Match 35: Sunday 27th April Hispano 0-1 Real Oviedo Real Oviedo 4-2-3-1 GK Aulestia RB Jose Luis CB Carmona (Mario Prieto 75m) CB Bravo LB Centrón (Pacheta 59m) DM Jaime DM Falo RM Matías AM Armando Quesada LM Santos (Curro 75m) CF Diego Cervero Aulestia Jose Luis….Carmona….Bravo….Centrón Falo…....Jaime Matias….Armando…..Santos Diego Cervero Goal: 23m Armando Quesada Least said the better, rubbish. Follow up best result of season with an awfull performance against one of the worst sides in the division. Carrasco again tinkered about dropping top performers last week Lasarte, Curro, Mario Preito and Sergio Villanueva aswell as Stefan, bringing in Falo, Centron, Matias (???) Armando and Santos. Is he going to play weakend sides for rest of season? Hard fought win in a match that had only one result.
Match 36: Sunday 4th May 2008 Real Oviedo 6-0 Tuilla Real Oviedo 4-4-2 GK Aulestia RB José Luis CB Lucas CB Bravo LB Lasarte RM Villanueva CM Mario Prieto (Santos 62m) CM Curro LM Jaime (Falo 77m) CF Pacheta CF Cervero (Armando 80m). Aulestia Jose Luis….Lucas….Bravo….Lasarte Mario Preito…....Curro….. Sergio Villanueva………………………..Jaime… ...........Pacheta Diego Cervero......... Goals: 5m Cervero 22m Cervero 32m Jaime 36m Pacheta 58m Pacheta 56m Curro Team selection: Back to picking best team, with Pacheta starting. Main selection issue again who to play on left, Jaime getting nod ahead of both Centron and Santos. Fit again Lucas Iglesias replaced Carmona in centre. So playing a side firmly cemented in top 4 most of the season, and we go in at half-time 4-0 up. A phenomenal performance with quality throughout the side shining blindingly. Bravo in defence is absolutely excellent then in midfield Curro and Mario Preito absolute class. Upfront Cervero and Pacheta annilated what was one of the best defences in the division. This is pretty much the team that should walk the play-offs, with players coming back from injury there is a real strength in depth too. Carrasco has to abandon his little experiments at Hispano last week and give players chance to play with each other and cement partnerships and the team itself. A wonderfull result and performance that gives great great hope that the forthcoming play-offs are not to be feared (too much!). Same again next week (suspensions/injuries willing) and we should hit the play-offs on a massive high.
Tercera Division (Group II) Table: DWWWW 1 . Real Oviedo 36 27 .4 .5 84 23 85 WLWLW 2 . Universidad 36 19 10 .7 68 39 67 WWWWW 3 . Sporting B.. 36 20 .6 10 66 41 66 DWWWW 4 . Langreo…… 36 20 .6 10 55 34 66 --------Play-Offs------- .......... WDWDW 5 . Cudillero….. 36 17 14 .5 47 31 65 WDLWW 6 . Caudal…….. 36 18 10 .8 65 42 64 WWDDL 7 . Tuilla………. 36 17 12 .7 59 42 63 WLDWL 8 . Lealtad……. 36 17 10 .9 44 33 61 Remaining Fixtures: Match 37.............Match 38...........85. Real Oviedo…. (a) Tapia (17th)………(h) Cudillero (5th) 67. Universidad... (a) Tuilla (7th)…...……..(h) Tapia (17th) 66. Sporting B….…(a) Caudal (6th)………(h) Hispano (19th) 66. Langreo……..…(a) Llanes (10th)………(h) Condal (18th) 65. Cudillero..……(h) Colloto (20th)… …(a) R Oviedo (1st) 64. Caudal….……..(h) Sporting B (3rd)… …(a) Aviles(11th) 63. Tuilla………...…(h) Univ (2nd)……. (a) Ribadesella (9th) 61. Lealtad………... (a) Condal (18th)…… (h) Ceares (12th) The reality is that when you play the bottom 5 or 6 you win so that means that the teams currently in 2nd 3rd and 4th all should win their last match so that should rule out Lealtad reaching the Play-offs. Big matches next week; Caudal v Sporting B Tuilla v Universidad You could end up with the following situation with one match to play: Real Oviedo.. 88 points Cudillero ......68 Caudal ........67 Universidad ..67 ----Play-offs--- Sporting B... 66 Tuilla ..........66 Langreo ......66 Here's hoping Caudal stuff Sporting B this weekend!!!!!!!
