Palma Futsal hands over its crown in Europe to Sporting

Illes Balears Palma Futsal could not beat Sporting de Portugal (2-0) and gave up the crown they had worn for the last three years in the final of the Futsal Champions League held in Pesaro (Italy), where Jimbee Cartagena Costa Cálida was third.

After the titles of 2023, 2024 and 2025, after coming back from 1-6 in the semifinals on Friday, Palma could not extend its historic love affair with Europe against a Sporting that was better to reign five years later with the third title of its record. Diogo Santos made it 1-0 after three minutes and, knowing how to suffer, the Spanish team had no reaction, conceding the 2-0 in the end with a player goalkeeper.

The defender of the throne once again had to trail a Sporting that was more and better in the final from the start. Just after a good chance from Machado, three minutes later Diogo Santos made it 1-0, which did not sit well with Palma, who was overwhelmed by the Portuguese pressure and was conceding far behind.

Goalkeeper Dennis Cavalcanti took revenge for the goal, where the ball passed between his legs, keeping the score in the minimum distance. Antonio Vadillo’s men also became unhinged at times with the referee’s decisions, loaded with yellow cards and with the feeling of being disadvantaged in the sanctioning of fouls.

After making a historic comeback against Étoile Lavalloise, the Balearic Islands could not find their way to the break, despite Lucao’s good start as a catalyst. Machado himself and Mateus Maia had the clearest chance of a Palma that had its moment before the break with the expulsion of Santos, almost a couple of minutes in superiority where he crashed into the post.

At the restart, the Spanish team wanted to change the script and succeeded at times, with more possession, more playmaking and shots on goal. Bernardo Paçó also fulfilled his duties in the Portuguese goal and Sporting gradually regained its dominance. Chishkala was around the second and claimed a couple of penalties that the referees, leaving no one happy, did not grant.

Fabinho had the best of Palma with six minutes left, with little rhythm in the game and even less so when Vadillo’s men threatened to equalize. The Palma coach then opted for the player goalkeeper but in the first play, Chishkala’s pressure led to Alisson’s own goal. This is how the Balearic Islands’ love affair with Europe ended, in an edition of Pesaro where Jimbee Cartagena Costa Cálida completed the podium on penalties (3-3, 5-4).