With Tejera and Javi Muñoz both missing, the most notable entrant in Juan Antonio Anquela’s starting eleven was the debutant, Jimmy. With no fans in some stands of the Carlos Tartiere and very few in the others until the 12th minute, the ‘Oviedistas’ pushed their side on in their absence. More than three thousand Déportivo fans were also present to cheer on Natxo González’s side.
Real Oviedo emerged strongly and professionally right from the first minute. After Yoel Bárcenas offered a couple of warning shots, the Panamanian eventually opened the scoring in the 10th minute. A fine left-wing cross by Saúl was flicked on by Joselu at the front post, and Bárcenas nudged it home from inside the six-yard box. The goal came just before the Real Oviedo fans began to take their places in the stands. The match continued in much the same way, and Folch failed to convert the best chance of the first half to make the score 2-0. A deep ball in to the back post was met by the Catalan on the stretch, but he could only turn the ball wide. Champagne tipped a Quique shot from the edge of the area out for a corner, and the score remained 1-0 at halftime.
Dépor’s best spell came at the start of the second half. A long ball from the left ended with a goal for Quique, who turned the ball in first-time, on the run. Following the equaliser, Real Oviedo started pushing forward again. They maintained their defensive solidity and fought for possession, as well as bringing on Ibra. Saúl had an effort from the edge of the box denied by Dani Giménez. Berjón was again the architect of the best chance for the winner, with his free-kick effort clawed out of the top corner in added time.
The Tartiere crowd celebrated the draw with the players for reasons which went way beyond the result, in front of one of their biggest home crowds of the season.
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