CD Xota v FC Barcelona Lassa: Victory and first place to end the year (1-3)

FC Barcelona Lassa finished the year with a great 3-1 victory away to CD Xota. Even though the opposition's Eseverri opened the scoring the blaugranas recovered and turned the game around thanks to goals from Rómulo, Ferrao and Marc Tolrà. A hard-fought and well deserved win wasn't secure until the last second and it allowed the Catalans to finish the year as leaders of the National Futsal League.

The game had various phases and the blaugranas grew into the game. Chances for both teams took a little while to materialise with both sides trying to dominate play and control the tempo. Aicardo had the first chance but Asier Llamas saved the effort. Eseverri responded with an effort of his own but Juanjo was up to the task. The home team had two more chances through Yoshikawa and Eseverri, but didn't have their shooting boots on.

The home side strike first

The captain Eseverri, who was the team from Navarra's most dangerous player, took control and scored the opening strike in the 12th minute. Magna Gurpea's player put the home team ahead with a powerful shot which left Juanjo with no chance.

However, the blaugranas didn't let the game get away from them and they pushed to get back into the game with long range shots from Dyego and Adolfo. The clearest opportunity fell to Rómulo who shot just wide at the end of a high-class move involving Ferrao. The home team didn't sit back either and Juanjo was called into action and saved excellently from Rafa Usín and Eseverri.

Three minutes from the break the blaugranas got a deserved leveller. Rómulo picked up a rebound from an Asier spill following a Ferrao shot. Marc Tolrà almost scored the second one minute before half time but couldn't quite convert and the teams went into the break with the scores level (1-1).

Second half and second goal

The second half started frenetically and both teams went close. Aicardo almost doubled Andreu Plazas' side's lead and Eseverri, yet again, went close for the team from Navarra. The next chance fell to Ferrao and he didn't let it slip. Three minutes into the second half the Brazilian doubled the Catalan's advantage as he finished coolly from inside the box.

Barça Lassa continued to try and finish the game off but were unlucky. Adolfo and Joselito were both thwarted by the home keeper, Asier. The blaugranas deserved the third goal, which would give them a cushion, despite Juanjo being kept busy at the other end.

Five minutes from the end the home team went with the player keeper tactic but Barça Lassa held firm in defence. They gave few chances away and those they did were confidently dealt with by Juanjo. In the last few minutes, Marc Tolrà made the most of an open goal and scored the deciding third goal with a shot from his own half.

Finally, the well earned win allowed Barça Lassa to end 2016 as league leaders with 31 points after 13 games. Andreu Plaza's men play again on the 7 January at 4pm CET in the derby against Santa Coloma.