28m Substitution Armando Quesada on for Stefan Stefan injured, Armando now has big chance to get some goals. Stefan unlucky played well.
Half-Time: Astur 0-1 Real Oviedo Good half for Oviedo with Mario Prieto an absolute colossus, Sergio Villanueva quality down right. Stefan looked good before his injury but then the Armando/Cervero partnership clicked straight away. Hopefully similar possession and dominance in 2nd half will bring a good few more goals. 3rd Placed Lealtad kicked off an hour earlier and lost at home 0-3 to Sporting "B". Since being unbeaten in 19 games they've lost 4 in a row (6 games without a win) from hitting top spot temporarilly they now look like they could even miss out on the play-offs.
71m Curro missed penalty Villanueva brought down in area, Curro missed to keep score at 1-0 Yellow cards: Curro 56m, Lucas Iglesias 60m and Jose Luis 63m.
76m Jaime replaces Centron as substitute Game very scrappy deteriated into a midfield battle, not much quality 2nd half. Yellow cards: Sergio Villanueva (78m), Mario Prieto (79m)
90m Diego Meijide on for Cervero as sub. Armando Quesada had a few chances but the Astur goalkeeper having a good day.
Match 29 Results: Astur.....0 - 1 ...Real Oviedo Navarro...1 - 1... Universidad Colloto....1 - 4... Caudal Candas....4 - 0... Hispano Ceares.....0 - 3... Tuilla Condal.....1 - 2... Real Tapia Llanes......1 - 1... Cudillero Langreo....1 - 0... Ribadesella Lealtad.....0 - 3... Sporting B Siero........1 - 1... Aviles Ind.
Match 29: Astur FC 0 - 1 Real Oviedo attendence: 1200 (Capacity) highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URBMOD47UMU If you look out in highlights you can see Oviedos' stadium (Nuevo Carlos Tartiere) in background - Asturs' ground occupies a corner of one Oviedos' car-parks. -- A decent result but off colour performance. 1st half ok just needed a second goal. second half and a penalty miss didn't help to settle the nerves. Ivan when called upon was exeptional in goal.
Match 30: Wednesday 19th March Real Oviedo V Llanes Match Squad: Goalkeepers: Aulestia Iván Defenders: Lucas Iglesias Diego Meijide Bravo Iker Lasarte Midfielders: Sergio Villanueva Curro Falo Mario Prieto Jaime Roberto Santos Miguel Centrón Forwards: Diego Cervero Armando Quesada Bruno No place for Pacheta or Jon Carrera returning from injury, or Stefan who picked up an injury during Sundays match (pulled muscle left thigh) Jose Luis misses match as he's suspended (5 yellow cards). Llanes potential banana skin (9th place) but in reality should be a push over. they are the hardest opposition Oviedo face for a while so a win would probably mean that the cahmpionship is a cetainty.
Match 30: Wednesday 19th March Real Oviedo 2-0 Llanes Real Oviedo:Aulestia; Lucas, Meijide, Bravo, Lasarte; Falo, Mario Prieto, Villanueva (Santos, min. 83), Curro, Centrón (Jaime 75m); Cervero. Aulestia Lucas Iglesias... Diego Meijide..... Bravo..... Iker Lasarte... Mario Prieto... Falo... Villanueva ................................ Centrón Curro... Diego Cervero Goals: 1-0. Villanueva 64m 2-0. Lasarte 90m No Carrasco team can be selected without a few suprises, some peoples man of the match on Sunday, goalkeeper Ivan, got dropped to bench in favour of the more experianced Aulestia. Falo returned to the team at the expense of the second striker, with Curro playing a more advanced role in midfield. The team selected didn't look to far off the first XI, where Pacheta fits in when fit is another question. Are we ready for Play-offs now they are a certainty? Against Llanes a mid table side a fair way off a Play-off place Oviedo showed little of the quality that they have throughout their side. A game played in cold blustery conditions in front of less than 1000 fans lived upto the billing and produced a hard fought battle with few standout moments or highlights. Cervero ploughed alone up front on his own with the 5 man midfield bogged down and they seemed incapable of supplying any service atall to him. Are we learning anything about how we are going to win the Play-offs? are we confident that they are a formality, promotion will be a piece of cake? We seem to be waiting for Pacheta to return from injury, until then we'll blunder on beating pub sides and taking plaudits playing negative agricultural football. Yes at times we've impressed but we are playing sides that a decade ago our B team would frequently thrash. So another win, 5 in a row, 69 points from 30 matches, 15 points clear of 2nd place and 487 minutes since conceeding a goal. Everything is rosy in the garden, you must be joking!
