1'After the final team talk, we're under way: the team get us going from the centre spot and are already looking to stake their claim in the inside channel. Now the ball will do the talking.
3'Possession belongs to the away side, although for now there's no real bite around the box.
4'⚡ The opposition make a mess of playing out from the back...
4'...Eduardo Esposito pounces on the gift...
4'...and he's one-on-one with the keeper...
4'...places it at the far post...
4'⚽ ⚽ GOOOOOOOAL! Up pops Eduardo Esposito to score, over the keeper, a delightful chip. 0-1.
7'The defender sticks out a lifesaving leg and stops a teammate going one-on-one.
11'Tito Briganti slips a delicious through ball to Luis Gómez, who is perfectly set. The weather is playing its part.
12'The the home side block sets up high; this is risky, but it's ambitious too. It's being played with gritted teeth.
13'The home side put the game to sleep down the left, trying to tempt the away side out of their shell.
15'Interception by the away side right in front of the dugouts; good pressure and even better reading of the game.
16'Lautaro Marchetti plays it back and starts again; sometimes going backwards is attacking too.
17'The home side launch a textbook counter-attack, the kind the gaffer drills all week long.
19'The defender uses a bit too much body and the referee isn't buying the innocent look.
21'The the away side press bites around the D; the home side start to lose their clarity.
22'The away side manage the ball with good sense, shifting the home side from side to side.
23'The game hits a plateau: lots of battling, little clarity. There's a lot riding on this.
24'The home side launch a textbook counter-attack, the kind the gaffer drills all week long. The half-time team talk could tip the balance.
26'The home side stretch the pitch and make the away side chase shadows.
27'The away side win it back near the opposition box; a clear sign of the high press.
29'The away side manage the ball with good sense, shifting the home side from side to side.
30'It's getting scrappy in midfield, with heavy challenges and few concessions.
32'Possession belongs to the away side, although for now there's no real bite around the box.
35'The away side put the game to sleep in the danger zone, trying to tempt the home side out of their shell.
37'The away side try to play out from the back, but the home side swarm all over them as a unit.
40'The away side manage the ball with real authority, shifting the home side from side to side.
42'The home side can't get near the ball; the away side keep it from them patiently. You can feel the tension in every yard.
43'A set piece could unlock this one: corner to the away side.
44'⚡ Lorenzo Garay wins it in his own half and breaks at speed...
44'...the counter is lethal, Lorenzo Garay runs the length of the pitch...
44'...slips in Luis Gómez, who has arrived through the middle...
44'...Luis Gómez finishes first time...
44'⚽ ⚽ WHAT A GOAAAL! Luis Gómez wheels away in celebration. 0-2.
46'After a hard-working first half, end of the first half: the team and the opponent head in with plenty to fix.
54'Lautaro Marchetti slows things down, puts a foot on the ball and waits for a path to open.
55'Mario Tovaglieri goes in hard in behind the holding midfielder and the referee gives the foul.
56'Corner whipped to the penalty spot; the opposing defender wins it and clears long.
57'🎯 Eduardo Esposito runs at goal and shapes to shoot...
57'...hits it with his left foot...
57'Eduardo Esposito unleashes a left-footer; the keeper flies across and can only watch it go by.
58'Omar Márquez takes charge of midfield and brings a bit of order to the chaos.
60'The defender sticks out a lifesaving leg and stops a teammate going one-on-one.
61'The away side move it about sensibly, with Eduardo Esposito as the side's compass.
62'Tito Briganti slips a delicious through ball to Lautaro Marchetti, who is perfectly set.
63'The home side are camped in the opposition half and force them to kick it out.
65'There's a feeling that the next mistake could prove very costly.
66'Coco Caro darts in behind and Mauro Lazcano plays the striker in with a superb ball.
70'The the home side block sets up high; this is risky, but it's ambitious too.
73'The defender turns up exactly where it's burning hot and clears the danger.
76'Pipa Aranzadi protests, but the foul was pretty clear.
77'🎯 Lucio Reyna runs at goal and shapes to shoot...
77'...hits it with his left foot...
77'Lucio Reyna fires it across goal; the ball goes out kissing the post. That was one of those moments that changes the pulse of a game.
78'Saúl Aloma takes charge of midfield and brings a bit of order to the chaos.
80'The ball moves safely between the the home side shirts; what's missing is a bit of pace in the final third.
84'The away side manage the ball without giving it away, shifting the home side from side to side.
86'The home side stretch the pitch and make the away side chase shadows. You can see the work done on the training ground this week.
88'🛡️ The defence clears the danger and keeps the ball.
90'With no margin left at all, the end of a story of nerves, fine details and plenty of physical football.
Club de Exnovias Locas