The first match of 2021 saw Real Oviedo welcome RCD Mallorca to the NMR Carlos Tartiere this Sunday, and the two teams ended up sharing the points.
Cuco Ziganda went into the fixture against one of the strongest sides in the division with a starting eleven made up of Femenías; Juanjo Nieto, Bolaño, Arribas, Mossa; Viti, Javi Mier, Jimmy, Nahuel; Rodri and Blanco Leschuk. The fixture was marked by the high tempo and the difficult weather conditions.
The encounter was a true 'game of two halves', with Mallorca dominating the early part of the clash. The visitors emerged the stronger and made the most of their initial surge to strike first. Lago Junior capitalised on a defensive mistake to open the scoring, before Sastre fired home a great goal from outside the box. Following those two goals, in around the 30th minute, the match changed completely, as Real Oviedo looked to react. The
Asturians managed to take control of the ball and start to threaten Reina in the visitors' goal. Blanco Leschuk was the first to go close, before Rodri hit the post from another chance, as Los Azules began to make their intentions clear. Just before the break, Javi Mier cut the deficit from a pre-planned set-piece routine. Los Carbayones maintained their improved momentum right up until half-time.
After the interval, Real Oviedo maintained the performance they had produced during the final stages of the first 45 minutes, showing themselves to be very well-organised and creating chances of their own. Ziganda's side found themselves up against a Mallorca team which tightened up their lines, but Real Oviedo still had the better opportunities. Arribas headed home the equalising goal from a corner kick. The team from the capital of the Principality of Asturias enjoyed some good moments of play, and showed their desire to go for the win right up until the final whistle.
Ziganda's team began the new year with a point today, and demonstrated that giving up is not an option for this side. Los Azules will return to training tomorrow, as they prepare for Wednesday's cup clash against Málaga at La Rosaleda.