Real Oviedo 2-0 Llanes Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8Ig0Gz9Mts sad to see less than 1000 in the Carlos Tartiere, by my reckoning that crowd is around 3% of the capacity of the stadium, very sad. Sums up that this season isn't just about results, it's about giving people new belief that Oviedo can not just go up but compete next season in Segunda B, on that count the club are failing badly. On a night Oviedo celebrated the 75th aniversary of their first promotion to the Primera Liga, Premier league promotion for Oviedo looks a million miles away - Volveremos!
League Table: Week 30 Results: Real Oviedo 2 - 0 Llanes,,, Universidad 7 - 1 Astur,,,, ……….Tuilla 8 - 1 Candas.. …….Hispano 0 - 3 Caudal.. ....Cudillero 2 - 0 Condal.. ……….Aviles 1 - 0 Lealtad …….…Siero 2 - 1 Colloto ..Real Tapia 1 - 2 Ceares.. Ribadesella 2 - 0 Navarro ..Sporting B 1 - 0 Langreo ..
Week 31 Fixtures: Condal - Real Oviedo...2 Llanes - Universidad....X Caudal - Tuilla............1 Ceares - Cudillero.......2 Lealtad - Siero...........1 Langreo - Aviles..........1 Navarro - Sporting B....X Astur - Ribadesella......2 Candas - Real Tapia....1 Colloto - Hispano........1 Hopefully an easy win for Oviedo, hopefully Universidad slip up away to 10th placed Llanes. Big match is between 3rd and 4th, Caudal the home bankers versus in form Tuilla. With those 2 playing one or both will drop points, Cudillero and Lealtad could jump into play-offs with much needed wins. My next visit to Asturias is end April when Oviedo play Caudal, that could be the match they officially win the championship. (4 wins and Oviedo would have 84 points, 2nd placed Universidad can only get 81 points if they win all their remaining matches)
next match: away to Condal, Sunday 30th March. Condal Club.............. History: 8 seasons in Tercera otherwise in regional leagues, recent record: 2006-07 - Tercera - 11th 2005-06 - Tercera - 13th 2003-04 - Tercera - 18th 2002-03 - Tercera - 12th 2001-02 - Tercera - 16th Form: 17th place 26 points from 30 games. 7 defeats in last 11 matches, the 4 unbeaten matches (2 wins and 2 draws against sides in bottom half of the table). Have lost 3 matches in a row. 17th place on home form with 19 points from 15 games. Home form 2 wins 1 draw 2 defeats in last 5 home matches. They've scored 39 goals less than Oviedo so far and conceeded 19 more goals. Goalscorers: 5 Borja Secades 4 Jony 3 Yeyo 3 David Sanz 3 Felipe ---- An absolute dead cert away win for Oviedo. Oviedo still with out striker Pacheta and also midfielder Centron injured in training this week. Evenso a pretty strong match squad with a likely continuation of Carrascos 4-5-1 formation, and only one enforced change. Probable Team: Aulestia Lucas Iglesias... Diego Meijide....... Bravo..... Iker Lasarte... Mario Prieto..... Falo... Villanueva ................................ Bruno/Jaime? Curro Diego Cervero
Match Squad: Goalkeepers / Porteros: Aulestia Iván Defenders / Defensas: José Luis Iker Lasarte Lucas Iglesias Bravo Diego Meijide Midfeilders / Centrocampistas: Falo Curro Mario Prieto Sergio Villanueva Roberto Santos Jaime Strikers / Delanteros: Diego Cervero Matías Stefan No Bruno or Jon Carrera (returning from injury) in match squad but a return of youngsters Stefan and Matias. Looks like the team from last week with the only change Jaime in for injured Centron on left wing.
