Real Oviedo had to win this match to keep their hopes of competing for the playoffs alive going into the final three matches of the regular season.
They did so on an afternoon which saw them make just one change to the starting eleven seen in Málaga, with Viti coming in on the right wing in place of Bárcenas. ‘Los Azules’ emerged more strongly for the match, but the first half was evenly contested, with few chances for either side. CD Numancia came into the game hoping for a victory to move them closer to survival, and grew into the game as the minutes ticked by through heir domination of aerial play. Ibra hit the side-netting in the early stages, before Viti put in a low cross which was cleared for corner. Christian Fernández also played in a first-time cross which nobody applied a finishing touch to. The best effort of the first half was from Tejera, whose strike from a free kick was kept out by Juan Carlos down low.
A goal from Carlos Hernández right at the start of the second half, meeting a misplaced clearance from Villalba at the back post, provided a huge boost for Real Oviedo. The Asturians began to push forward more and improved their play. Egea brought on Yoel Bárcenas, and ‘Los Azules’ had chances to seal the victory on the counter attack, but they could not convert them. Two Saúl efforts from the edge of the box were off target, before Mossa met a cross to the back post on the run, but was denied by Juan Carlos. Several set-piece chances also went unrewarded.
Real Oviedo secured the victory at the Carlos Tartiere. They will now begin to prepare for the next fixture, away at CD Tenerife, with the aim of picking up another three points and continuing to fight for the 69-point tally which is likely to be sufficient for a playoff place.
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