UCL: RSCA Futsal Secures Its Ticket… with a Sense of Incompleteness

INTERVIEWS

Mission accomplished for RSC Anderlecht Futsal: the Mauves and Whites have qualified for the Round of 16 of the Champions League after their campaign in Poland. Yet, the expected euphoria is giving way to a sense of frustration. The reason? A third-place finish that makes the rest of their European journey much more complicated.

Goal achieved, but still some regrets
“The qualification is secured, and we're happy about that,” said manager Lieven Baert. “Anderlecht now belongs to the European top 16. But if we had finished second, we could have avoided top clubs like Sporting, Benfica, Palma, or Cartagena.”
Instead, the Mauves must now hope for a favorable draw against Laval, Kairat, Riga, or Gliwice.

The turning point: a failed start against Gliwice
The opening match against Polish side Gliwice left its mark. Despite a good start, an error by goalkeeper Deivao — who scored an own goal — crushed Anderlecht's hopes. “That goal cost us dearly, but we can't put all the blame on him,” Baert cautioned. “Our strikers weren't at their best either.”

Cartagena too strong, Žalgiris the lifeline
Against Cartagena, Anderlecht lost 4–0 — a harsh scoreline, according to Baert. “The Spaniards were better, but the result doesn't reflect the flow of the match.”
Fortunately, the win against Žalgiris helped save the essentials. “We showed intensity, which was crucial after two defeats,” the manager emphasized.

Next challenge: the Round of 16
The draw will take place on Thursday. Anderlecht will play the first leg at home on November 24 and travel for the return leg on December 5.

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