Real Oviedo claimed their first win of the season on Friday with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Málaga at the Carlos Tartiere Stadium. The carbayones came from behind in the dying minutes of a LaLiga SmartBank match that lifts them out of the direct relegation spots, now sitting 18th with one point.
Santiago Colombatto opened the scoring for the home side in the 74th minute, finishing a move initiated by Dani Calvo's assist. However, Málaga, who dominated possession with 60%, managed to equalize soon after. In the 85th minute, Dioni, full name Dionisio Emanuel Villalba Rojano, converted a cross from Kevin Medina to beat Aaron Escandell. The match seemed headed for a draw, but in the 93rd minute of play, an unfortunate clearance from Málaga defender Manu Molina ended up in his own net, handing all three points to Real Oviedo. The referee for the match was Marta Huerta de Aza.
How did the match unfold?
Veljko Paunovic, Real Oviedo's manager, set his team up in a 4-4-2 formation, relying on the experience of Santi Cazorla and the attacking presence of Federico Vinas. Meanwhile, Málaga's manager Sergio Pellicer Garcia also opted for the same tactical scheme. The start was intense, with a yellow card for Oviedo's Oier Luengo in the 12th minute. Despite having less of the ball, Paunovic's men were more dangerous, registering 14 total shots and 5 on target, compared to Málaga's 9 and 3. The visiting goalkeeper, Alfonso Herrero, made 4 saves.
Substitutions were key to the match's outcome. Paunovic made changes in the 69th minute, bringing off Cazorla and Vinas for Paulino De la Fuente and Alemão. Minutes later, the introduction of Jaime Seoane for Ilyas Chaira preceded Colombatto's goal. Málaga responded with their substitutes, and it was one of them, Kevin Medina, who assisted Dioni for the temporary equalizer. The winning goal came in the most fortuitous way, with Manu Molina's deflection in the final moments.
What do the match statistics say?
The stats paint a picture of a match with two different approaches. Málaga controlled the game, with 60% possession and 8 corners to Oviedo's 4. Nevertheless, the home team was more effective and incisive in attack. Oviedo committed 8 fouls, compared to 6 from the Andalusian side. Oviedo goalkeeper Aaron Escandell was called into action twice to keep his clean sheet intact.
| Team | Possession | Shots | Shots on Goal | Corners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Oviedo | 40% | 14 | 5 | 4 |
| Málaga | 60% | 9 | 3 | 8 |
This table shows Málaga's territorial dominance, but also Real Oviedo's greater capacity to create clear chances, a decisive factor in the result.
What is Real Oviedo's league situation?
This win comes at an important time. Before this match, Real Oviedo were 18th in the Segunda División with just one point, from a draw and a loss in their first two games. Their goal difference was -1, with zero goals scored and one conceded. They now have three points, which moves them away from the direct relegation places, though they still trail leaders Las Palmas by five points. You can check the full evolution on our standings page.
Paunovic's team showed character to come back in a match that was slipping away and displayed improvements in the offensive department. The next challenge is immediate: an away trip to face Albacete, who are bottom of the table, on Saturday, August 29th. A win there could completely turn around their early campaign. To follow all the lineup changes and squad movements, fans can visit our squad section.
