Matchday 40 in LaLiga SmartBank took Real Oviedo to Estadio de Vallecas to face Rayo Vallecano. Los Azules fell to a 4-1 defeat against the Madrid-based outfit.
In the build-up to the Málaga fixture Ziganda had explained that there would be rotation this week due to the hectic fixture schedule. Today's starting eleven was made up of Femenías; Johannesson, Carlos Hernández., Arribas, Lucas; Viti, Edgar, Jimmy, Obeng, Borja Valle and Blanco Leschuk. The players went into today's game with the aims of earning more points and attempting to climb further up the table.
The hosts emerged the stronger side for the first half, and quickly took the lead. An attack down the left wing was crossed into the box, and Comesaña converted at the back post. Despite the setback, Ziganda's team tightened up defensively and had a good spell, trying to hurt the team from Vallecas with long balls in behind the defence. One such passage of play saw Borja Valle flick the ball onto Blanco Leschuk, who fired the equaliser past Luca Zidane. At 1-1 the match was open and saw chances for both teams, before referee Galech Apezteguía became the key figure on the pitch. The official made two questionable decisions against Los Azules, both of which led to Rayo Vallecano goals. The first one saw a clear offside in the box in the build-up to the goal, as Rayo made the most of a defensive clearance to regain the lead. Then, in the final stages of the first half, the Basque referee gave the home team a penalty after consulting VAR. The hosts converted from the spot to take a 3-1 lead into the halftime interval.
After the break the match continued in much the same fashion as in the first forty-five minutes. Rayo Vallecano continued to dominate the ball, while Real Oviedo were well-organised in defence but failed to put together transitions in play to get out of their half. An unfortunate incident saw Lucas inadvertently turn the ball into his own net to make the score 4-1. Real Oviedo did not give up, but they couldn't find a way through the home defence.
The Asturians fell to defeat tonight at Vallecas. Real Oviedo will have another opportunity to pick up three points next weekend, when Mirandés visit the NMR Carlos Tartiere.
