Team: Puig, Yugueros, Gunter, Rossi, Si M’Hammed, Vazquez, Legere, McGirr, Wetzel, Henriquez, Mineo / Subs: Mazurkiewicz, Pereira.

After having banged so hard the previous week what really was the whole-season nightmare of RBBFC2 (ref. JAFT), now it seems that nothing could stop the mighty whites to get the well-deserved title and make history again.

However, once again, this championship has shown that going from hell to heaven is very easy and troubles can be behind any new corner.

Playing at Pharma pitch was not a new thing for RBBFC2 players since it is the same location as JAFT as well as the place of nice promotions memories in some of the least young players (La Boquita & La Bruja – you find out who they are!). However, this being also the location where the whole FB friendship invitation to "vous êtes les meilleurs”-lady started from (due or caused by – if you are disappointed with that) by our charming "Lo lo, lo lo lo lo, there is no limit…”. I wanted this one being in the records FOREVER, Lolo!!!! J

Pre-match feeling was a mixed one. Being concentrated on what to do; listening to the captain but also watching at that grass pitch suspiciously for what happened just few months before.

RBBFC2 players were also aware that competitors fight would have made the selection for the final victory even tighter but clearly Entente was not giving up so easily and that was the case.

El Chiquito-Puig could still count on most experienced defensive and midfield lines but perhaps missing something in front. He reinvented again another formation. We went for 4-3-3, this time having left and right backs new twins Tarik & Yugueros to push harder, stronger and longer on the flanks. No reference to sex here Ali ehhhh!

Midfield area was left to the experience of the veterans (not yet vets age for all of them tough!) Lolo/Adri/McGirr; as well as siders Horacito-babe and Ein-Zwei-Polizei to offend and humiliate. Front side charge was with the all-the-seasons man Mineo who particularly did envy to finish the match quickly so to continue his favorite practice with changing rooms hair driersJ. Ready to finish the victim on the bench the speedy-gonzales Louis and the indestructible Nunito.

Good and long warm up but perhaps slow starts from RBBFC2 due perhaps because of the Pharma setup: getting crowded the center with experienced players plus a Congolese wall in front their defense and a particular tendency to play on their left side which did not help us to switch easily on the other side. Definitely a pity since most of the dangers to their pretty weak defense came constantly from the left where there were definitely less skillful players to face.

Pharma was good in ball circulation and certain attitude to keep compacted the midfield as well as their evident distrust in their (almost) only 2 attackers helped RBBFC2 to reduce the numbers of risks to Puig-El Capitano. The visiting team started making the ball circulating in the back sites but smashing against the wall when getting the midfield.

Pharma number 11 caused some troubles but decently controlled by El Catalan-Yugueros having on his back Simo’s advices to get the ball or the ankle (if the former is not achieved!).

The whole first half almost flew away with not much happening in both ends, but mostly happening in the midfield. The most remarkable chance for the hosting team was when the Italian Stallion couple were caught off-guard while taking an espresso while the-ugliest-central-forward-ever-seen-in-my-life was profiting of the Italian break to fly alone towards El Capitano’s gate. …ah ah ah Jwrong choice to dribble the "standing firm & long time injured” Capitano so great save of all by touching the ball sufficiently to allow clearance from La Boquita Massi.

On the other hand, the visitors got a couple of good chances. In both of them Mineo moved well, found space and had a good shot, but both times the reaction by the goalie was great and prevented RBBFC2 to take the lead. The danger came as well from corner kicks were the white attackers managed to create some danger, but never found the back of the net, either because of lack of accuracy or by good saves by the goalkeeper.

Concluding first half Pharma tried to change the game rules by putting the skillful 11 to the right side which ended up in only one poorly dangerous attack not being his right foot the good one. Good work from El Cholo Tarik to keep him quite.

At half time Captain speech made it clear that we should have done more if we wanted to win the match and the league. Pharma would have continued to play in the same way having nothing to lose. Suggestions were to play more on the left wing with more intensity and asking 3 central midfielders to play more closely each other. Adri-Who-let-the-dogs-out was not unfortunately barking as usual imprisoned by the cage mounted around him. McGirr were also followed at body distance by the huge black defensive midfielder who, I guess, was told being El Principe the primary source of danger of the RBBFC2 team.

After a while our baby-jewel Louis came in to bring more vivacity. Choice was put Mineo back-left so being closer to the changing room for the after the match usual loud-shout "arghhhhhh”.

Vivacity and a certain degree of extra efforts came out when having El Principe Ali more playing on the left. Probably the best 15 minutes of RBBFC2 of the game where we gained 20 meters ahead with some chances. Great keeper save with the complicity of the crossbar on a remarkable head from Mineo (I am pretty sure all of us were thinking "goal”).

Then, Louis-el-speedy-gonzales got on his right foot (the right one actually) the deathblow. Unfortunately no luck for RBBFC2 this Saturday: ball passed just few centimeters away from the left post.

With few minutes to go, it was clear that teams were running out of fuel but still wanted to win the game. Teams got stretched longer and longer which allowed them to find new unexpected spaces. The two teams were basically split in two with midfielders not coming back anymore. Particularly, the three Pharma central midfielders were trying to overcome their forwards’ lacks with recurrent incursions. Remarkably, one in which the black-mid thought to have finally crowned his match performance after having dribbled three RBBFC2 players to score a goal; sorry, but Smooth Operator had already seen this movie before and knew exactly where he was going to, so La Boquita’s decennial savoir-faire put on rest Pharma's player feeling of unconditioned invincibility.

No time for something else so finally triple whistle and everybody to get a warm tea in the changing room. La fete can start now in changing room and ended as usual in the bar with the "third time” also knows as "Saturday: the best day of the week”.

For the record, Entente won and they are only 1 point behind RBBFC2. JAFT lost and, even if not mathematic, they are likely out but still 3rds with 6 points behind and one match less to play. Pharma is 4th 10 points behind, one match less to play and still to face RBBFC2. ESA lost again so 11 points behind but one match in hand, so potentially 8 points behind.

Once again: ARGHHHHHHH WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE J

Next match is against Union JP; I truly believe not a promenade like the match in September since they are doing well recently. But we all love this kind of challenges, is not it? J

4 finals to go for the history!

MoM and reporter: "The Smooth Operator" also known as "La Boquita” Gunter