Real Oviedo travelled for the final match of 2023 today with the aim of picking up another victory and moving closer to the playoff positions. Prior to the encounter, Villarreal paid tribute to Santi Cazorla, as the midfielder returned to one of the most important clubs of his career.

 

Los Azules came up against Villarreal B today in Matchday 21 in LaLiga Hypermotion, and Head Coach Luis Carrión opted for a starting eleven made up of Leo Román, Abel Bretones, Oier Luengo, Dani Calvo, Viti, Jimmy, Colombatto, Seoane, Sebas Moyano, Masca and Borja Bastón.

 

The hosts emerged the stronger of the two sides, and took the lead in just the 9th minute. Álex Forés got the better of Leo Román from a one-on-one inside the first 10 minutes, and the B team were on top. However, as the minutes ticked by Real Oviedo began to find their feet. Masca had the side's first chance in the 23rd minute, heading just over the bar. The Asturians were relentless in their search for an equaliser, and just before the interval Seoane would have the best chance of the first half. The midfielder picked up a poor clearance from the home team and tried to turn the ball into an empty net, but his effort went over the crossbar. The final opportunity of the opening 45 minutes saw Masca just fail to make sufficient contact on a fine Bastón cross. The two teams went in for half-time with the score still 1-0.

 

Masca had another chance to level the scoring after the interval, but he was unable to find the target from Bretones' left-wing cross. Villarreal B had two good chances to extend the lead, but Leo Román made fine interventions to deny them and keep his side in the encounter. Carrión opted to turn to his bench, first bringing on Sesé and Alemão in place of Viti and Jimmy. Álex Cardero and Pomares also came on as the Coach looked to turn the scoreline around, and it would be the youth-team graduate who was eventually able to do so. Young midfielder Cardero fired home a fantastic strike from the edge of the area to rescue a point at La Cerámica, just when everything had seemed lost. The final passage of play of the match would bring bad news, however, with Dani Calvo receiving his second yellow card, in a blow for Luis Carrión going into the return of LaLiga Hypermotion action in 2024.

 

This draw sees Los Azules close the first half of the season on 30 points and in 10th position. The team now has time to rest and regain strength, before resuming league action against SD Amorebieta on 13th January.