Zicky Té attempts a shot under pressure from Deivão
In a high-intensity clash, Sporting CP defeated Illes Balears Palma Futsal 2-0 in Pesaro to win the UEFA Futsal Champions League final, ending Palma’s three-title streak. The result is bad news for Spanish futsal but excellent for Javi Rodríguez’s Barcelona. Why? Because Barcelona now only needs to reach the league final to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Sporting CP – Illes Balears Palma Futsal (UEFA Futsal Champions League, 10/05/2026)
SPO
2
0
PAL
**Lineups**
**Sporting Clube de Portugal (2):** Bernardo Paçó (GK), Tomás Paçó, Diogo Santos (1), Wesley França, Alex Merlim (starting five), Pauleta, Felipe Valério, Zicky Té, Chishkala, João Matos, Vinicius Rocha, Bruno Pinto.
**Illes Balears Palma Futsal (0):** Dennis Cavalcanti (GK), Piqueras, Ernesto, Machado, Fabinho (starting five), Charuto, Mateus Maia, Lucão, Deivão, Lin, David Peña, Alisson.
**Goals:** 1-0, Diogo Santos (3:20); 2-0, Alisson (own goal, 35:51).
**Referees:** Nikola Jelic (Croatia) and Ondrej Cerny (Czech Republic). Diogo Santos (Sporting) was sent off with two yellow cards (10:34 and 18:08). Yellow cards: Felipe Valério (30:53, Sporting); Machado (2:56), Piqueras (5:53), and Ernesto (10:32, Palma Futsal).
**Incidents:** The final was held at the Pesaro Futsal Arena in Italy.
The match was expected to be a physical battle, an area where the Portuguese excel. Sporting’s high pressing allowed them to control the opening minutes, and before the fourth minute, Diogo Santos fired home after a superb long pass from Bernardo Paçó (1-0).
Sporting grew in confidence, and Palma’s goalkeeper Dennis Cavalcanti repeatedly proved why he is one of the best in the world. The Brazilian, who started his career in football, made outstanding saves against shots from Bernardo Paçó, Russian Ivan Chishkala, and the genius Alex Merlim—the Italian-Argentine who turns 40 in July and is spending his final weeks at the club after 11 seasons.
The three-time defending champions finally responded through possession, and Deivão nearly equalized after a save from the Sporting goalkeeper. The Spanish bench called for a VAR review after a possible elbow on Fabinho, which resulted in a crucial yellow card for Diogo Santos. Unfortunately for Palma, the incident occurred just centimeters outside the area.
Ernesto under pressure from Zicky Té during the defensive phase
Fabinho sent the subsequent free kick high, and in the 13th minute, Dennis again shone, first saving from Pauleta and then spectacularly denying Zicky Té. The next minutes saw back-and-forth action with few clear chances, until Diogo Santos received a second yellow card for a tackle on Fabinho.
However, Palma failed to capitalize on the 112 seconds of extra time before halftime and the first eight minutes of the second half. Shortly after the restart, Ernesto had a great chance against Bernardo Paçó, and in the 25th minute, Dennis prevented a spectacular backheel from Zicky Té from finding the net.
Sporting called for a VAR review after a possible penalty on Chishkala from a Zicky Té pass, but Palma’s defense was exceptional. The final was finely balanced when Fabinho was denied by an excellent Paçó with 6:34 left. Everything changed when coach Vadillo handed the goalkeeper jersey to Brazilian Alisson, a player Barcelona heavily covets.
From the first action after the change, a defensive clearance from Chishkala deflected the ball and the match turned decisively in Sporting’s favor.