Real Oviedo’s return to La Liga has been short-lived, as the club faces immediate relegation back to the Segunda Division next season. A challenging first half of the season, marked by two managerial changes, left Oviedo in a precarious position.
A 1-1 draw between Rayo Vallecano and Girona, sealed by a late equalizer from Cristhian Stuani, mathematically confirmed Oviedo’s relegation. Currently with 29 points and trailing Girona by 10 points with three games left, Oviedo is the first team to be relegated. They are seven points adrift of Levante in 19th place and eight points behind Alaves in 18th.
Oviedo’s remaining fixtures include an away match against Real Madrid, a final home game at the Nuevo Carlos Tartiere against Alaves, and the season finale against RCD Mallorca at Son Moix.
Challenges Before Guillermo Almada’s Arrival
Since Guillermo Almada took charge in December, Oviedo has shown more fight, though securing wins has remained a struggle. Almada has been credited with 19 of the team’s 29 points over his 19 games. Prior to his arrival, Real Oviedo had accumulated only 10 points from their first 16 matches under Veljko Paunovic and Lluis Carrion, their initial two managers.
The controversial dismissal of Paunovic, who had guided Oviedo back to La Liga after a 24-year absence, was followed by a period of poor form under Carrion.
Santi Cazorla Reflects on Lessons Learned
Despite the initial excitement of their promotion, veteran midfielder Santi Cazorla acknowledged the difficulty of their season in Oviedo. Speaking at an event where he hinted at potentially playing his final games, Cazorla emphasized the need for the club to learn from their experiences.
“We have many lessons to learn from this season,” Cazorla stated. “Regarding club decisions, management, and the importance of everyone pulling together and maintaining our love for this club. It’s fundamental that this club remains united, at every level. This year, at times, we lost that unity, and we can’t let it happen again.”