Palma repeat Futsal Champions League title triumph in Yerevan

Mallorca Palma Futsal retained the UEFA Futsal Champions League title in 2023/24, the first team to triumph in their opening two European campaigns since Playas de Castellón, winners in the inaugural seasons of 2001/02 and 2002/03.

Having won as hosts on their debut appearance in the competition, Palma travelled to Yerevan to defend their title. After needing a late comeback and penalty shoot-out to defeat Benfica in the semi-finals, they overcame four-time champions Barça 5-1 in the showpiece.

Benfica were aiming to make their third final, their first having come in 2003/04, the third UEFA Futsal Cup edition, when their team included a teenage Ricardinho. Twenty years on, the Portuguese became the competition's all-time leading scorer, overtaking André Vanderlei and passing 60 goals after netting 11 in Riga FC's debut run to the elite round. In all, Riga scored 70 goals in their nine-match run, the second-highest total ever, including 15 from top scorer Thalles.

In the end, though, Riga fell short in a 3-2 Group A loss to Barça, who returned to the finals after falling in the elite round for the first time in ten campaigns a year earlier. Sporting Anderlecht Futsal, who finished above Barça in the 2022/23 elite round, were beaten to the finals by Sporting CP, while Palma progressed again and Benfica finished ahead of Kairat Almaty, who were entering the competition for a record 20th season.

Benfica, however, fell in the semis for the second year running. A hat-trick by teenager Lúcio Rocha had Benfica 4-2 up against Palma with less than three minutes remaining, but Marcelo and Jesús Gordillo forced extra time before two saves from Palma captain Carlos Barrón earned his team a 4-3 triumph in the shoot-out.

Barça beat Sporting CP 5-4 to end the Portuguese club's hopes of reaching a fourth straight final. There was never more than a goal in it, but Matheus Rodrigues decided the match with a spectacular winner.

Over the course of the season, Sporting had surpassed Inter FS's record for overall competition wins and goals, but they missed out on a medal as they lost 6-3 to Benfica, who claimed a third consecutive bronze. Higor de Souza got a hat-trick for Benfica, while Lúcio Jr's two late goals, on his 20th birthday, made him the first player to score five in a single four-team final tournament.

The Demirchyan Arena SCC was packed to capacity when the final kicked off. Adolfo's 15th-minute goal put Barça on course for a record-equalling fifth title, but Palma led by half-time through efforts from Rômulo and Vilian Lourenço.

Barça pushed after half-time, hitting the woodwork twice and forcing an unbelievable save from Luan Muller. But Neguinho made it 3-1, Barça flying keeper Sergio Lozano was sent off, and Player of the Tournament Chaguinha and Neguinho struck in the final seconds to kick off the celebrations for Palma, who remain unbeaten in their 16 European matches.

Only twice before had the title been successfully defended, both times in the guise of the pre-2018/19 UEFA Futsal Cup: Castellón in 2002/03, and Inter FS in 2017/18 under Jesús Velasco, who is now in charge of Barça and who took charge of his 80th European game in the final – a competition record.