Courtesy: UEFA.com


Dinamo draw Murcia, Barcelona go to Slovenia

MFK Dinamo Moskva will return to the scene of their 2007 triumph, Murcia, while holders FC Barcelona and former winners SL Benfica have also been given tricky elite round draws.

Thursday 13 September 2012

by Paul Saffer

MFK Dinamo Moskva will return to the scene of their 2007 UEFA Futsal Cup triumph while holders FC Barcelona travel to Slovenia after the elite round draw was made today in Nyon.

Dinamo, among 12 clubs to come through the main round last week, will be in a group staged by one of the quartet of top seeds exempted until now, 2008 runners-up Murcia FS. The previous year Murcia had hosted the first final tournament under the four-team format, won by the Moscow side. Also in that section are Energy Lviv and FK Nikars Riga.

Barcelona, victors as hosts in Lleida last season, begin their title defence in Group A at Slovenian club FC Litija with 2010 bronze medallists Araz Naxçivan and MNK Split completing the pool.

Araz defeated Luparense C/5 for third place that year, when in the semi-finals the Italian side lost 8-4 to hosts and eventual champions SL Benfica. Luparense and seeds Benfica are rematched in Group D alongside Győri ETO FC and hosts Iberia Star Tbilisi, the only team involved in all 12 editions of this competition.

In Group B, four-time semi-finalists Kairat Almaty launch their attempt to make their first final in Serbia against hosts KMF Ekonomac Kragujevac and experienced campaigners Slov-Matic Bratislava and FK EP Chrudim.

The elite round is played from 9 to 14 October with the four group winners advancing through to the knockout finals in late April. The finals hosts will be picked from among their number.

Elite round draw
Matches: 9–14 October

Group A: FC Barcelona (ESP, holders), FC Litija (SVN)*, Araz Naxçivan (AZE), MNK Split (CRO)

Group B: Kairat Almaty (KAZ), KMF Ekonomac Kragujevac (SRB)*, Slov-Matic Bratislava (SVK), FK EP Chrudim (CZE)

Group C: Murcia FS (ESP)*, MFK Dinamo Moskva (RUS), Energy Lviv (UKR), FK Nikars Riga (LVA)

Group D: SL Benfica (POR), Luparense C/5 (ITA), Győri ETO FC (HUN), Iberia Star Tbilisi (GEO)*

*Hosts




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com