Oviedo take on the visitors Eldense in the round 26 match of Spanish LaLiga2. The match will be played on Sunday, February 9th at Estadio Nuevo Carlos Tartiere (Oviedo).
Oviedo once held their own quite well in La Liga. However, the club faced a serious threat of bankruptcy until investor Carlos Slim stepped in to rescue them. The Mexican billionaire limited his involvement to promoting the team to Segunda División, where they remained a mid-table side for years. But last spring, almost by chance, they snatched 6th place at the last moment, earning a playoff spot. They narrowly lost the final to the more experienced Espanyol. It seems, though, that the taste for victory has lingered, and under Calleja's management, they’ve thrown themselves into the fight for the top spots this season. There have been some hiccups: they crashed out of the cup early, ended 2024 with a loss to Córdoba, and only managed a draw against Sporting Gijón after the break. However, they bounced back with tidy 1-0 wins over Cartagena and Castellón, closing the gap on the leaders. They also held strong against a tough Almería, finishing 1-1. Their recent consistency suggests Oviedo are serious contenders for promotion this season.
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Eldense are struggling with the "second season syndrome". Los Azulgranas are a modest side with little history in Spain’s top divisions. They have never played in La Liga, and their rare appearances in Segunda División ended back in 1964. In fact, as recently as the 2021/2022 season, they were competing in Spain's semi-professional fourth tier. But after finally earning promotion, they finished 2nd in the third division and climbed even higher to Segunda. As newcomers last season, they secured a safe 16th place with exactly 50 points. However, after the summer break, their performance dropped significantly. To avoid relegation, the struggling team brought in José Luis Oltra in January, and he marked his debut with an away win over Tenerife. Before that, the team had only managed 3 points from 8 matches and had been eliminated from the cup. Their woes continued with a heavy 0-3 defeat to Granada. Despite occasional flashes of improvement, Eldense’s form remains inconsistent, putting them firmly in the relegation battle.
In autumn 2023, meeting the newcomers for the first time, Los Carbayones secured a 3-1 away win. However, the next two encounters ended in draws. The stronger team is playing at home. Oviedo should secure a victory over the struggling visitors.
Prediction for the match: Oviedo to win.
