Welcome back for the final part of our story as we look to better the real life 97/98 performance of Celta Vigo with the same squad and no transfers. As a reminder, we are 6^th and in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.

It has not been easy going. We have drawn a number of games we really should have been winning against lower sides and this has cost us a stable footing in the top 5 rather than being in the chasing pack as we are.

With Revivo out, Ratkovic comes in against Barca. Couto does us a massive favour and we burst into a 2-goal lead. Then the Egg Man evens things out like a complete t***. As a result, Ratty has to come off for a defender.

We see the game out against wave after wave of Barca attacks. Salinas gets a 10 for defensive duties and a deserved man of the match display. WHAT A RESULT!

Still hungover from the Barca win, Josema urinates on our own chips. What a clown.

Really, really could have done with an extra 2 points.

Revivo revives our game away at Oviedo as we pull it back at the death to win 4-3.

Dan Eggen’s suspension now takes place. It pretty much means we will lose as we don’t have any decent cover.

EXPECTED.

Nacho, Nacho Man. No one wants to be, the Nacho man!

Cadete lets his temper get the better of him with two yellows but Betis return the favour in an ugly affair that we come away from 3-1 winners.

Cadete will miss two games at a vital stage of the season including the Copa del Rey first leg. Useless bunch of nobodies. Useless.

We’re bleeding money, everyone wants to leave still, and everyone is picking up suspensions and injuries left, right and centre. This cannot go on. Oh yes it can.

Safe to say we need a miracle to reach the Copa del Rey final. Diezma is getting dropped. To score 4 against Real and lose is mental. And then we need a late show to beat 10-man Bilbao.

At least that is distance between us and them. The next game may well be our performance of the season so far. 4-1 up at half time. No explosion, no collapse, strong to the finish.

It remains tight, but with 7 games to go, we sit 4^th.

We bow out the Copa del Rey in the semi-finals to a side that will compete in the Champions League final. Not bad going. That wild first leg and my loyalty to Diezma the probable cause of our chances of reaching the final going missing.

What’s that, hit great form and lose your captain. Wonderful.

With Mostovoi out too, Ratti Boi comes to the rescue. The man has played a handful of games but has been an admiral deputy when called upon.

Away to Atleti, we just give up.

We hang onto 5^th place by the skin of our teeth. We’re 2 points behind 4^th placed Espanyol with 2 games in hand but the feel good factor just got knocked out of us.

Despite 18 shots, we scrape a win at relegation fodder.

It was going so well. Oh Dan.

This can get in the bin now. Facing worldy keepers every game is getting annoying. As is Cadete having 7 shots and not scoring.

Game in hand to play, and we’re away to our rivals who are 3^rd and flying. Not having that at all. 34 year old keeper has a blinder and we lose.

Mostovoi the clown too. Throwing a great finish to a season away here. With one game remaining we could finish anywhere from 7^th to 4^th results dependant.

Atleti have 2^nd bottom, Espanyol play Valencia and we have 17^th placed Mallorca. We MUST win. Everyone else plays before us and we find out we will finish 6^th regardless but a win will get us 5^th place. Mallorca need a win to survive.

Mallorca won’t go quietly into the night, but we put in one hell of a performance to achieve 5^th place and better the real life performance of Celta in the league and the cup.

11 draws, largely against the dregs of the league the biggest problem for us.

I slated him but Cadete got us all the goals.

And the assists along with Sanchez.

The average ratings were decent for the main players.

We got 5 more points than real life Celta, scored 23 more goals and conceded 7 more. We won 1 more game and lost a few less. And we blew away real life top scorer (Juan Sanchez got 11 in the 97/98 season).

And with that I think we’ve proved that CM97/98 got it pretty accurate with Celta Vigo. In real life the league was just as close across those positions with head to heads having an impact on 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th.

That was good fun, I do love a no-signings challenge to push you to be creative. Thanks for reading, see you again soon.