Match 31: Starting XI (away) Condal Aulestia Lucas Iglesias... Diego Meijide....... Bravo..... Iker Lasarte... Mario Prieto..... Curro... Villanueva ................................ Santos Stefan Diego Cervero So 2 changes, Falo dropped in favour of Stefan and Santos getting his first start of the season replacing injured Centron. Again how Roberto Santos can come in from cold and get a start when there are 3 others you'd think ahead of him in Carrascos mind is a strange decision. Falo is the fall guy again, never lets anyone down frequently man of the match but whenever Carrasco can he drops him. Two most experianced players in Oviedos squad and last season the two best players in this division (Bruno and Armando Quesada) again don't make the bench. Subs: Ivan (GK), Jose Luis, Falo, Jaime, Matias
Match 31: Sunday 30th March 2008 Condal 1-2 Real Oviedo Real Oviedo 4-2-3-1 GK Aulestia RB Lucas Iglesias CB Diego Meijide (Falo 41m) CB Bravo LB Iker Lasarte CM Mario Prieto CM Curro RM Villanueva AM Stefan (José Luis 71m) LM Roberto Santos (Matías 66m) CF Diego Cervero. Goals: 0-1 3m Stefan, header from Villanueva cross. 0-2 19m Meijide, header from Curro free-kick. 1-2 89m Yoni Oviedo got 3 points while Universidad drew so on the face of it a great day. Oviedo conceeded a goal! so record 576 minutes without letting in a goal. So what happened - Que Pasa? first 30 mins very impressive the midfield pair of Curro and Preito again showing their class. 38 minute Oviedo coasting match at 2-0 Bravo punches opposition attacker -straight red - 3 game ban. 41 minute Diego Meijide picked up injury (right foot). So Oviedo don't have a defence next game! 2nd half Oviedo made to sweat their 10 men and makeshift defence (Falo in centre) holding out until the last few minutes. Never looked like losing but certainly not convincing. So 14 points clear of 2nd place with 7 games to go.
Week 31 Results: Condal 1-2 Real Oviedo Llanes 1-1 Universidad Caudal 1-1 Tuilla Ceares 1-1 Cudillero Lealtad 3-0 Siero Abandoned Langreo v Aviles Navarro 1-2 Sporting B Astur 1-2 Ribadesella Candas 4-2 Real Tapia Colloto 1-3 Hispano 2nd to 5th places all drew (Univesidad, Tuilla, Caudal, Cudillero.) 6th & 7th Lealtad and Sporting B both won to bunch up the 7 teams battling for the 3 Play-offs spots behind Oviedo. Like Oviedo Sporting B are on a run of 6 straight wins, coming from nowhere to look like a good bet for top 4 finish. Week 31 Table: 1 . Real Oviedo …... 31 ... 23 ... 3 ... 5 ... 67 ... 22 ... 72 2 . Universidad ….... 31 ... 16 .. 10 ... 5 ... 56 ... 33 ... 58 3 . Tuilla ……...…... 31 ... 15 .. 10 ... 6 ... 50 ... 33 ... 55 4 . Caudal …….….... 31 ... 15 ... 9 ... 7 ... 57 ... 34 ... 54 -------------------------------- 5 . Cudillero ……..... 31 ... 14 .. 12 ... 5 ... 40 ... 29 ... 54 6 . Lealtad ……….... 31 ... 15 ... 9 ... 7 ... 39 ... 29 ... 54 7 . Sporting B ……... 31 ... 15 ... 6 .. 10 ... 54 ... 40 ... 51 8 . Langreo .………... 30 ... 15 ... 5 .. 10 ... 43 ... 29 ... 50
Match 32: Saturday 5th April Real Oviedo 1-1 Unión Ceares Real Oviedo: 4-2-3-1 GK Aulestia RB José Luis CB Falo CB Lucas Iglesias LB Iker Lasarte DM Mario Prieto (Roberto Santos 75m) DM Curro RM Villanueva (Jaime 68m) LM Matías (Centrón 81m) AM Stefan CF Diego Cervero Aulestia Jose Luis....Lucas Iglesias.....Falo.........Iker Lasarte Mario Prieto..... Curro... Villanueva ................................ Matias Stefan Diego Cervero Goals: 38m Cervero(penalty) 91m Prendes Man of Match: Sergio Villanueva so so performance that should have been a win but for falling asleep at a corner in injury time it would have been. Oviedo should have had a few goals cushion but the fact they only had a 1-0 lead showed that they need to focus and be ready for the Play-offs. The defence obviously makeshift but all the players selected are experianced professionals playing amateurs, only Falo was actually playing out of position. Lots and lots of possession and neat and tidy football, especially in the first half but not many clear cut chances. Mario Prieto and Villanueva picked up injuries and could miss next Sundays match, the players on bench who will have to deputise didn't step up and show that they should start. Hopefully Centron is set to return along with Jon Carrera and possibly even Pacheta. Again Carrasco has shown that he doesn't like to promote youth teamers up to fill gaps in the squad, even to have a defender on the bench. Anyway a match to forget with points dropped at home, but 12 points clear with 6 games to go lets just hope players come back fully fit for play-offs. I'm seeing the Oviedo v Caudal game in 2 weeks time and we could very likely be crowned champions that match. Match 32 results: Real Oviedo 1 - 1 Union Ceares Universidad 4 - 0 Condal Tuilla........ 