display has given them high hopes in this mini-tournament. "We are going to the Elite round with many dreams," said coach André Lima. "We faced the Main round matches with great determination and professionalism as we are in a good period. We could also improve in the near future."

Main round: Montenegro StarsBudva 15-1, Viten Orsha 7-1, KMN Puntar 4-1 (Group 4 winners)

Key players: Ricardinho, César Paulo, Joel Queirós, Pedro Costa.

MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg
UEFA Futsal Cup winners at their first attempt in 2007/08, Ekaterinburg were beaten in the final as hosts last season but had the consolation of a maiden Russian championship and since then have strengthened with the signing of experienced forward Oleg Kazakov from MFK Mytischi. In the finals in April they were missing the talented Dmitri Prudnikov, but he is back from his ankle injury and Viz are yet to drop a point in the Russian league, which is experimenting with 50-minute games this season. "We want to reach the maximum, to win every game," sais coach Sergei Skorovich ,who has a full-strength squad. "Of course, Benfica are our main opponents. They have outstanding players like Ricardinho and they're playing at home. Obviously, Croatia champions Potpićan will show extreme commitment, while the Netherlands have always been good at futsal, so we should approach the Marlène game at full alert."

Main round: bye

Key players: Sergei Zuev (goalkeeper), Dmitri Prudnikov, Damir Khamadiev

FC Marlène
Marlène are at this stage for the first time and coach Kenneth Goudmijn is well aware they are up against it. "I think Benfica and Ekatarinburg have the best chances of winning the group, and that we are pretty much equally matched with Potpićan," he told uefa.com. Goudmijn's side are struggling in the Topdivisie, in eighth place with six points from five games. "It is true that until now we have had a difficult season," the coach added. "We have played pretty well but we have failed to hit the target. So the Elite Round comes at the right moment, because it will be good to be in another environment for a while and play against the absolute best."

Main round: FC CIP Deva 3-0, Iberia 2003 Tbilisi 0-2, Erebuni Yerevan 9-0 (Group 6 winners)

Key players: Roy Huisman, Jeroen Kossen, Amir Mokarai, Sander de Zwart

MNK Potpićan 98
The Croatian representatives also accept outsider status but are determined to do themselves justice. "We already achieved something big for our club," secretary Ivan Stanić said. "Although we are going there as an underdogs, we will try to prove we have quality. The other clubs have spent a lot more, also they play better opposition than us, that's why they have a big advantage." Potpićan are hoping defender Alen Lalić will be back from injury to play in Lisbon.

Main round: KMF Kolubara 4-3, AC Omonia 3-3, Araz Naxçivan 4-4 (Group 5 runners-up)

Key players: Robert Funčić (goalkeeper), Patrik Drndić, Alen Lalić