Late drama, roaring crowds and records: UEFA Futsal Champions League quarter-final first legs analysed

New knockout format delivers comebacks, last-second goals and four finely balanced ties ahead of decisive second legs

The inaugural two-legged quarter-final round of the 2025-26 UEFA Futsal Champions League delivered exactly the spectacle UEFA had hoped for. Across Spain, Kazakhstan, France and Portugal, packed arenas witnessed late drama, emotional swings and narrow margins that leave every tie alive heading into the return matches on 6 March. With 32 goals scored across the four fixtures, the new format has already injected fresh jeopardy and narrative depth into Europe’s premier futsal competition.

(Main picture: Etoile Lavalloise 5-4 Semey – source: ici Mayenne Facebook page)

Defending champions Illes Balears Palma took the most substantial first-leg advantage with a 7–4 victory over Riga, extending their remarkable unbeaten UEFA run to 30 matches. Spanish media broadly praised Palma’s attacking fluency but struck a cautious tone about the late goals conceded. Outlets described the win as “amplia pero engañosa” (“comfortable but potentially misleading”), noting that Riga’s late surge kept the Latvian side firmly in contention. Palma’s coaching staff echoed that sentiment publicly, stressing that “la eliminatoria sigue abierta” (“the tie is still open”). Reports from Spain highlighted a strong turnout at Son Moix, with local journalists again portraying Palma’s home as a growing European fortress. While Palma remain clear favourites, analysts across Spain and the Baltics agree the second leg cannot be treated as a formality.

Palma 7-4 Riga – Source: www.palmafutsal.com

In Almaty, Cartagena Costa Cálida produced one of the most dramatic moments of the round, scoring twice in just 11 seconds to secure a 2–1 away win against Kairat. Kazakh media labelled the finale “шокирующий финал” (“shocking finale”) and “драма в Алматы,” (“Drama in Almaty”) reflecting the sense of disbelief inside a near-capacity Almaty Arena. Federation coverage in Kazakhstan emphasised the intensity of the home support and framed the defeat primarily as a lapse in concentration rather than a structural issue. Kairat figures expressed frustration but maintained confidence about overturning the deficit in Spain. Cartagena’s camp, meanwhile, described the result as “oro puro” (“pure gold”), praising their side’s composure under pressure. Across both Spanish and Kazakh analysis, the consensus is clear: despite Cartagena’s valuable away win, this tie remains extremely finely balanced.

If one match captured the emotional volatility of the new quarter-final format, it was Étoile Lavalloise’s extraordinary 5–4 comeback victory over Semey in front of a sold-out Espace Mayenne arena. Trailing 1–4, the French side scored four times in the final eight minutes in what domestic media quickly labelled a “remontada folle” (“crazy comeback”) and a “soirée historique à Laval” (“A historic evening in Laval”) French coverage repeatedly credited the atmosphere inside a packed Espace Mayenne, with supporters described as having “pushed the team forward” during the decisive late surge. Laval’s players reinforced that narrative post-match, insisting, “On n’a jamais abandonné” (“We never gave up”). In Kazakhstan, Semey’s reaction was notably calmer, with local analysts pointing to the team’s strong home form and predicting a very different contest in the return leg. Neutral observers widely view this as the most delicately poised tie of the four.

The Lisbon derby between Benfica and Sporting CP delivered the most cinematic finish of the round. Benfica equalised three times before scoring the winner with just one second remaining, prompting Portuguese media to hail a “vitória no último suspiro” (“victory in the last breath”) and an “derby inesquecíve” (“unforgettable derby”). Attendance reports from Portugal pointed to one of the standout crowds of the quarter-final stage, with the atmosphere widely praised for matching the occasion. Benfica’s camp focused on resilience and emotional control after repeatedly coming from behind, while Sporting voices expressed frustration at defensive lapses but confidence ahead of the home second leg. Portuguese analysts are nearly unanimous that the one-goal margin means very little in this rivalry, and many expect the return fixture to be one of the most explosive nights of the season.

Benfica 4-3 Sporting CP – source: www.slbenfica.pt

Across the four first legs, several notable milestones emerged. Palma’s unbeaten European streak reached 30 matches, reinforcing their modern-era dominance. Cartagena’s 11-second double strike ranks among the fastest decisive swings seen in recent knockout play. Laval’s late four-goal surge has already been described in French media as one of the competition’s great comebacks, while Benfica’s last-second winner joins the list of the season’s latest decisive goals. Although no all-time attendance records were officially broken, multiple national reports confirmed season-high European crowds at several venues.

National associations messaging in Spain, Portugal, France and Kazakhstan has broadly converged on one conclusion: the new two-legged quarter-final format is delivering. Officials and media alike have pointed to stronger home attendances, tighter competitive balance and significantly increased narrative drama compared with previous editions. UEFA observers have privately indicated satisfaction that the revamped structure is producing exactly the kind of high-stakes spectacle envisioned.

With the aggregate margins still narrow across the board, Palma leading Riga 7–4, Cartagena edging Kairat 2–1, Laval ahead of Semey 5–4 and Benfica holding a 4–3 derby advantage, anticipation for 6 March is building rapidly across Europe and Central Asia. Spanish clubs remain strongly positioned, Kazakhstan’s heavyweights are wounded but dangerous, France has a genuine breakout storyline, and Portugal’s eternal rivalry could yet define the round.

If the opening chapter of this new quarter-final era is any indication, the UEFA Futsal Champions League is entering one of its most compelling stretches in years, and the decisive night may be even better.

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