Next match (away) Real Tapia (17th position) Suspended: Diego Cervero, Mario Prieto, Sergio Villanueva, Curro Injured: Juan Luis, Stefan. so a good chunk of first team unavailable, especially attackingwise. You'd guess Pacheta will lead the attack supported by Armando Quesada. Matias since christmas was supposed to be joining to Vetusta (Oviedo B) but likely to make the match squad again, he even started against Hispano. Diego Meijide is likely to return to the centre of Defence, he's carefully been rehabilitated and not rushed back with the play-offs in mind, a decent run out would be good against not too taxing opponents. Possible team: Aulestia Lucas Iglesias.....Diego Meijide.....Bravo.......Iker Lasarte Falo.....Jaime Bruno/Matias?.....Armando Quesada.....Santos..... Pacheta Obviously Carrasco likes to make bizarre desicions so perhaps Pacheta on right wing or maybe Jose Luis in central midfield. A game that Oviedo cannot fail to win against a very very poor side.
Match 37: Sunday May 11th 2008 Real Tapia 2-0 Real Oviedo Real Oviedo: 4-3-3 GK Iván RB José Luis CB Lucas Iglesias CB Diego Meijide LB Lasarte CM Falo CM Jaime (Carmona, min. 70) CM Santos (Centrón, min. 46) RF Bruno CF Stefan LF Matías (Armando, min. 46) Iván José Luis...Lucas Iglesias...Diego Meijide...Lasarte Falo Jaime.....Santos Bruno........Stefan........Matías Worst result of season, no shot on target until 70th minute when already 0-2 down, pathetic. A makeshift side due partly to suspensions but Carrasco rested key players also and failed to field a decent enough team to even give a performance. A state of affairs that shames Spanish football, gifting a side battling relegation 3 points, wonder how Condal who take up that last relegation spot will feel about Carrascos team selection this morning. Carrasco when he's missing 4 first teamers through suspension decided to rest Bravo and Pacheta, and rather than bring in experianced players such as Jon Carrera or Armando Quesada, he decided to go with Matias (who Carrasco said in January would be joining the B side) and recall recently injured Bruno Stefan and Meijide. Whether poor fitness contributed to a lacklustre performance with no commitment or urgency is questionable. This Oviedo side have equalled the record points total (85 points, same as Caudal 2002-03 and Lealtad 1997-98) in this division and to go out on a wimper like this is unforgiveable. Tapia are an amateur side who'd lost 11 of their last 16 matches, in 17th place this was a side Oviedos' youth team should have beaten. Very very Poor, Carrasco really needs to sort things out because this result washes away the good feeling of the Caudal and Tuilla results. Sporting Gijon won to put themselves in good shape for promotion to premier league, while the only other side from Asturias in top 3 divisions Marino lost but should have just enough points to stay in Segunda B next season. Sporting B won away at Caudal 4-2 to secure a play-off spot and to end Caudals hope of reaching the Play-offs. Tuilla beat Universidad 1-0 so that both Langreo and Cudillero leap frog Uni into Play-offs. 1 Real Oviedo......85 points 2 Sporting B.......69 3 Langreo..........69 4 Cudillero.........68 ---Play-Offs--- 5 Universidad.....67 6 Tuilla.............66 7 Caudal...........64
Match 38: Sunday 18th May 2008 Real Oviedo 3-0 Cudillero Real Oviedo: (4-4-2) 4-2-3-1 GK Aulestia, RB Lucas Iglesias, CB Bravo, CB Meijide (José Luis 46m), LB Lasarte, RM Bruno (Matías 70m), CM Mario Prieto, CM Curro, LM Jaime, CF Pacheta (Armando 76m) CF Cervero. Aulestia Lucas…..Bravo…..Meijide…..Lasarte Mario Prieto…..Curro Bruno……..Pacheta.. …… Jaime Cervero Goals: 1-0 Jaime (19m) 2-0 Pacheta (61m) 3-0. Armando (90m) Team Selection: Back to first team with players back from suspension and others back from a rest. Aulestia returns in goal with a full strength defence in front of him. Mario Preito and Curro formed the central midfield partnership with Bruno and Jaime playing on flanks ahead of Villanueva and Centron. Pacheta and Cervero were given the rare chance to pair up, hopefully the strikeforce that will destroy their future play-off oponents. Jaime seems to be the golden boy at present, after a few months in the wilderness he seems to be one of the first names on the teamsheet, he has certainly grabbed his chance and is the player in form at present. So Oviedo lined up at home against a team who had to win to stay in the Play-offs, a very real prospect that this would be their toughest match of the season and very nearly was. Cudillero came to attack where other teams park the team bus across the goalmouth. An end to end first half saw Oviedo edge it 1-0 but only due to Aulestias heroics in goal. Second half was the same, an opponent who had to attack did so and just when they looked like getting an equalising goal got hit by an Oviedo 2nd. Still Aulestia was busy and another 2 decent saves kept Oviedos lead, right at the death super sub Armando got his 8th of the season to make it a very healthy looking 3-0 scoreline. Cudillero deserved more but they got nothing and missed out on the Play-offs with Oviedo finishing as Champions on 88 points – a record total for this Tercera group.
