Pi-Team 0 - 3 GALACTIC (382989287)

A brilliantly sunny day had enticed a crowd of 27649 to Don Jose Luís Manglano de Mas. Gabriel Dumitrescu was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Anders Robertsson and Jo Ligtvoet. A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Pi-Team. Lineup: Bitocchi - Nollo, Stoeckel, Huet - Stângă, Fortini, Benedetto, Grammegna, Varas de Valdés - Fradiletti, Yarkın.

GALACTIC started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. The following players took the field: Filippa - Hökner, Hendrickx, Borges Coutinho - Fellersmann, Purpuri, Benton-Evans, Dragičević, Bursa - Rivero Beato, Boudart.

Pi-Team showed off their creative tactics. Pressing was the tactic of the day for GALACTIC. Having been awarded a free kick in an awkward position after 3 minutes, GALACTIC did not go for a shot but instead fired the ball hard into the 6 yard box. After a brief tussle with his marker, J. Rivero Beato was able to power the ball past the keeper to make the score 0 - 1. The referee showed Pi-Team's M. Stoeckel the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. There was concern in the stands when, at the 13 minute mark, Pi-Team's A. Yarkın hit the ground hard, but he refused the attention of the trainer and rejoined his teammates on the pitch. Some fine passing in the middle of the pitch, carving open the away defence, should have led to a goal for Pi-Team, but A. Fradiletti's shot went over the bar. E. Grammegna missed a penalty after 35 minutes that would have put the teams level. P. Purpuri's technique was perfect on this sunny day and led to some breathtaking tricks that bamboozled the defence. F. Hökner of GALACTIC was booked for kicking the ball away after the whistle. Pi-Team put pressure on the visitors' central defence 42 minutes into the game, but R. Varas de Valdés couldn't find an opening. It was 0 - 1 at the break. Possession in the forty-five minutes was dominated by Pi-Team, with 55 percent of the ball.

The bench was restless, and with 70 minutes passed Pi-Team's coach gave L. Jasilianis the opportunity the player had been hoping for. A. Yarkın reluctantly left the field. Pi-Team needed a fresh pair of legs on the field, and after 70 minutes M. Benedetto made way for D. van der Sluijs. Had it not been for one of the home defenders, A. Borges Coutinho would have put GALACTIC up another goal 74 minutes into the match with his audacious lob from the right wing. An indecisive keeper looked on as a free kick by GALACTIC's B. Bursa put the visitors up 0 - 2 after 75 minutes. After 76 minutes, a long pass from GALACTIC's J. Benton-Evans caught the defence out of position. Y. Boudart collected the ball, and with the goal at his mercy calmly rolled the ball just inside the post. 0 - 3. The pressing tactics used by GALACTIC were successful as the ball remained close to the half way line at all times. Possession in this half belonged to Pi-Team, who controlled the ball 53 percent of the time.

The most dominating Pi-Team player was without a doubt A. Fradiletti. J. Huet turned in a dismal performance, however. J. Benton-Evans performed admirably for GALACTIC. However, B. Bursa made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 0 - 3.