[FM13] C.D. Constància: Trading places

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All sails set for Europa

With just eight games left of the season we were to play the first real win-or-go-home game of the season.

We had just played against FC Barcelona at home and lost (again). The 0-1 loss came after F.C. Barcelona was awarded a cheap penalty late in the second half. The loss dropped us to ninth place in the league and suddenly it felt like the chance for play in Europa was slipping away.


The week after Málaga CF were coming to Inca for a game that were suddenly a must win for C.D. Constància. The game was close to a must win game for C.D. Constància if we were to stay in the hunt for the sixth place in the league. A draw would still give us the advantage over Málaga CF if we were to finish equal on points but we desperately needed all three points to keep up with the rest of the pack in the hunt for one of the guaranteed playoff spot for next seasons Europa League.

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Málaga CF completely dominated the game but we scored the goals. A(nother) exquisite free kick by Adolfo Giovannini and a real poacher's effort in overtime by Jajá gave us the much needed win.


We now had seven games left to play but the good news was that we had the easiest schedule of all the team fighting for a place in Europe with only two games against teams in the top half of the league. Away to Real Madrid FC in the 36th round and at home to Sevilla FC in the last game of the season.
Yes we needed help but we could do a lot ourselves by winning the reaming games.

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One player with a fantastic season already was Adolfo Giovannini. The young italian who came over from Empoli FC on a free transfer before the season had not just impressed the people of Inca with his precise freekicks and pinpoint crosses. His play twelve goals and twelve assists combined with a AvR 7.23 for the season, had opened eyes all over Spain to the extent that he came second in the Spanish “Young player of the year” award only behind At. Madrid goalkeeper Jorge Nieto

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Sweet story.

COME ON CONSTÁNCIA!

Tellak : Sweet story.

Thanks Tellak.

Got a new update ready later today.

Louis O. : COME ON CONSTÁNCIA!

Thanks for the support

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Season finally

And just like that it all came down to the final game of the season.

After the win over Malaga FC I had decided to make a move and switch keeper. Out with Pau López and inn with just acquired Croatia U-20 keeper Ante Mihovec and just like that we went on a much needed hot streak. The change of goalie was of cause not the only reason behind the sudden revival of the team. A cupcake schedule might also have done its part.

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The four Champions League qualifiers were already decided before the finals game of the season and they would go to the usual suspects in F.C. Barcelona, Real Madrid FC, Atl. Madrid SAD and finally Valencia FC.


What would normally be three available places in the Europa League had suddenly been cut to just two. Regardless of a mid table finish in the LIGA BBVA, Real Betis had guaranteed themself one of the spots in the Europa League due to their performance in the Copa del Rey.
They had surprised everybody and made it all the way to the final where they lost to FC Barcelona. With FC Barcelona already guaranteed qualification to the Champions League, Betis got rewarded the place in the Europa League.


That left just two spots open to compete for. Fifth in the league before the final game was our upcoming opponent Sevilla FC. They were very much in the driver’s seat for one of the two available spots as they could finish in the top six even with a loss in the final game. For them to finish outside the top-6 the result of several matches would have to go against them.


In front of C.D. Constància on the table before the last game of the year equal on points were also Getafe CF. They had a win and a draw against C.D. Constància in the regular season and would therefor finish ahead if the teams ended the year on equal points. Getafe CF were going up against the mighty F.C. Barcelona in the last game in Nou Camp and were expected to loss even if F.C. Barcelona had nothing left to play for.


For Malaga FC it looked like it was all over. If we got the point we needed, Malaga FC could at best be even with us on points and we held the tiebreaker as we had won both games against them during the season.


So before we took the field for the last game of the season the task at hand was clear.
C.D. Constància needed to get at least one point in the game against Sevilla FC. But more importantly we needed one point more than what Getafe CF managed against F.C. Barcelona, if we were to qualify for the Europa League next season.

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Gameday

The starting lineup for the most important game in this history of Club Esportiu Constància d'Inca is announced without many surprises. The team starts out in a defensive 4-1-2-2-1 formation that can easily be switched in to a more aggressive playing style if the results dictates it.

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After 37 regular season games it will all come down to what happens in the next 90 minutes.

Let the games begin.............

Standing before Week 38 kickoff:

5. http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q173/Nordskov_dk/CD%20Constancia/Sev_zpsfca8d783.jpg Sevilla F.C 59p
6. http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q173/Nordskov_dk/CD%20Constancia/Get_zpsf954bc4c.jpg Getafe C.F 58p
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7. http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q173/Nordskov_dk/CD%20Constancia/CDCos_zps75e28644.jpg C.D. Constància 58p
8. http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q173/Nordskov_dk/CD%20Constancia/Malaga_zpsb6f8de3e.jpg Malaga F.C 56p

1st minute

10.000 people all dressed in black and white is packed into a completely full stadium, for what will be the last ever game played in Nou Camp d'Inca, ready to help C.D. Constància get the point/s necessary to qualify for Europe next season.

2nd minute

In Barcelona 98.518 people has shown up in L'Estadi Camp Nou to congratulate the league champions, in for them a meaningless game. For Getafe C.F. its all other than meaningless. They need to get a result today if they want to be secure of european football next season.

3rd minute

Malaga F.C. takes the early lead against Rayo Vallecano S.A.D. They have now done their part and can now only hope the results in the other games will fall their way. If both Getafe C.F. and C.E. Constància loses today Malaga F.C. will sneak into the Europa League together with Sevilla FC.

5. http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q173/Nordskov_dk/CD%20Constancia/Sev_zpsfca8d783.jpg Sevilla F.C 60p
6. http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q173/Nordskov_dk/CD%20Constancia/Get_zpsf954bc4c.jpg Getafe C.F 59p
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7. http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q173/Nordskov_dk/CD%20Constancia/CDCos_zps75e28644.jpg C.D. Constància 59p
8. http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q173/Nordskov_dk/CD%20Constancia/Malaga_zpsb6f8de3e.jpg Malaga F.C 59p

10th minutes

C.E. Constància left full-back Lucas Hoyos completely miss-hit an attempted cross almost from midfield. The ball floats and totally fools the Sevilla FC keeper and sails over him before it bounces off the crossbar. In the scramble for the ball afterward Almir Leonor is taken down in the penalty area but the referees whistle remains quiet.

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25th minutes:

Cees Hofman picks up a yellow card on a stupid foul in the middle of the field. He will have be careful for the rest of the game. C.E. Constància can not afford to go a man down today.

30th minutes:

In Camp Nou its FC Barcelona completely dominating the time of possession but they struggle to produce any clear cut chances with Getafe CF mostly concentrating on keeping eleven man behind the ball.

45th minutes:

Its halftime in both Barcelona and Inca and the score is 0-0 both places. The league standing is still unchanged and C.E. Constància is still one point away from European football next season.

5. http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q173/Nordskov_dk/CD%20Constancia/Sev_zpsfca8d783.jpg Sevilla F.C 60p
6. http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q173/Nordskov_dk/CD%20Constancia/Get_zpsf954bc4c.jpg Getafe C.F 59p
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7. http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q173/Nordskov_dk/CD%20Constancia/CDCos_zps75e28644.jpg C.D. Constància 59p
8. http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q173/Nordskov_dk/CD%20Constancia/Malaga_zpsb6f8de3e.jpg Malaga F.C 59p

46th minute:

The players are back on the field for the second half. C.E. Constància needs a goal but also have to stay solid in the back. A Sevilla FC goal now would be a disaster.

52nd minute:

Still no movement on the C.E. Constància bench. At some point they will have to make a move and push for a goal if they can't get the wanted result from Barcelona.