Johnny Ondina, a nutritionist working with top-level footballers and the son of former Real Oviedo player José Manuel Gómez Ondina, has shared his personal and professional take on the Asturian derby. The expert, who came through Sporting's youth academy, now views the classic with more neutrality but understands the intensity of the match that will see both teams face off this weekend at the Carlos Tartiere.

Ondina was born in Oviedo in 1982 and his connection to Asturian football runs deep. His father wore the blue shirt and he himself was trained at Mareo, Sporting's youth setup, where he played up to the reserve team in the third tier. After retiring at 28, he studied Nutrition and began advising players like Javi Fuego and David Villa. His career took him to become a nutritionist for Valencia CF, winning a Copa del Rey, and later for Olympique de Marseille. He now runs his own consultancy in Valencia with clients including Álvaro Fidalgo, Santiago Jiménez and Hugo Guillamón.

A family view of the classic

The rivalry has a special nuance in his family. "There was more needle with my father a few years ago, now I live the derby from a more neutral point of view," Ondina explained. His two older daughters live in Oviedo and each supports a different team: Lucía is a Sporting fan and Daniella supports Oviedo. His young son Thiago, raised in Valencia, will likely support Valencia. This family divide reflects the passion the match stirs in Asturias.

For Ondina, seeing Oviedo and Sporting in the second division is frustrating. He believes Asturian football has the potential for more and that both clubs should regularly be fighting for promotion playoff spots. Real Oviedo approach this duel after a 3-1 defeat to Sabadell, a result that leaves them 13th in the table with 8 points. Their next fixture is precisely at home to Sporting Gijón, who sit 9th, in a key matchday to get back on track. The blues have a record of 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats so far this season, and their recent form, with just one win in their last five matches, highlights the need for a positive result in the derby.

Nutritional advice for derby tension

As a specialist, Ondina highlights that the state of excitement is the main drawback for players in these matches. "The only inconvenience of these games for the footballer is the state of excitement, you have to avoid stimulants so as not to cause uncontrolled tension," he warned. He recommends resting well and consuming two types of carbohydrates the night before.

For match-day breakfast, he suggests avoiding high-fat and high-fibre foods like eggs or avocado. Instead, he proposes toast with oil, tomato, fresh cheese and fruit with yoghurt. The pre-match meal should include three types of carbohydrates with different release rates, like rice, pasta or quinoa, paired with lean protein such as fish or chicken. For an afternoon snack, easily absorbable carbohydrates like toast with jam or a banana.

Hydration is another fundamental pillar. Ondina emphasises that dehydration of 2% of body weight can reduce physical performance by up to 20%. After the match, he advocates for the consumption of high-carb and high-protein foods, like pizza or a burger, for recovery, always prioritising ingredient quality. The expert, who also authored the book 'Salud en élite', anticipates a possible 1-1 draw at the Tartiere.

The derby arrives at a time of inconsistency for Oviedo, who are looking to consolidate themselves in the mid-table of the standings. With the team in need of points, physical and mental preparation, including the diet Ondina recommends, could make a difference. The match is scheduled for Sunday, September 27th, capping a week of high anticipation in Asturias. Fans can check all the details of the squad and upcoming fixtures in our squad and fixtures sections.

The original report is at Sport.es