5 - 0 Hispano Real Tapia. 0 - 2 Caudal Siero........ 2 - 2 Langreo Cudillero.... 2 - 0 Candas Sporting B.. 5 - 0 Astur Lealtad...... 3 - 1 Colloto Ribadesella. 1 - 1 Llanes Aviles........ 1 - 1 Navarro Week 32 Table: 1 Real Oviedo 32 73 23 .4 .5 68 23 2 Universidad. 32 61 17 10 .5 60 33 3 Tuilla…….... 32 58 16 10 .6 55 33 4 Caudal….... 32 57 16 .9 .7 59 34 -------------------------------------- 5 Cudillero….. 32 57 15 12 .5 42 29 6 Lealtad…..… 32 57 16 .9 .7 42 30 7 Sporting B.. 32 54 16 .6 10 59 40 Big wins this week so Oviedos' lead cut by 2 points, all other clubs in top 7 won. The 3 remaining play-offs places could be any 3 from the next 6.
Match 33: Sunday 13th April Candás 0-5 Real Oviedo Real Oviedo: 4-3-3 GK Aulestia RB José Luis (Santos, min. 81) CB Nico CB Mario Prieto LB Lasarte CM Curro CM Jaime AM Falo LF Bruno (Stefan, min. 73) CF Cervero (Pacheta, min. 73). RF Villanueva Goals: 0-1. Bruno (21m) 0-2. Bruno (34m) 0-3. Villanueva (52m) 0-4. Cervero (63m) 0-5. Cervero (72m) Supposidly Carrasco had said some weeks ago that the time for experimenting had long gone, he knew his team. With this in mind this is his latest starting XI; Aulestia José Luis …..Nico….Mario Prieto…… Lasarte Curro….. Jaime Falo Villanueva ……..Cervero……....Bruno..... 6 players start in same positions as last week, with Lucas, Matias and Stefan dropped and with Falo and Mario Preito moved out of position. So 17 year old Nico gets his first start with all first choice central defenders unavailable, this the first time he’s been involved in a match squad this year. Lucas Iglesias didn't make the squad although he trained throughout the week so whether he picked up a late injury is anyones guess, seems strange to rest our only experianced centre half. So who should fill the other central defensive role? Mario Preito? Again a player debuting in this position, moving our most consistant midfielder into defence. So Falo our usual makeshift central defender actually plays but not then in his usual holding role but as the attacking midfielder in front of the “double pivot”. Jaime gets a recall paired alongside Curro in the 2 holding roles, again he's a left sided player why not pick him to play in his favoured position? Another in from the cold, so cold he’s probably got frost bite, was Bruno, one of our most experinaced squad players who’s never let down the side gets a start, recalled after 3 weeks outside of the match squads. So a 5-0 away victory so all positives? you must be joking. A match with only one outcome from start against a hopeless team with nothing to play for. Could have been so much more with Cervero again wastefull, he should have had a hat-trick by half-time. Double figures could and should have been the target but while Oviedo had all the possession and fashioned many many chances again we didn’t force the issue. 15 points clear with 5 games to go means that the Championship is now won in all but mathematical certainty. We have 5 games to now prepare for the Play-offs. Positives then: Bravo will return from suspension so that is our defensive rock back next week. Pacheta got a good 20 mins playing time to show he could be available for a starting place next week. Other injuries seem to be clearing with Diego Meijide likely to come back in. Nicos first start shows that we have a great future talent, he was many peoples man of the match v Candás. Hopefully this match is the end of the tinkering, Falo is a holding midfielder that is where he should play, Mario Preito is a ball playing midfielder in the centre of misdfield is where he should play. Need an attacking midfielder, you have the best player in the division in that position Curro or else the ever impoving Stefan. Seems easy doesn't it, you just pray Lobo Carrasco now knows the time for experimenting has been and gone. I’m at the next match at home to Caudal so that should be the official championship celebrations! As I’m staying in Mieres it’s quite apt that that will be my last match of the season (Caudal are from Mieres, named after the river that runs through the town – some useless information there for you!) Then i'm again in Spain for 2/3 weeks during the Play-offs so should get to see the 2 legs of the final, now that should be something special if 2005 is anything to go by.
