1'After the final team talk, the ball is in play; the team look for that first safe pass on the edge of the box.
4'The the away side defence is split open by a poor decision.
6'Constantino Bonechi arrives late and brings down a the opponent player; foul, no real argument. You can feel the tension in every yard.
7'Deadly counter from the away side: few touches, lots of space and a whiff of danger. The league table is starting to do its sums.
8'The team find their confidence and aren't rushing so much now.
19'Ignacio Fernández nips in just before the ball reaches a teammate.
21'The away side put the game to sleep right in front of the dugouts, trying to tempt the home side out of their shell.
22'Ignacio Fernández wins it and releases it quickly; the away side race back to salvage what they can.
25'The ball moves safely between the the home side shirts; what's missing is a bit of pace in the final third. The home side are in a much better position after that.
26'Mati Basaldua goes in hard in the inside channel and the referee gives the foul. The story is only just beginning.
27'🎯 Benicio Kowalczyk carries the ball forward...
27'...shapes to shoot from outside the box...
27'The home side end the move with an effort that demands attention.
28'The tempo rises and falls, but the tension never goes away.
32'🛡️ The defence clears the danger and keeps the ball.
34'Possession belongs to the home side, although for now there's no real bite around the box.
36'The defender reads the pass and makes a crucial interception. Tactical awareness is counting for more and more.
40'The away side manage the ball without giving it away, shifting the home side from side to side. The managers are already taking notes.
41'Daniel Quiroga accelerates in behind the holding midfielder and the counter starts to take shape.
44'The away side launch a textbook counter-attack, the kind the gaffer drills all week long. There's noise all around the ground.
46'With the players heading for the dressing room, end of the first half: the team and the opponent head in with plenty to fix. The ball is starting to burn.
47'The away side can't get near the ball; the home side keep it from them patiently. You can feel the tension from early on.
48'A teammate chases down the keeper, the crowd get right behind it and the home side are rushed.
49'The away side make life hard for themselves with a sloppy pass down the left. There'll be plenty to analyse.
51'The opponent waste time, catch their breath and try to kill the momentum.
53'The the away side press bites down the right; the home side start to lose their clarity.
55'The home side can't get near the ball; the away side keep it from them patiently. The away side are in a much better position after that.
56'Gonzalo Pérez goes in hard in the inside channel and the referee gives the foul.
58'The away side put the game to sleep on the edge of the box, trying to tempt the home side out of their shell.
59'Dante Brignoli protests, but the foul was pretty clear. Tactical awareness is counting for more and more.
59'🟨 The referee shows a yellow and the team now have to tread carefully in that area. The managers are already taking notes.
60'The home side are camped in the opposition half and force them to kick it out.
62'Foul by the team to stop a counter that looked dangerous.
65'Possession belongs to the away side, although for now there's no real bite around the box.
66'The away side manage the ball with teeth gritted, shifting the home side from side to side.
67'A teammate is face to face with goal and finishes quickly before the gap closes.
72'Tactical foul from Ignacio Fernández; textbook stuff, although the referee is already keeping an eye on that one.
72'🟨 Ignacio Fernández earns a booking for stopping a promising move.
73'The away side put the game to sleep on the edge of the box, trying to tempt the home side out of their shell.
75'🛡️ The defence clears the danger and keeps the ball.
80'The home side manage the ball with all the know-how, shifting the away side from side to side.
83'The away side can't get near the ball; the home side keep it from them patiently.
84'The home side carve the defence open with a surgical touch from Benicio Kowalczyk.
85'🎯 Benicio Kowalczyk runs at goal and shapes to shoot...
85'...hits it with his left foot...
85'A teammate is face to face with goal and finishes quickly before the gap closes. The bench are living it like a final of their own.
87'Augusto Montoya takes charge of midfield and brings a bit of order to the chaos.
89'Maximiliano Castellanos slips a delicious through ball to Mati Basaldua, who is perfectly set.
90'With the last ball kicked, that's the end of the match; now it's down to the table, the dressing room and some self-reflection. There's a lot riding on this.
Gremial Pogacar