The ball has started rolling again for Real Oviedo. Under the sweltering heat of a Saturday in July in Madrid, Los Carbayones played their first friendly match of preseason at the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas, facing Getafe CF, one of the teams they will come up against in LALIGA EA Sports this season.
Veljko Paunovic's team thus began a new phase, putting themselves to the test for the first time after two weeks of physical and tactical training at El Requexón. The squad left Asturias this morning and, after lunch and a short rest at a nearby hotel, took to the pitch in Madrid with the following starting eleven: Aarón Escandell; Nacho Vidal, David Costas, Dani Calvo, Rahim; Sibo, Alberto Reina, Luka Ilic; Hassan, Ilyas Chaira and Fede Viñas.
At the beginning of the match, the team from the capital of Asturias struggled to settle in on the pitch against Getafe, who pressed far up the field and sought to disorganise the Asturians from the outset. After a few minutes passed, Real Oviedo regained order and precision until they eventually found their moment. The reward came shortly before half-time with a well-crafted piece of play: Hassan burst down the right side, crossed the ball into the box and Viñas set up Luka Ilic to finish with precision, putting Real Oviedo ahead.
In the second half, the coaching staff made tactical changes and almost completely revamped the starting eleven, with Cazorla and Borja Sánchez providing balance and control. The team adapted well to the new formation, despite Getafe's equaliser coming from an isolated set-piece, which Borja Mayoral took advantage of to beat Moldovan with a well-placed header. During the final stretch, Real Oviedo withstood their opponents' late attacks and, despite a clear chance in the last minutes, the score remained unchanged.
Following this first friendly match, Paunovic's team will resume training on Monday at 17:00 at El Requexón, kicking off the third week of preparation.
The next event will be on Thursday 31st July, with a three-team tournament against Villarreal CF and Genoa CFC. This special event will serve as a tribute to the 75th anniversary of the death of Carlos Tartiere and the legacy of Santi Cazorla. Beyond football, the tournament will combine sports, music and Oviedo spirit in a festival that promises to be unforgettable for all who attend.
But that won't be the only stop on the Carbayónes calendar: on Saturday 3rd August, the team will play another friendly against Cultural Leonesa at Marqués de la Vega de Anzo stadium in Grao, starting at 19:00.