The final fixture of a strange 2020 took Real Oviedo to El Toralín, where Los Azules came up against SD Ponferradina. The match ended in a 1-0 victory for the home side.
Following the Copa del Rey match in Coria, where Los Carbayones secured the victory and passage into the next round of the knockout competition, Cuco Ziganda made changes to his starting eleven, opting for Femenías; Juanjo Nieto, Arribas, Bolaño, Lucas; Sangalli, Javi Mier, Jimmy, Borja Sánchez; Nahuel and Blanco Leschuk.
The first half saw Real Oviedo unable to play their usual game as result of a well-positioned Ponferradina side closing off the spaces and not allowing Ziganda's team to move the ball around or break down their lines. Nahuel had the best chance for the team from the capital of Asturias in the tenth minute, but he was denied by Caro in the home goal. The hosts made the most of a corner kick to open the scoring through a Yuri strike. After the Ponferradina goal, Los Azules got ahold of the ball and looked for
combinations on the wings, but the crosses into the box couldn't find the attackers. The teams went in for halftime with the score 1-0.
After the break Real Oviedo looked for a reaction, but found themselves up against a Ponferradina that was very well-organised defensively and which used counter attacks to counteract the threat of Ziganda's side. As had been the case in the first half, Real Oviedo controlled the possession and looked for Blanco Leschuk and Nahuel to link up, but they were unable to convert their opportunities. Ziganda used all of his substitutions to freshen up the team, but the home side neutralised the visitors' play effectively. Joan Femenías saved a penalty from Yuri. Mossa and Edgar were the first to come on as substitutes, before later being joined by Rafa Mujica, and then Viti and Riki in the final minutes, as the team went looking for an equaliser.
Real Oviedo were unable to find a victory to bring 2020 to a happy conclusion. Los Carbayones will now have several rest days, before beginning to prepare for the first match of 2021, which will see them face RCD Mallorca on 3rd January at the NMR Carlos Tartiere.
