There is an irrefutable commandment in Álvaro Cervera’s creed. Avoid set pieces against. The technician is allergic to them. He argues the thesis of the coach in statistics, which says that there are many more strategy goals than in open play. “If there is a foul, the opponent adds more players to the shot. And that doesn’t interest me”, the blue coach has grown tired of repeating in recent years. In Mendizorroza a clear example was seen. Oviedo gave away an avoidable foul; the Alavés, a silly hand. Oviedo put a hand out of place at the last breath. The three actions defined a clash that leaves those from Cervera to zero. With good feelings, but it is of little consolation when the team sails so far from its objective.
Oviedo should stay with positive conclusions despite everything. Sure in a remarkable second half, in which he matched the match and even commanded after 1-1. Clear symptom of improvement, not so much in football as in the self-esteem of the troops.
Little can be asked of Cervera about his previous approaches with a squad that comes out bruised every week. Sometimes, like this, two. The coach drew a 4-4-2 in order for the team to concentrate on the inside to try to damage the counterattack.
All passed to overcome the first drink, which was supposed to be bitter on a stage, Mendizorroza, who squeezes like few others in the category. Even the chants seem in tune. At 24 seconds, Taichi shot wide, but it was more of a warning than a serious attempt. Storm was coming.
Tarín showed his claws at 4 in a header near the post and Bastón tried another header that grazed the top corner after a good service from Aceves, but Alavés continued to do their thing. After a quarter of an hour, Oviedo sinned. Aceves made a free kick that seemed unnecessary on one side and gave Alavés a unique opportunity to add people to the attack.
Rioja centered with exquisite care, Guridi arrived before anyone else, but Nadal put his hand firmly. The rejection was attended by players from one and the other, but Abqar had more faith than anyone else. He was the one who made it 1-0.
There was curiosity, or rather fear, to see how Oviedo de Cervera would behave when they had to row with a goal against. Because, until now, the coach had touted the benefits of a rather conservative approach, of waiting for the rival near the blue area, where the block is more compact, and trying to explore the spaces at a gallop. But, of course, that plan A does not seem the most appropriate when you are down on the scoreboard.
The truth is that the blues, yesterday, managed to stretch. Only a little. The team took a light, timid step forward to, at least, live further away from Tomeu, but it was not clear if it was due to their own conviction or invitation from his rival. Alavés has a knife on the left, Rioja, lethal with spaces ahead. Few explain what he does in Second.
Faced with the new scenario, Oviedo began to play a somewhat more active role, trying to improve production. The problem is that the game shorted out as it got closer to the middle line. That lack of link that already weighed on the stage of Bolo reaLa last appeared yesterday in Vitoria. Luismi, in charge of the quartermaster, does not seem to be asked for that creative role. He has never had it. It is even more strange that Montoro has not yet been adjusted to the role of point guard in the game, consuming a quarter of the championship.
There was a third option, that of Rama, exiled to the left. But the Galician is on his way to becoming a footballer without his own position. He has midfield conditions, pivot details or some winger conditions, but he doesn’t meet all the requirements for a specific position on the field.
The thing is that those two small steps forward allowed Oviedo to get a little closer to Sivera’s area, even scratching some corners. But the danger still had the local stamp. Costas and Nadal collided in their attempt to subtract one against and Tarín rushed to avoid disaster when Taichi licked his lips for the goal.
Bastón tried to exaggerate an indecision in the Álava area just before the break but his back attempt ran out of steam. Going into the break gave Oviedo an opportunity to regain strength and, above all, refresh ideas.
Oviedo came out with the clearest ideas in the second act, without complexes for trying to elaborate. The question remained, once again, of whether Alavés was contributing to drawing that scenario. In addition, those of Luis García kept the use of the stopped ball. He was soon able to knock out Oviedo in another clear disobedience to the boss: Tarin was this time the one who made an unnecessary foul. Rioja crossed, Aqbad finished off the goal. The assistant’s pennant prevented another rash for Cervera.
The passing of the minutes began to show a more bossy Oviedo. He even seemed comfortable on the ball, an unusual feeling this season. The team didn’t just arrive, but it got closer to the place where things happen. Where the matches are cooked. The equalizer came in another set piece action. how not A hand near the area was the invitation to the Carbayona party. The ball was rejected, Flores got rid of it with a header and Bastón defined as in his best moments: control and volley.
The goal was wonderful for Oviedo, who remained in order, having it, although the changes and the local momentum began to tilt the argument towards Nadal. Bastón finished off another lateral free kick and Alavés played it with the same weapon, strategy. In one of those centers came the mess. One of those hands so fashionable in the VAR era. Salva Sevilla signed the blue sentence, with a shot to the middle. A cruel sentence in an afternoon in which Oviedo showed personality and was able to get something else.
