Point in the storm: Aaron gives Oviedo a draw in Castalia (0-0)

The storm hit Oviedo in Catalonia and Calleja did what he could. In fact, they were sitting on their haunches and waiting for it to subside, which rarely happened. Aaron was the umbrella that prevented the greater evil, and Alemao, whatever you say, had the clearest result of the whole game with an inexplicable failure. Add to this the corresponding doses through VAR, as well as the cancellation of a penalty in favor of Oviedo, which does not find logic in the vaunted protocol. From all this sum of emotions, Calleja’s team, again in a more practical than brilliant version, got a pleasant point that left it at the top of the table, with 4 points out of 6 in the fight at the moment in two exits that were crumbs.

There were many warnings about the initial proposal of this Dutch Castellon, but they all fall short when seen in practice. His main merit is that he has transformed the battlefield into a guerrilla war, which he usually goes to with more faith than his opponent.

He has a flexible system, suffocating pressure and a clear attacking purpose, which in turn makes him a boon to the neutral spectator and a thorn in the side of the opposition.

Oviedo had to deal with all this in the second match in a row at the start of the season. adding to what has already been described the energy of the crowd, which has not seen its own in professional football for a long time.: The last presence of the 2020/21 season coincided with Covid and sports with empty stands. A serious task lies ahead.

Oviedo did this without a clear survival guide, as it seemed that problems were being solved as they accumulated. Improvise solutions. Calleja’s side did not look particularly organised in their pressing, but they were able to find refuge in the kind of defensive play that, despite not being praised in recent years, gives the team many advantages.

Not everything can be explained by this solidity alone, but sometimes luck was on our side, even in such a strange first half as the game with Castellon. The locals were better, they had the ball and more arrivals, yes. But the most striking cases were the blue ones.

Alemao called for two penalties in the first 7 minutes (the penalties were awarded much less than the first touch) to announce that his duel with the central defenders was just one ring short. But he began to take Castellon seriously. Sibo dodged a dangerous cross, after which a corner miraculously emerged without a striker. Then Aaron parried De Miguel’s attempt. And before the 20th, the most obvious event for the locals was the meeting between Stentjens and Escandell, which eluded his long control and failed when he had no resistance. Raul Sanchez made a feint with his left foot before the scandalous play of the match. Of course, with the participation of VAR.

Starring Gonzalez Esteban. the referee who will be remembered for signalling a foul in the box against Moyano outside the box in the last derby and for ignoring VAR when Paulino contacted him in the same match“We had a personality judge,” Carrion said then, with subtle criticism. A personality he kept next to his card pocket this time when the video referee called him for review.

The referee saw a tackle – a light one, but a tackle nonetheless – by Alberto on Alemao on a ball that had fallen from the sky with no apparent danger. González Esteban awarded a penalty but VAR called for him to reconsider the decision. And after a few repetitions, whispering advice and this time swallowing his pride, he overturned the initial sanction. Someday they will explain to us why in a fight where there is contact, the referee sees it from two meters away, there is a need for video judging. Or maybe they will never do it.

The thing is, this game hurt Oviedo, but it got them even more involved in the game. Equalizing forces on the field and looking for ways to counter. The most striking one – in a long time, not just in the game – happened in the 43rd minute, a couple of breaths before the break. Hasan, who had been missing until that moment, was able to return to the area. And he did it brilliantly to wrap up the paper for Alemão, who was licking his lips. But in a performance that is hard to explain, the Brazilian stepped on the ball almost over the line, and the ball went off the goal and straight into the video compilation of the bluffs of the season.

With this storm of sensations (Satisfaction at having resisted the pressure of the locals, anger at VAR and pity at not having scored) Oviedo retired to the dressing room. Of course, aware that the success in Castalia required some improvement.

And the prospects were somewhat better, but it seemed that the locals were more exhausted than because Oviedo had read the situation well. Moreover, the team promised in the pre-season was never seen with a ball.. He was again supported by the performances behind him. This time the leading role went to Aaron.

The goalkeeper plays under the heavy shadow of Leo Roman’s successor. but it seems that this did not hinder him at such a start of the championship. Because if in Riazor he was one of the outstanding, then in Castalia he was simply the best.

He achieved this through two decisive magical interventions. Those that give points that can be remembered back in June. The first, in the 63rd minute, with a firm foot in a one-on-one challenge from Douglas. A reward for experience. The second, even more spectacular. Cala, trouble from the moment he came on, came out from the second line to finish a back-line cross as best he could – with his knee. Aaron touched just enough under the crossbar to deny him success.

Oviedo clung to their goal and some central defenders who have gone further, in addition to the undoubted work of the entire team, to stay on their feet, but the truth is that Calleja’s team did not even manage to simulate an attack. The coach tried to calm the situation with changes: Cazorla became a beacon and, in the end (Borja Sanchez was forgotten again), with three central defenders after the appearance of Costas. This was enough against Castellon, who continued to persist, great credit to them, but whose strength was already running out. The Blues withstood the last attacks and then, yes, in a stormy night they managed to see the clearing that announced the end of the game and a more than juicy reward, a point in a scenario in which everyone who wants to add You must be prepared to suffer.

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