Futbol 0 - 2 SPAL (364302209)

Dark skies made the crowd of 1733 at Barca Arena a little nervous, but the rain held off. Antoine Fabre was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Jonas Eriksson and Theo Mordang. Futbol decided to use a 3-5-2 set up. Starters: Majano - Eberto, Montilla, López Méndez - Emilien, Oliveira, Urbina, Pereda, Furtado - Béjar, Hartmann.

SPAL had chosen a strategic 4-5-1 formation. The following players took the field: Rizzuto - Gramstad, De Gennaro, Sanjuán, Lissau - Kügler, Dali, Cordero, Boekweg, Buylov - Schveighardt.

The wings were the focus of most of Futbol's attacks today. Given a free kick close to the byline, SPAL tried a move that loyal fans may recognise from training. A pass to the side pulled the defence out of position which let L. Schveighardt slip through on goal. He didn't have to break his stride, and slipped the ball past the keeper to make it 0 - 1, 14 minutes into the game. A. Sanjuán could have put his team up another goal 31 minutes into the game, after a rush down the left, but his closing shot hit the post. J. Boekweg's lack of experience almost gave Futbol a goal after 32 minutes, but the shot went right into the keeper's arms. M. Kügler increased the visitors' lead by putting a volley away after a pass from the right. 0 - 2. The players of SPAL now seemed to think the job was done and acted more defensively, just waiting for the ref to blow the final whistle. Halftime score was 0 - 2. SPAL claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 74 percent.

M. Kügler left the field with a smile on his face as he was substituted 46 minutes into the game, as his team was in the lead. L. Magazzini was the replacement. J. Boekweg wanted to play on, but the SPAL coach had other ideas, and he was replaced 70 minutes into the game by E. Olaizola. The SPAL players could smell victory in the air. M. Dali wasn't in a hurry to leave the field as he was substituted for A. Mora after 70 minutes. With 73 minutes gone, C. Oliveira suddenly found himself completely free on the right wing when a counterattack by Futbol caught their opponents by surprise. Only a great save by the opposing keeper prevented him from scoring. After several obvious shirt pulling incidents, J. Cordero got himself booked. The manager of SPAL was not happy. Had it not been for one of the home defenders, L. Schveighardt would have put SPAL up another goal 85 minutes into the match with his audacious lob from the right wing. SPAL enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 70 percent of possession.

The most dominating Futbol player was without a doubt L. Hartmann. E. Furtado turned in a dismal performance, however. SPAL's top performer was clearly E. Olaizola. On the other hand, A. Mora's play was disheartening. The match ends 0 - 2.