Espanyol pounce on Real Oviedo frailties to deliver new manager bump

Real Oviedo 0-2 Espanyol

Espanyol continued their fine form with a confident performance at the Nuevo Carlos Tartiere to move them back up to fifth spot for the time being. On the other hand, Real Oviedo did not get the new manager bounce they were hoping for under Luis Carrion, returning for his second spell at the club, after Veljko Paunovic was dismissed during the international break.

The game started with controversy, as the players did not play the opening 15 seconds of the match, in protest against La Liga’s handling of plans to host Villarreal-Barcelona in Miami – which were not broadcast by the TV operators. When play, and images, resumed, the game was played for the most part in Oviedo’s half. Initially even, Espanyol began to apply more and more pressure on the Oviedo goal as time went on.

Kike Garcia twice forced Aaron Escandell into excellent saves from crosses, and Roberto Fernandez was also denied before the half to keep things level. For their part, a sole effort from a tight angle by Ilyas Chaira troubled Marko Dmitrovic.

Oviedo’s reaction and Espanyol’s counter-punch

Image via Getty Images

The second half started with a far more proactive Oviedo, and within moments of the restart, substitute Alberto Reina nearly made a hero out of Carrion, striking the inside of the post. Chaira also had a dangerous run and shot over, as well as delivering a couple of dangerous crosses.

Yet after weathering the storm, the feeling was that Espanyol were comfortable with a more adventurous Oviedo, that they would get their chances. Those continued to come, with Escandell bailing out Oviedo twice more, but little he could do in the 70th minute when a cutback into the box was not cleared by the home side. Kike Garcia bundled the ball in on the goal-line to give Los Pericos the lead with 20 minutes to go.

Oviedo began to have more of the ball, but still struggled to keep up in terms of chances. Now with eight minutes on the clock, Omar El Hilali raced down the right side and whipped a ball across the face of goal. A stretching Fernandez could not reach it, but Pere Milla fired home the goal that settled the game at the far post.

Carlos Romero fluffed a good chance late on for Espanyol, and as Oviedo pushed for a goal, Josip Brekalo forced an excellent save from close range from Dmitrovic, which came courtesy of a lovely ball from fellow substitute Ovie Ejaria. Carrion saw only glimpses of a renewed verve that he hoped to inspire in his side though, while Espanyol continue to look confident and competent across the pitch.