Action 21 Charleroi will return to the UEFA Futsal Cup with a trip to Romania after the draw for the 2008/09 Preliminary and Main rounds was made in Nyon on Wednesday.
Charleroi, champions in 2005, were missing from the European competition for the first time last season but have regained the Belgian title and begin their campaign in the Main round in September. One place in each of those six groups will be filled by the winners of the Preliminary round pools in August, and among the 23 teams starting at that stage are two clubs making their nations' debuts in this competition. Iceland's Vídir Gardi will travel to France to play hosts Roubaix Futsal, Politechnik Yerevan and FC Parnassos in Group A while Denmark's Albertslund IF are in Group D against Lithuanian hosts Nautara Kaunas, FK Tirana and CSC Dinamo Chisinau.
Benfica challenge
The winners of Group A will be rewarded by being placed with three-time finalists Charleroi in Main round Group 3, also taking on Belarussian side Viten Orsha and hosts ACS Odorheiu Secuiesc, who beat CIP Deva to last season's Romanian title. SL Benfica, runners-up in 2004, are in Group 1 against Athina '90 Athens, Montenegrin team KMF Municipium Pljevija – who lost 7-2 to the Portuguese club in last term's Elite round – and the winners of Preliminary round Group E.
Elite round
Sides finishing first and second in the six Main round groups will progress to the Elite round draw on 25 September along with the four top seeds entering at that stage – holders MFK Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg, former winners MFK Dinamo Moskva and Interviú Madrid plus last season's fourth-placed team Kairat Almaty. The four Elite round groups will be played from 8 until 16 November with the winners advancing to April's one-venue final four event.
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