Benfica’s Futsal Goal-Fest Seals Early Champions League Spot

Rampant Benfica clinch UEFA Futsal Champions League Round of 16 spot

Benfica needed only two match-days in Malta to book their passage to the newly formatted knockout stage of the 2025/26 UEFA Futsal Champions League. Huge victories over Loznica-Grad 2018 and Riga wrapped up first place in Group 3 of Path A with a game to spare, confirming that the Lisbon giants will be present when the competition resumes later this month.

Two statement wins in 24 hours

On 29 October, Míster Pulpis’ side produced a nine-goal blitz against Serbian outfit Loznica-Grad that set the tone for the mini-tournament. Kutchy opened and closed the scoring, while Diego Nunes, Higor de Souza, Afonso Jesus, Arthur, Raúl Moreira, André Coelho and Silvestre Ferreira all found the net in an overwhelming 9-0 result.

Less than 24 hours later the Eagles brushed aside Riga FS 6-1. Early strikes from Silvestre and Arthur settled any nerves, Carlos Monteiro and Jacaré stretched the lead before the break, and second-half efforts by Afonso Jesus and the prolific Kutchy completed the job. Goalkeeper André Sousa denied the Latvians repeatedly, conceding only to Vargas in the closing seconds.

Group wrapped up ahead of Luxol encounter

With six points and a goal difference of +14, Benfica are already unreachable at the summit even before facing local hosts Luxol St Andrews on 1 November. That final fixture will merely decide cosmetic numbers; the ticket to the last 16 is already stamped.

What happens next?

The draw for the two-legged Round of 16 is scheduled for 6 November at UEFA headquarters in Nyon. Benfica will learn their opponent then, with ties pencilled in for 24 November and 5 December. Home-and-away rules apply, meaning the Portuguese side will play one match at the Pavilhão da Luz.

A quick response after Super Cup disappointment

The qualification comes only eight weeks after a sobering 6-1 defeat to city rivals Sporting in the Portuguese Supertaça. Arthur scored the solitary consolation that night, but the early-season setback now feels distant thanks to the clinical displays in Malta.

Portuguese clubs keep lifting the national coefficient

Benfica’s progress continues a run of strong Portuguese showings in Europe. Sporting have contested three of the last five finals—winning in 2021—while Benfica reached the Final Four twice in that span. The steady accumulation of victories has helped Portugal remain inside UEFA’s top tier of futsal nations, guaranteeing two Champions League places again next season alongside Spain, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.

Eyes on the knockout phase

Having averaged 7.5 goals per game so far, the red-and-white squad travel home brimming with confidence. If luck is kind at the draw and injuries stay away, Benfica will believe that a return to the Final Four—and perhaps a shot at a first continental crown since 2010—is a realistic ambition.