Week 33 Results: Candas 0-5 Real Oviedo Ceares 4-2 Universidad Colloto 1-2 Tuilla Caudal 1-1 Cudillero Llanes 0-1 Sporting B Langreo 1-0 Lealtad Navarro 1-0 Siero Condal 1-2 Ribadesella Astur 1-2 Real Aviles Hispano 0-1 Real Tapia Universidad lost so that just a point is needed in the last 5 matches to ensure that Oviedo are Champions. Tuilla win to consolidate their place in top 4. Caudal and Cudillero draw with each other to keep in the play-off frame. Sporting B continue their phenomenal run, making it 8 wins in a row and look like a very good bet to make the Play-offs. 6 defeats in 8 for Lealtad who actually climbed above Oviedo at the top in February on a 18 match unbeaten run. Looks like they could miss out on Play-offs all together. 10 matches ago Leatlad were 2nd 17 points above Sporting B and just 2 points behind Oviedo, how things have changed. Week 33 Table: 1. Real Oviedo 33 76 50 2. Universidad 33 61 25 3. Tuilla......... 33 61 23 4. Cudillero.... 33 58 13 /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ PLAY-OFFS /\ /\ /\ /\ /\ 5. Caudal...... 33 58 25 6. Sporting B. 33 57 20 7. Lealtad..... 33 57 11 8. Langreo.... 32 54 15 (Matches/Points/Goal difference)
Injured: Diego Meijide, Jon Carrera, Lucas Iglesias. B team (Vetusta) players training with first team squad: Moussa (Striker) free scoring, seems strange to promote as Pacheta as getting full fitness Pablo Naredo (Left back/midfield) goldern boy current Spain under 18. Nico (Centre Back – pictured below) glorious 90 mins last week, will he play Sunday with Bravo available? Two teams faced upto each other in training (Thursday), whether they show any hints towards the starting eleven is anyones business, both lined up 4-4-2; Team 1: Aulestia; Pablo Naredo, Carmona, Nico, Centrón; Falo, Santos, Matías, Stefan; Armando, Cervero, Team 2: Iván; José Luis, Mario Prieto, Bravo, Iker Lasarte; Curro, Jaime, Villanueva, Bruno; Moussa, Pacheta. So Caudal at home, last seasons Tercera champions, and a draw is enough for Oviedo to be crowned champions. What team Carrasco puts out is anyones guess because the last 2 games have seen massive changes. Presumably Bravo will come straight back in, but will Pacheta start, or will we give him a little more time with the Play-offs in mind. To be honest I think it would be nice to give some of the youngsters a chance, so this would be my starting XI; 4-2-3-1 Iván José Luis………..Nico……Bravo….. Iker Lasarte Mario Prieto….. Falo Sergio Villanueva…. Curro….. Pablo Naredo Cervero Bench: Aulestia, Carmona, Centrón, Bruno & Pacheta. Just found out that the fiesta de primavera (harvest festival) is on this weekend. In Asturias they harvest apples so its a weekend of very very cheap cider (sidra) in fact free cider. Flights to Asturias from London cost 1 Euro out and 1 Euro back so i'm looking forward to a very entertaining and very cheap weekend. Slight downside of the fiesta is the regional instruments of torture in Asturias are the bagpipes, you can drink free cider but you have to listen to a constant regurgitation of Amazing Grace parped out of a pigs bladder. My nephew plays for the Caudal youth team and is to be promoted to the Caudal B team next season, whilst his cousin is currently in their B team and hopes next season to break ino the full side. Hopefully Oviedo give them a spanking and i can take the piss out of the two of them for the next week i am in Mieres.
