UEFA Futsal Cup elite round guide

The four UEFA Futsal Cup finalists will be decided this week when the four elite round mini-tournaments are played.

• The four group winners progress to the knockout finals
• One of those qualifiers will host the finals on 19 or 20 and 21 or 22 April

Group A: Wednesday to Saturday

Contenders: Barcelona (ESP), Ekonomac Kragujevac (SRB), 't Knooppunt (NED), Pescara (ITA, hosts)

• Barcelona were champions in 2012 and 2014 and have never failed to get past the elite round in four attempts.
• Pescara, who reached the semi-finals in 2016, appointed Mario Patriarca as coach earlier this month, replacing Fulvio Colini.
• Ekonomac are in the elite round for a ninth time but have never made the finals.
• Debutants 't Knooppunt are the sole preliminary-round survivors.

Sporting are aiming to reach their sixth semi-final©Ivan Vjetrović

Group B: Wednesday to Saturday

Contenders: Sporting CP (POR, hosts), Dina Moskva (RUS), Nacional Zagreb (CRO), Halle-Gooik (BEL)

• Sporting were runners-up for a second time last season, having appeared in three other semi-finals.
• Dina, the dominant Russian and European side before the UEFA Futsal Cup's launch in 2001, made the finals on their only previous entry in 2015 – losing 8-3 to Sporting for third place in Lisbon.
• Nacional were the 18-goal top scorers in the main round.
• Halle-Gooik were the only team to keep three clean sheets in the main round.

Stalitsa in main round action against Pescara©FC Stalitsa

Group C: Wednesday to Saturday

Contenders: Stalitsa Minsk (BLR), Luparense (ITA), Kherson (UKR), Győr (HUN, hosts)

• Stalista topped their main round group ahead of former champions Kairat Almaty and FC Dynamo.
• Luparense, who beat Győr 5-0 in the main round, got to the semi-finals in 2009/10.
• Kherson, who are making their European debut, include in their squad Fumasa, a winner with Kairat in 2013.
• Győr are contesting the elite round for a sixth time.

Group D: Thursday to Sunday

Contenders: Inter FS (ESP, hosts), Kairat Almaty (KAZ), Braga/AAUM (POR), Deva (ROU)

• Holders Inter, who have won this competition a record four times, defeated Braga 4-1 in the main round.
• Kairat, winners in 2013 and 2015, lost to Inter in the 2009 and 2017 semis as well as the 2005/06 second qualifying round.
• Debutants Braga are the result of a 2007 joint venture between the football club and the University of Minho Students Association (AAUM).
• Deva are negotiating the elite round for the first time.