MATCH 38: RESULTS REAL OVIEDO 3 - 0 CUDILLERO SPORTING B 4 - 0 HISPANO LANGREO 1 - 1 CONDAL UNIVERSIDAD 4 - 2 REAL TAPIA RIBADESELLA 2 - 2 TUILLA REAL AVILES IND. 1 - 1 CAUDAL SIERO 5 - 1 CANDAS LEALTAD 1 - 1 UNION CEARES NAVARRO 2 - 2 LLANES COLLOTO 3 - 3 ASTUR
END OF SEASON TABLE 1 REAL OVIEDO 38 28 . 4 . 6 87 25 88 2 SPORTING "B" 38 22 . 6 10 74 43 72 3 LANGREO 38 21 . 7 10 59 37 70 4 UNIVERSIDAD 38 20 10 . 8 72 42 70 PLAY-OFFS 5 CUDILLERO 38 18 14 . 6 49 34 68 6 TUILLA 38 18 13 . 7 62 44 67 7 CAUDAL 38 18 11 . 9 68 47 65 8 LEALTAD 38 17 11 10 46 37 62 9 RIBADESELLA 38 16 11 11 54 43 59 10 LLANES 38 13 16 . 9 50 39 55 11 REAL AVILES IND. 38 14 12 12 49 46 54 12 UNION CEARES 38 14 . 8 16 53 55 50 13 NAVARRO 38 12 11 15 33 42 47 14 SIERO 38 10 12 16 59 67 42 15 ASTUR 38 10 . 6 22 43 79 36 16 CANDAS 38 10 . 6 22 45 71 36 17 CONDAL 38 . 8 10 20 38 58 34 RELEGATION 18 REAL TAPIA 38 . 8 . 9 21 40 70 33 19 HISPANO 38 . 5 . 5 28 31 89 20 20 COLLOTO 38 . 3 . 8 27 37 81 17
Play-offs: Real Oviedo (will play a 4th placed side) Sporting "B"(will play a 3rd placed side) Langreo........(will play a 2nd placed side) Universidad. (will play a 1st placed side) Play-offs: (Semi-Final) 1st v 4th, 2nd v 3rd, (2 leg match home and away) (Final) Semi-Final winners play in final (2 leg match home and away) Oviedos opponents will be one from these 17 (4th placed) teams. with journey times/distances. 1- Coruxo (Pontevedra) 5h41m 504.9 km 3. Escobedo (Cantabria) 2h16m 190.1 km 4. Zamudio (Vizcaya) 3h24m 291.0 km 5. Santboia (Barcelona) 8h40m 902.9 km 6. Catarroja (Valencia) 8h56m 845.1 km 7. Móstoles (Madrid) 4h52m 450.9 km 8. Arandina (Burgos) 3h50m 369.6 km 9. Vélez (Málaga) 11h00m 1.007.4 km 10. Villanueva (Córdoba) 9h30m 858.6 km 11. Santanyí (Mallorca) 12. Castillo (Las Palmas) 13. Caravaca (Murcia) 8h55m 843.9 km 14. Jerez de los Cab. (Badajoz) 8h21m 722.4 km 15. Tudelano (Navarra) 5h17m 533.0 km 16. Calahorra (La Rioja) 4h47m 484.8 km 17. Monzón (Huesca) 7h39m 743.9 km 18. Tomelloso (C.Real) 6h55m 628.4 km 2 chances to play outside mainland Spain, very likely away leg is going to be a good distance away. Calahora were highest point scorers of all the 4th placed team with 82 points, while Arandina finished 4th with 63 points (the lowest). Sporting Gijon "B" finished the season with 13 straight wins and look very good bets to win through Play-offs. Langreo sneaked in ahead of long time Play-off contenders Tuilla, Cudillero and Caudal and in 3rd with a bit of luck could get a good draw. Teams to avoid for Universidad would be Gimnastica (Pachetas' side 1st half of season) who finished with 100 points and Barca "B" among others. Oviedo cannot face a team who finished top so no chance of playing those sides but the other 3 play-off teams could.
