Kairat and Charleroi ready for contest

Former winners
The 2005 champions Charleroi played in the inaugural four-team showpiece two years later and Kairat earned a place in Moscow last season. Each have reasons to be optimistic about repeating the feat – Charleroi as Group B hosts between today and Saturday; Kairat due to their reinforced lineup.

Signings
The Kazakh champions, who have four wins in four this season, signed Camara Sobral and Italian international Carlo Mantovanelli in the summer, though Kairat player Denis Samohvalov is taking nothing for granted. "We had an easier group last year," Samohvalov told uefa.com. "I think Era-Pack Chrudim remember us from the [decisive Elite round] game last year, when we were trailing 3-1 before the interval before winning 5-4."

Charleroi changes
Belgian titleholders Charleroi may not have the all-star lineup of their UEFA Futsal Cup-winning pomp, but have re-signed two of the players that helped them to victory in 2005, André Vanderlei and Pedro Medina. Their return was welcome as Belgian Player of the Year Karim Chaibai and Talent of the Year Salhi Saad both joined rivals Futsal Topsport Antwerpen, though 58-goal top scorer Bezerra Betinho stayed.

Free-scoring
Action 21 lie third in Belgium but are unbeaten after nine games and on Monday defeated Picardie Bruxelles 20-0. Pedro Medina said: "We are aiming for a ticket to the final four, but obviously Kairat Almaty are the big favourites. The final match, Charleroi against Almaty, will probably be the key, although we obviously have to beat the other teams first. But with the support of thousands of spectators in the Spiroudôme I have a good feeling about that."

Chrudim aim
Chrudim have won all seven of their Czech league games this season though last week were beaten 2-1 in a friendly by Slovakian champions Slov-Matic Fofo Bratislava. Radek Mikan and Marek Kopecký are feeling the aftereffects of calf and thigh problems but Michal Mareš is back at the club on loan from Pramen Havlíčkův Brod to be reunited with brother Roman. Coach Ota Stejskal well remembers last year's loss to Kairat, when a draw would have taken his team to the final four, and said: "We would like to avenge that defeat, but the [opening] game against Charleroi will be even more difficult due to the partisan crowd in the 6,500-seated hall. We mustn't underestimate Gorica, either, as Slovenian futsal is on the up. Any of the four could go through."

Gorica challenge
Whereas Chrudim and Charleroi both won their Main round groups, Gorica finished second in their pool behind SL Benfica and only pipped KMF Municipium Casino Pljevlja on goal difference. They travelled to Belgium fresh from a 9-2 win against Kix Ajdovscina on Saturday, though trail KMN Puntar by three points after six Slovenian Premier League games.