Arrancar 2 - 2 Sparta (381738782)

34286 punters turned up at Hueco Mondo, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Basile Leclere was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Giovanni Grandolfo and Gust Kerver. Arrancar decided to use a 2-5-3 set up. The following players took the field: Badea - Gandra, Frade - Szalai, Dorrego, Carafa, Srdanović, Spiekermann - Maluli, Martín del Campo, Gjengstø.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Sparta. Starters: Livoti - Schneise, Säisä, Dodig - Sostegni, Belardo, Lourinhã, Jornod, Fuksa - Kostakis, Rasimäki.

M. Szalai of Arrancar seemed to be floating in the air as he elegantly headed in to make the score 1 - 0 after a corner kick that was nicely executed by E. Gandra. Arrancar's S. Maluli saw his fine effort strike the top of the bar following some good work up the middle by his teammates after 3 minutes. A scuffle developed as players from both sides clashed following a tussle in the centre of the field 7 minutes into the match. After regaining order and consulting his linesman, the referee called Arrancar's T. Dorrego to one side and produced a red card for the player. E. Gandra was the new captain of Arrancar - handed the armband by the departing player. After 12 minutes, a couple of quick and successful challenges followed by a shot from just outside the penalty area by P. Gjengstø might have resulted in another goal for Arrancar. However, D. Livoti made a spectacular save. 16 minutes into the match, the visitors' central line of defence had to look on as R. Srdanović broke through, making the score 2 - 0 for Arrancar. Sparta's H. Schneise tried his best to narrow the score with a well placed free kick, but it wasn't quite good enough and P. Badea managed to block the shot. With 26 minutes showing on the scoreboard clock, Sparta showed some good skill and were able to reduce the score to 2 - 1 when F. Sostegni got past the home side's central defenders right in front of the goal. 38 minutes in, Arrancar's R. Srdanović received a yellow card for going into a challenge studs first. 2 - 1 was the score after the first half. Arrancar enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 63 percent of possession.

Sparta's N. Rasimäki showed his experience, anticipating the outcome of the opponent's defensive clearance and positioning himself perfectly to volley in an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box. 2 - 2. With 76 minutes played E. Gandra almost gave the home side the lead with an unexpected free kick set up, but the visitors' D. Livoti was onto it, grabbing the would be breakthrough ball. As the 78 minute mark approached, the Sparta coach decided it was time for a substitution. M. Kostakis reluctantly made way for J. Månsson on the pitch. Arrancar's S. Maluli tried to break through in the middle repeatedly, but couldn't get past the visitors' defenders. Making his way up the middle 86 minutes into the match, R. Srdanović almost managed to squeeze a goal past the visitors' keeper, but the alert D. Livoti blocked it to keep the score level. Arrancar claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 65 percent.

Most important Arrancar player was S. Maluli. M. Szalai was a disappointment, however. Sparta's best player was J. Dodig. On the other hand, M. Belardo's play was disheartening. The match ends 2 - 2.