Results 2nd Half of season: Match 23 ( Away ) 3-2 WON Sporting B Match 27 ( Away ) 1-0 WON Langreo Match 21 ( Away ) 2-3 LOST Universidad ----Play-off teams---- Match 38 ( Home ) 3-0 WON Cudillero Match 36 ( Home ) 6-0 WON Tuilla Match 34 ( Home ) 4-0 WON Caudal Match 26 ( Home ) 2-0 WON Lealtad Match 22 ( Home ) 1-1 DRAW Ribadesella Match 30 ( Home ) 2-0 WON Llanes ----Mid Table---- Match 24 ( Home ) 4-0 WON Real Aviles Match 32 ( Home ) 1-1 DRAW Ceares Match 28 ( Home ) 2-0 HOME Navarro Match 25 ( Away ) 0-2 LOST Siero Match 29 ( Away ) 1-0 WON Astur Match 33 ( Away ) 5-0 WON Candas Match 31 ( Away ) 2-1 WON Condal ----Relegated---- Match 35 ( Away ) 1-0 WON Hispano Match 37 ( Away ) 0-2 LOST Real Tapia Match 20 ( Home ) 3-0 WON Colloto 44 points from 1st half of season and 44 points from 2nd half. Notable difference, first half of season all Oviedos dropped points came against sides that were in top 8, all potential Play-off rivals. Second half of the season 2 defeats came against very poor sides and home draws against Ribadesella and Ceares 2 teams way out of Play-off picture. 10 of the 13 dropped points therefore came against teams outside top 8. 6 wins against the top 7 sides shows an ability to beat the best in the division, the last 3 home games in particular, Caudal 4-0, Tuilla 6-0 and Cudillero 3-0 show that any Play-off opponent will be quaking in their boots when they have to face Oviedo.
Next Opponent: (Play-Off Semi-Final) Caravaca (Murcia) 1st Leg (away) Sunday 25th May 2nd Leg (home) Sunday 1st June Caravaca Club de Fútbol Nice local tie 844km away, estimated 9 hours by car! They've never played above Tercera Division, this season is the 6th time they've reached the Play-offs, obviously never been successfull. League Performance:Tercera Group 13 4th place 38 matches 76 points 22 wins 10 draws 6 defeat goals for 93 against 38 (home) 19 42 12 6 1 52 16 (3rd) (away) 19 34 10 4 5 41 22 (4th) Top Goalscorers: 16 Parches 15 Josevi 13 Vilaseca 9 Petu 6 Atila Other Semi-Final: Antequera (Malaga) v Narón Balompé Piñeiros (Coruña)
Play-Offs (Promotion to 2ªB) These are the groups that concern teams from Asturias. Group 2 Castillo - Barcelona B Langreo - Barbastro Group 9 Caravaca - Real Oviedo Naron - Antequera Group 13 Universidad Oviedo - At. Baleares Galdar - Gernika Group 18 Zamudio - Izarra Noja - Real Sporting B --------- a little more on Oviedos' opponents Caravaca; Their ground holds 2000 spectators, dimensions of pitch 102x73. A reasonably large playing surface, not a "ratonera" as Carrasco calls poky hemed in pitches, perfect for expansive play and for Oviedos’ wingers. Both matches are on Asturian channel TPA so hopefully that means a live web feed on Real Oviedo TV. The 2nd Leg at Home is on Saturday 31st May.
