Here Comes The Roller Hockey Champions League Decision: Team Analysis And ‘Quarter’ Duels – Hockey in Roller Hockey

The Final Eight of the competition will take place from May 4-7 in Viana do Castelo

The José Natário wing, in Viana do Castelo, will host the eighth final of the Champions League from Thursday, proof that the finale is on Sunday. After the dispute between the European Club Association (EHCA) and World Skate Europe, Europe took some of the best teams out of the competition last season (FC Porto, Benfica, Sporting, Oliverense, OC Barcelos, Barcelona, ​​Reus, Liceu, Noya, Caldes, and withdrew Saint Omer and Forte dei Marmi of the Europa League), the competition has re-emerged this year in full force, with a new format and even a new logo.

Portugal managed to put six teams into the group stage, making it complete: FC Porto, Benfica, Sporting, Oliverense, OC Barcelos and Valongo all managed to advance to the Final Eight, after the group stage where the strength of the Portuguese teams was evident. . Valongo, for example, scored a historic victory in the Palau Blaugrana against Barcelona, ​​the biggest winners in the European League with 22 achievements.

All games will be broadcast on register and Eleven Sports.

Benfica Porto

The first match of the quarter-finals joins the current national champion FC Porto to the “vice” Benfica. Looking at the regular stage of the Portuguese league, Benfica managed to clinch first place, but lost in the last round at home to FC Porto (2-3). In the four matches they have met this season, the Dragons have won three and lost only one, in the Super Cup duel.

The Dragons came off their Portuguese Cup quarter-final semi-final defeat to SB. Tomar (3-5), but they have the ability, as a rule, to react well in the classics, especially against Benfica. Goncalo Alves and Carlo Di Benedetto are the two weapons that targeted Benfica’s goal.

On the Benfica side, Boca will not be able to contribute due to a hand injury. Nuno Resende is searching for the title that has eluded them since 2016, and Pedro Nunes is still on the bench.

Pablo Alvarez, in his second season with Benfica, has been in the spotlight after a first season that fell just short of expectations. The Argentine Benfica striker scored 49 goals.

Barcelona-OC Barcelos

Two roller hockey legends, Barça and OC Barcelos, meet again after nearly six years. The Catalans are the biggest force in the competition and are looking for the title that has eluded them since 2018 – a 4-2 win over FC Porto at the Dragao Arena.

Even without Argentinian Matias Pascual (he broke his leg at the World Cup in San Juan in November last year), the Catalans have a luxurious squad that includes two of today’s best Portuguese players: Helder Nunes and Joao Rodriguez. The Final Eight is also a chance to see Pau Bargalló, one of the best players in the world, on his way to Benfica, As mentioned log directly.

The Catalans added four wins, one draw and one defeat against Valongo in the group stage. The slips did happen with qualifying in the pocket.

OC Barcelos reached Viana do Castelo after losing to Sporting in the Final Four of the Portuguese Cup. Minho’s team, European champions in 1991, has a team capable of debating the European title. Danilo Rampolla, nephew of the legendary Panchito, is respected by the Catalans and can show what he deserves against Barcelona, ​​his uncle’s former team.

Alvarinho scored 44 goals this season and was one of the greatest figures in Paulo Freitas’ squad.

Tricino-Olivirense

Trecino, former Sporting captain João Bento, is the current defending champion after defeating Falongo in the final. The Italian champion is also going through the best phase of its history, benefiting from the Mastrotto Group, a fur manufacturing giant that supplies some of the largest luxury clothing brands in Italy.

The team (OK) coached by Alessandro Bertolucci advanced to the semi-finals of the Champions Qualifiers, after leaving Valdagno on the way. Julio Cocu, a former FC Porto player, is living the best phase of his career, establishing himself as one of the best players in the world today. A salary of 6,000 euros, added to the reality of hockey, helps to understand the strong bet on the Italian international, who has scored 68 goals this season.

In Oliveira de Azemis, a growing team lives. After the disastrous start to the season that precipitated the decision to bet on Edu Bosch as coach for the next season, Oliverense showed its best version in the Champions League, by twice defeating the Spanish champions, Liceu.

Oliveriens has the experience of the famous Jordi Adrohr, Marc Tura, Lucas Martinez or Jorge Silva to try and surprise at Viana do Castelo. The club reached the final of the competition in 2016 and 2017, losing to Benfica and Reus, respectively.

Sporting Valongo

On Friday, at exactly 9 pm, there will be a new duel between the Portuguese teams. Starting at Sporting, Alejandro Dominguez’s side will be looking to recreate the glory achieved in 2019 and 2021, with Paulo Freitas still at the helm.

The Lions arrive at Viana do Castelo after losing the Portuguese Cup final to Club Sub. Takes. Sporting has the best player in his team, Gonzalo Romero (Nolito), who scored three of Sporting’s five goals in the final in Tomar.

Italian Alessandro Verona, due to an adductor muscle injury, is questionable in the match on Buff. Jose Natario.

Valongo reaches the final stage of the Champions League for the first time. The team coached by Edu Bosch had a great season with a lot of “home talent”, such as Diogo Abreu, Rafa Pesa, Carlitos or Miguel Moura. Already with several players committed to other clubs for next season, Valongo wants to go against the competition’s ‘outside’ status.

Final Quarters:

Match 1 – 04/05 (18:00) – Benfica – Porto

Match 2 – 04/05 (21:00 CEST) – Barcelona – Barcelos

Game 3 – 05/05 (18:00) – GSH Trissino – UD Oliveirense

Fourth match – 05/05 (21:00 CEST) – Sporting – Falongo

Semi-finals:

06/05 (15:00 CEST) – Winner Match 1 vs Winner 2

06/05 (18:00 hrs) – Winner 3 vs Winner 4 game

last

05/07 (15h00)

Written by Rafael Godinho