Madrid 2 - 2 Desperta (382901088)

Clouds darkened the skies at El lomo as 48200 spectators turned up for the match. Enrico Piscopo was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Kai Lommen and Mariusz Dziewocki. Madrid tactics involved an interesting 2-5-3 combination. They fielded: Marcos - Sjon, Alberich - Trojaola, Torres López, Dempere, Rojas, Pèlach - Camaiani, Urquiola, Fitzios.

Desperta decided to use a 2-5-3 set up. The following players had been chosen: Ferruces - Polini, Rivas Barón - Labadía, Araque Blázquez, Judeckas, Tafur, Buttitta - Koza, Woźnica, Estupiñán.

Madrid clearly preferred using their ability to attack in the middle. Madrid's U. Camaiani got himself booked for a foul. S. Torres López's lack of experience almost gave Desperta a goal after 20 minutes, but the shot went right into the keeper's arms. Some quick footwork on the left side of the field 26 minutes into the match left Desperta's F. Polini completely free to score. 0 - 1 for the visitors. Unhappy with the result so far in the game, the Madrid manager used a brief break in play after 26 minutes to give the players new directives. After 31 minutes Desperta's M. Koza contracted a slight foot injury, but didn't want to leave the game. D. Dempere showed the skills that make him a real crowd pleaser as he, after 36 minutes, wove through the guests' entire central defence and put the 1 - 1 equaliser away. 1 - 1 was the score after the first half. Possession in this half belonged to Madrid, who controlled the ball 56 percent of the time.

There was concern in the stands when, at the 51 minute mark, Madrid's D. Dempere hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. After 53 minutes, Desperta's M. Koza made his way through the middle and nonchalantly placed the ball out of the keeper's reach, putting the visitors up 1 - 2. Although the whole team were struggling to impress, Madrid's J. Urquiola was singled out as being the problem as he was called off the pitch after 54 minutes. R. Prada was given a chance to change things around. A. Alberich was handed the Madrid captain's armband. Central attacks were the recipe of the day for Madrid, as they moved the ball from the wings to the middle with startling regularity. The crowd roared in delight as U. Camaiani finished off a spectacular series of passes through the middle to even the score for Madrid 60 minutes into the match. 2 - 2. Madrid's U. Camaiani tried to break through in the middle repeatedly, but couldn't get past the visitors' defenders. At 69 minutes played, S. Fitzios came in from the right with the intention of giving Madrid the lead, but his rocket of a shot rattled the crossbar. Madrid claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 57 percent.

Madrid's top performer was clearly A. Alberich. U. Trojaola was a disappointment, however. The most dominating Desperta player was without a doubt A. Estupiñán. On the other hand, C. Buttitta's play was disheartening. The match ends 2 - 2.