Sunday was one of the worst days in the history of Real Oviedo. The worst manager in Oviedos history, yes he has even surpased the three inept muppets that were in the job last year, has now gone, Lobo Carrasco has been sacked! What could possibly have transpired to facilitate a manager being sacked 1 game into a Play-off campaign? These are the post match scenes of the Real Oviedo team coach:
Sunday 25th May: (away) Caravaca (Murcia) Play-Off Semi-Final 1st Leg Caravaca 4-1 Real Oviedo Real Oviedo: 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 GK Aulestia, RB Lucas Iglesias, CB Bravo, CB Diego Meijide (Carmona 68m), LB Lasarte (José Luis 68m), RM Bruno, CM Mario Prieto (Jaime 68m), CM Curro, LM Villanueva, CF Pacheta, CF Cervero. Aulestia Lucas.....Bravo.....Meijide.....Lasarte Mario Prieto.....Curro Bruno........Pacheta....Villanueva Cervero Goals: 1-0 Vilaseca (penalty) (35m) 2-0 Pelusa (58m) 3-0 Elías (69m) 4-0 Pelusa (70m) 4-1 Carmona (79m) Team selection: Full strength defence picks itself, with Aulestia between the posts. strong midfield, only question over Bruno playing on right and Jaime dropped to bench. Jaime the form player at close of season and probably the best option on left of midfield rather than switching Villanueva from right to left. Pacheta and Cervero upfront form a quality strikeforce. You just hope players returning from injury like Villanueva Bruno and Meijide are 100% fit. So what went wrong? First half the team were disjointed and clueless, and how they only went in at half-time only 0-1 down is a miracle down largely to Aulestia in goal. Meijide obviously not fit and the two full-backs provided no cover on flanks, the opposition did their homework and exploited all weaknesses. Curro and Mario Preito for all their neat passing and offensive play are not defensively minded and were over-run in the middle. So with two decent "pivotes" (holding midfielders) on the bench (Falo and Jaime) Carrasco just sat on his hands and watched as the team were ripped apart. There was a real need to change things way before half-time. The Caravaca strikers Elias and Parches were able to torment Oviedos defence at will, with Pelusa in the opponents Centre made to look like Zinadine Zidane in relation to the inept showing of Oviedos midfield. So what happened at half-time? did we get a rousing speech to motivate the team? did Lobo acknowledge that plan A was wrong and it was time to switch to plan B? no by all accounts clueless, Carrasco confirmed himself as a completely clueless clown he let things slide even further. Second half and things were just allowed to slide, and on 58 minutes the inevitable happened and the score became 0-2, time to change formation or personnel? no chance! Tactical genius Carrasco waited a full 10 minutes, on 68 minutes decided to bring on all 3 subs, all 3 defencive players, time to shut up shop and settle for a 0-2 defeat????? Off go the tired Meijide, the completely swamped Lasarte and an off colour Mario Preito and in come Carmona (a centre back) Jose Luis (a right back) and Jaime (defensive midfielder). So what does this tactical masterstroke achieve, to start with the whole defensive unit switches, Bravo moves from centre to left back, Lucas Iglesias from right back to centre, joined by the two newcomers. So with the defense altered completely what happens? Oviedo conceed 2 goals in 90 seconds to go from 0-2 to 0-4 down!!! Jackass Carrasco now had an opposition that has 20+90 minutes to hold out and conceed 3 goals or less over the couse of the remaining minutes of the tie, by complete luck rather than judgement a Curro free-kick was headed in by Carmona to give Oviedo a slight hope in the return leg next Saturday. A 3-0 win and Oviedo will get to the Play-off final! So how did Carrascos reign end? A press conference were he said he was dissapointed with first half performance but second half Oviedo were the better team and passed the ball around in the way he'd wanted. So a half that Oviedo lost 1-3 was the way Carrasco wanted his team to play, so absolutely no hope in the 2nd Leg then! what a moronic muppet! The team coach got hit by missiles as the previous pictures showed with a large travelling support showing their anger. Riot police had to be called out to protect the players as the coach left the stadium. Carrasco had to go and was sacked on Monday, hopefully new coach Fermín Álvarez (Carrascos number 2) can sort things out this week and get the players heads right. Real Oviedo can still do this if the believe it and give 100%, they have far better players than their opponents though sadly not a better team.