Just back from Spain,so here's some updates, three match reports to follow. Had a great time, from the Folixa (Fiesta na Primavera) where much Sidra was drunk to celebrating Real Madrids championship win in a fountain in the centre of Mieres, a good couple of weeks. Next trip to Mieres mid June to tie in with Play-off finals and the next Fiesta the Fiesta San Xuan, a music festival where this years top act is El Sueno de Morfeo, a pop rock act with a lead singer famous for dating Spains top Formula 1 driver. Anyway here's the reports....
Match 34: Sunday 20th April Real Oviedo 4-0 Caudal Real Oviedo 4-2-3-1 GK Aulestia RB Jose Luis CB Carmona CB Bravo LB Iker Lasarte DM Jaime DM Curro (Falo 75m) RM Sergi Villanueva AM Mario Preito (Pacheta 68m) LM Stefan (Santos HT) CF Diego Cervero Aulestia Jose Luis….Carmona….Bravo….Lasarte Jaime…....Curro Sergio Villanueva….Mario Preito…..Stefan… Diego Cervero Goals: 41m Stefan 65m Cervero 74m Sergio Villanueva 87m Pacheta Team news: Centron and Bruno injured so the only real choices on left wing were either Santos or Jaime. Carrasco picked Stefan and played Jaime as a holding midfielder. Nico was man of match last match so he was dropped from match squad, with the blatantly unfit Carmona playing in the centre of defence. Falo (ex-Caudal) on bench alongside striker Pacheta. Oviedo started brightly against last seasons champions who had set out to defend for dear life with every man behind the ball. Caudal seemed happy to let Lasarte and Sergio Villaneuva pump balls in from wings with their centre backs happy to out jump/out muscle Diego Cervero in the middle. Villanueva must have wipped over 5 or 6 decent crosses in first 40 minutes with only one man in box (Cervero). Mario Preito got about abit linking well with Villanueva a few times in and around the box but half chances came and went. Oviedo were increasingly limited to shots from the edge of the area from the likes of Preito and Curro and looked like going in at half-time at 0-0. When the goal finally came it was a cross that pinged around the box until eventually Stefan blasted home. It was the first thing Stefan had done all game, he seemed lost drifting off his wing and wandering in no mans land neither linking up play or being an outlet on left or indeed getting in box to help out Cervero. Second half and out went Stefan, completely lost playing on Left, and in came left sided midfielder Santos. Almost immediately the side showed balance and looked like a more settled side. Oviedo improved more and more as game moved on with Caudal retreating further into their shell. The second goal eventually came after incredible pressure, a cross from Villanueva headed in by the tireless Cervero. Pacheta came on as sub and should have scored with his first touch within seconds. At this point Caudal seemed to wise up, at 2-0 and realised that they might actually need to score to get anything from the game. Left back Osky decided to run diagnally across field taking on whole Oviedo side before being dispossed by Lasarte in the right wing position. A beautifull dribble and run but he lost the ball 50 yards from where he should have been, Lasarte just pumped the ball down across feild to Villanueva who had acres of space to run into, after a melee in the box and a Santos cross shot that bypassed both Pacheta and Cervero, Villanueva was able to stab home to make it 3-0, match over. End to end stuff followed with Caudal throwing on attacking substitutes but by this stage they were dead and buried. with minutes to go Pacheta got the goal he deserved. A very good performance that confirmed the Champions spot with 4 games to play, the earliest time in the history of this Tercera group. Again bizarre selection desicions but a great result despite them.