Three Genesis players to watch out for in Athens...

You can watch every Group F fixture live on the SAC Doukas YouTube channel:

26.08.26 | Blue Magic Dublin vs London Genesis | 14:00 BST

27.08.26 | Doukas SAC vs London Genesis | 17:00 BST

29.08.26 | London Genesis vs Sparta Belfast | 14:00 BST

The most experienced of the Genesis squad at this level, the 31-year-old Portuguese wizard has featured in three previous preliminary rounds, all with London Helvecia, in 2020, 2021 and 2022, scoring seven goals in seven games.

Fleet-footed with intelligent movement, Ribeiro pops up all over the court, knitting play together and providing sparks of creativity that unlock the tightest of gaps in opposition defences.

Predominantly a winger, though capable of playing as a false pivot, the Genesis number 10 will be one of Enrique Guillen's go-to options to have on court this week during the crucial moments.

He has 19 goals in 30 appearances for Genesis since their promotion to Tier 1 in 2024, and given that Genesis is his self-professed 'home' in English futsal, this week will mean that little bit more to Ribeiro.

Before moving to Helvecia, he was part of a Genesis side that was relegated to Tier 2 and now graces the elite level once again, with that very same club.

Just as likely to thread an assist through the eye of a needle, rinse his marker with a flash of brilliance, or ghost in undetected to finish a move, Ribeiro's experience will be vital for Genesis on and off the court in Athens.

Duppre's is one of the most exciting stories within Guillen's squad, having spent the first half of the 2025-26 season with Kent United before moving to Genesis in January.

Before the switch, the 24-year-old had scored three goals in five Tier 1 appearances for Kent, after firing them to promotion with 29 in 16 games in 2024-25.

And while it was obvious that he was too good for Tier 2, 13 goals in 10 games to help his new side edge out Bolton in a closely contested title race surely surpassed expectations.

He even added a Grand Final goal, against Bolton, to his tally.

Duppre is a razor sharp customer, with lightning fast feet and a killer instinct on both sides in front of goal.

His athleticism makes him a useful defensive asset both in pressing situations and duels, one which will be needed in a Group F that is expected to produce tight and physical futsal.

Duppre has stepped up to the next level at each time of asking so far in his career.

Now, he has the chance to do so once again.

Another of Guillen's squad with experience at this level, Amorim's previous Champions League appearance came for John Tapia-Owen's Bloomsbury side in 2023.

The 25-year-old announced himself on the European stage with a thunderous volley against Romanian side Nistru-Chișinău, and did so in the international arena earlier this year, scoring a memorable hat-trick on his home debut for England against Switzerland in Loughborough.

Of Portuguese heritage, Amorim's skillset is rare in English futsal, favouring one vs one situations and capable of playing under high pressure, all of which led to his international selection.

Since 2023/24, the winger has scored 82 goals in 70 appearances for Bloomsbury and then, for the last two seasons, Genesis.

It is since moving to the Newham-based side though, that Amorim has established himself as one of the country's best players, taking the Tier 1 golden boot in 2025-26 with 29 goals in 19 games.

Amorim will be keen to build on what was a standout season last year by leading Genesis from the front in Athens.

The question that is always asked of English champions in Europe is whether they can make the step-up, as a collective, to translate their domestic success into performances against stronger opposition, particularly first and second-seeded sides, in this case SAC Doukas and Blue Magic Dublin.

Guillen told Total Futsal earlier this summer that the margin for error 'will be smaller' at this level, and picking up results will require concentration to be maintained throughout.

The games are faster, more physical and more tactically demanding.

According to stats collected by Daniel Walter-Browne, founder of @ukfutsalstats, across 2025-26 Genesis averaged 46 shots per game (nine more than their opponents) and 20 on target (two more than their opposition), while having 53% of the ball.

Given that each of their opponents, including third-seeded Sparta Belfast, have preliminary round wins to boast of and significantly more collective experience, Genesis should expect to spend far less time with the ball and have a reduced number and quality of shots on goal.

They will also face far more the other way.

They conceded more goals (67) in their title winning campaign than each of the five sides directly below them, despite scoring the second-most (95) in the division, pointing to the transitional and open nature of their encounters.

Consequently, Guillen has placed greater importance on his side's ability to 'respond to different match situations', focusing preparations on 'tactical organisation, decision-making, and performance under pressure'.

The English champions will undoubtedly face difficult moments across the next 120 minutes of futsal, not least in Wednesday's opener against Blue Magic (who beat Bloomsbury 5-0 in 2023), and this will require them to show a different side to their game, while expressing their own identity.

That, ultimately, is what these moments are for.