One thing Carravaca did was to shorten the length and width of their pitch to the minimum dimensions allowed, heming in the play and giving our wingers less space. Supposidly the goals were moved 3 metres infield and the lengthways touchline 1.5/2 metres in. See pictures: If you can get away with it, why not. Hopefully at the expansive Carlos Tartiere Oviedo can reproduce their home form of last 3 matches against Caudal, Tuilla and Cudillero, a 4-0 win, a 6-0 win and a 3-0 win.
New Manager: Fermín Álvarez Fermín Álvarez (13/03/1973) He has been at the club since 2004, starting as a youth team coach before becoming first team coach and Carrascos' number 2 this saeson. Before joing Oviedo he was manager of Nalón (2001-2004). As a player he feature in the Regional leagues for many Asturian sides most notably Zamora and Real Oviedo "B". Hopefully he learns from Carrascos mistakes and not to try to be too clever. The club has the players to win atleast 3-0 just put them in a system were the players are all confortable and playing in familiar positions. While the 1-4 result was terrible it can be reversed and the players last 3 home results against decent sides show that. Good Luck Fermin and hopefully this is the start of a long and successfull career as Real Oviedo manager.
Play-Offs: Results concerning teams from Asturias. Group 2 Castillo 0 - 0 Barcelona B Langreo 2 - 1 Barbastro Group 9 Naron 0 - 0 Caravaca 4 - 1 Real Oviedo Group 13 Universidad Oviedo 1 - 1 At. Baleares Galdar 2 - 2 Gernika Group 18 Zamudio 2 - 1 Izarra Noja 3 - 1 Real Sporting B Decent result for Langreo but Sporting B lost and Universidad drew at home so no one looks that safe in going threw to the Play-off final.
Good omen (hopefully) Last seasons Play-offs Caravaca won home leg 3-0 v San Isidro The away leg they lost 1-5, conceeding a 94th minute goal when they were set to go through on away goals. Will lightning strike again? hope to god (if there is one) that it it does.
Team news: Only injury worry is Iker Lasarte the left back who looks unlikely to be fit for this crucial match. No specialist full back in place to replace him, it could be centre back Bravo or midfielder Jaime if a flat back 4 is selected. Perhaps new man Fermin may bring in players from cold, namely forward Armando Quesada, experianced holding midfielder Falo, long serving midfielder Jon Carrera or left sided player Roberto Santos. Possibly a change of formation with a big win needed, 3 at back perhaps? play Lucas, Meijide and Bravo with wing backs/wingers Villanueva and Centron/Jaime. My team: Aulestia Lucas----Meijide----Bravo Villanueva----------Falo----------Centron-- Mario Preito----Curro-- Pacheta--------Cervero--
"Oviedo the hug of salvation" 7 years ago this week Oviedo beat Barcelona in the Nou Camp to go 4 points clear of relegation zone with 3 games to play. Oviedo got relegated after Real Sociedad won their last 3 fixtures. How times have changed.
