Real Oviedo manager Julián Calero has addressed the team's poor start to the season ahead of this Saturday's trip to face Albacete. The coach has selection doubts due to player fitness and is considering changes after taking just one point from the opening two matches without scoring a goal.
Calero stated he will wait until the final training session to confirm his starting lineup. Dani Calvo, Chris Ramos, Pedrola, and Aldasoro are the players being monitored most closely. "Some look very good and others are very tight," the Madrid-born coach explained, distinguishing between minor knocks and longer recovery processes. With the transfer window still open, Calero also emphasized he will only select players with "100% of their head focused" on the match, aware of the distractions rumors can cause.
This situation leaves the squad with limited room for maneuver. Real Oviedo's squad consists of 26 players, including key figures like captain Dani Calvo and Costa Rican international striker Manfred Ugalde. However, this early accumulation of physical issues presents a significant first hurdle for the season's objectives.
The most striking statistic of the league start is the lack of goals. The team has played 180 minutes without scoring, despite creating chances. "We are among the teams that have shot the most, and yet we have zero goals and one point," Calero admitted frankly. The manager took responsibility and avoided making excuses, saying his job is to "see what I can do to make this work."
The numbers back his claim. In the first two matchdays, Real Oviedo has registered a total of 22 shots on target, according to data on our stats page. This figure places them among the most offensive teams in the division, but efficiency has been missing. Converting these opportunities is the immediate challenge to climb the standings, where the team currently sits in 18th place.
This weekend's opponent, Albacete Balompié, also arrives without any points. Even so, Calero warned of their threat. "They have a very good team, a very competitive squad and players with experience even in the top flight," he cautioned. He therefore anticipates "a complicated and difficult match" at the Carlos Belmonte.
Recent history slightly favors the blues. In the last five meetings in the Segunda División, Real Oviedo has recorded two wins, two draws, and only one defeat. A positive result this Saturday could provide the necessary spark to shift the early momentum.
The coach called for calm and perspective within the dressing room. He rejected any sense of drama and used an example from another league to encourage his players. "Football is not for crying a lot," he stated, recalling Aston Villa's poor start last campaign and their subsequent recovery. His message was clear: they must "reset for the next one" and trust that the path is the right one.
The squad, described by Calero as "very even for level," needs to be "alive and ready" to handle rotations. Changes to the starting eleven are a real possibility, though any final decision depends on the medical reports this Friday. Real Oviedo will play their third match of the 2026/27 season at the Estadio Carlos Belmonte on Saturday, August 29th.
