The presidents of Real Oviedo and Sporting de Gijón met on Wednesday in a show of regional unity ahead of the Asturian derby. Martín Peláez and José Riestra came together at the Palacio de los Condes de Toreno during the presentation of the suicide prevention campaign "Sigue jugando, somos un equipo", an initiative backed by the regional government, the Asturian Football Federation, and both clubs.
The meeting was cordial and helped ease tensions before a key match. Peláez joked with his counterpart upon arriving at the event. "Ready for Sunday or what?" asked the Oviedo president. Riestra, who is facing his first derby as Sporting's president, replied with a smile: "It's a busy week". The interaction demonstrated a good understanding between the two institutions at a time of high sporting rivalry.
Commitment to Asturias
Beyond the jokes, Riestra took the opportunity to praise Oviedo's start to the league season and underline their shared work for Asturian football. The carbayón side enters the derby in 13th place in the Segunda División, with eight points from six games. Their last match was a 3-1 defeat to Sabadell. "We are convinced everyone will support us even from their homes," stated Riestra, expressing his satisfaction with the numerous ticket requests for El Tartiere. The rojiblanco president added that after the final whistle on Sunday, both clubs must continue collaborating for the good of the region.
Sporting Context
For Real Oviedo, the match against Sporting, who sit in ninth place, represents a key opportunity to end a poor run at home and reignite their campaign. Luis Carrión's team is looking to improve a record of two wins, one draw, and two defeats in their last five outings. Their next fixture after the derby is an away trip to face Racing de Ferrol. The squad faces the classic with several important absences, including Carlos Fernández, Ilyas Chaira, and Nacho Vidal, whose progress can be tracked on our injuries page. The match, scheduled for Sunday at El Tartiere, caps off an intense week marked by this institutional reunion.
The original report is at Sport.es