So a weeks training has been and gone and the match that defines whether Oviedos season has been a success or failure is almost upon us. Fermin has said all the right things in public, asking for patience and for the crowd not to panic. the game won't be won in the first minute they'll be in excess of 95 minutes play ample time to score 3. He reckons if the score is 1-0 to us after 60 minutes Oviedo will be in the driving seat with full time professionals they should have superior fitness and should go on to win the match by the required 3 goal margin. Lasarte (left-back) is out so Fermin and assistant Tensi have been using Lucas Iglesias as a left back in training. Likely team therefore: Aulestia Jose Luis -- Bravo-- Diego Meijide--Lucas Curro--Mario Preito-- Villanueva--------------Jaime/Centron Pacheta---Cervero Main decision selection wise is who plays on left wing, keep right winger Villanueva on left wing or bring in Centron or Jaime. Centron over the course of the season is Oviedos best player in this position but he has just got back from injury. Jaime is a utility player who has player so well recently playing as a holding player but is equally adept on left, he was dropped for first leg. The wingers didn't produce anything against Caravaca in first match so i can't see how Bruno can keep his place (right wing) and Villanueva deserves to play in his customary position to get the best out of his ability. No place for goalscoring centre back Carmona or vastly experianced players Armando Quesada or Falo. Extremely hopefully that Oviedo will get the result otherwise my holiday in Spain next week will be have a big void the two Sundays i am there. REAL OVIEDO - CARAVACA Sunday 1st June 19:00 Live on TPA (Tele Asturias) at 7pm Spanish time. was hoping it would be on the Oviedo official site but doesn't look like that's the case - http://www.realoviedo.es/
Play-off Semi Final 2nd Leg (1st leg score: 1-4) Real Oviedo 4-2 Caravaca Real Oviedo GK Aulestia, RB José Luis, CB Meijide, CB Bravo, LB Lucas, RM Villanueva (Jaime 46m), CM Mario Prieto, CM Curro, LM Centrón (Matías 81m), CF Pacheta (Jon Carrera 69m) CF Cervero. Aulestia Jose Luis -- Bravo-- Diego Meijide--Lucas Curro--Mario Preito-- Villanueva--------------Centron Pacheta---Cervero Goals: 1-0, Cervero (13m); 2-0, Pacheta (28m); 3-0, Curro (57m); 3-1, Petu (80m); 3-2, Petu (85m); 4-2, Lucas (89m). So so close but Oviedo destined for another season in the Tercera Division, losing 6-5 on aggragate. Team news exactly as predicted, the sensible starting XI and the team that could very easily score 3 and keep a clean sheet into the bargain. In the First half on the face of it everything going to plan, entering the break 2-0 up. Oviedo had forced a good few chances without looking likely to conceed, problem was a poor referee who seemed to allow any challenge go unpunished. Caravacas' aim seemed to boot the Oviedo midfielders out of the game, give no time for our creative players to play the ball by kicking lumps out of them. One yellow card given in first half to Curro the main resipiant of the bully boy tactics. Second half again started brightly with chances coming and going, then Caravaca had their first real shot, a quick freekick on edge of the area was well saved by Aulestia. Oviedo then went up the other end and scored, 57 minutes 3-0, Oviedo are going up on the away goals rule. What could go wrong? Curro got a second yellow card for celebrating the goal and was sent off. To say it was a harsh decision would be very charitable, an absolutely pathetic reaction by the referee who turned a blind eye to some horific challenges but through petiness explelled a player on such a tecnicality. Oviedos response was to go into their shell and absorbe the Caravaca pressure, off came striker Pacheta and forgotten man Jon Carrera came on to bolster midfield. 80 minutes played and no real alarms the plan was working. Oh sh*t! they score Oviedo need to score now to take the game into extra time. 10 minutes to go time to throw everyone into attack! Oh B*gger! they score again Oviedo need to score 3. It was never going to happen, Lucas Iglesias got one in the 89th minute but it was too much to pull back at end. had Curro stayed on it would have been different, like 4 years ago Oviedo go out with a Referee centre stage in the preceedings. In reality the horror show at Caravaca should never have happened, Carrasco blew it. So another season playing amateur sides in regional football. Hopefully they'll find a manager who realises that the whole season is about preparing for these Play-off games, not getting good stats to look good on your CV. Oviedo were Champions by a record points total but they went into the Play-offs badly prepared and for that Carrasco becomes the major reason why this season has been a total failure. Atleast Lobo can go back to his plush job on TV summarising football matches, presumably still believing he's been a massive success and been badly treated. Good riddance! Volveremos!
Play-off results: (teams from Asturias) Sporting B (3) 2 – 0 (3) Noja At. Baleares (3) 2 – 1 (2) Universidad Barbastro (4) 3 - 0 (2) Langreo Barcelona B won through 6-0, their manager Pepe Guardiola recently took over the full Barca managers job with Rijkards sacking. Sporting B only one of the 4 Asturian sides to get through to the Play-Off finals, going through on away goals. To top it off Sporting Gijon won to go 2nd in Second division 2 points clear of Real Sociedad in 4th place with 2 games to play (top 3 go up to Premier division). There is a very real chance that Sporting Gijon could be back in Primera Liga next year, and Sporting B in Segunda B, with Oviedo stuck another season in Tercera! how humiliating will that be.