FC Barcelona B v Real Oviedo: Draw secures another point (1-1)

Barça B faced Oviedo at the Miniestadi with the ambition of continuing to scale the table. Both sides have started the season well. The match on Sunday was a good opportunity to continue gaining confidence in Division 2A. The game was a tale of two halves which ended in a stalemate (1-1).

The visiting team started the game pressing high up the pitch and they went close through Aarón Ñíguez and Saul Berjón. However, Oviedo were pushed back from then on by Barça B. A yellow card for Héctor Verdés in the eighteenth minute following a foul on the excellent José Arnáiz signalled the start of the blaugranas' assault on Oviedo’s goal. In the 20th minute, Aleñá had a great chance to score the opener but he shot wide from the edge of the box.

FC Barcelona continued to pose a threat and they were being led by a prominent Aleñá and a midfield who had found the right balance between attack and defence. The opening goal came as Choco Lozano tackled Carlos Hernández, the ball came loose and José Arnáiz took possession. He dribbled down the left wing with real skill and verve, cut inside and scored a screamer past Juan Carlos in the 39th minute. The half-time score line was a fair reflection of Barça’s performance in the opening forty-five minutes.

Little to choose between the two

The second half was different to the first with Oviedo putting in a much better performance. In the opening minutes, they pressed intensely high up the pitch and made life uncomfortable for the blaugranas with lots of high balls. This tactic lead to the equaliser as Carlos Hernández provided the finish from a well-struck corner kick in the 55th minute. There was nothing Ortolà could have done.

Once the scores were level, both teams went looking for a winner. They swept from goal to goal in a frantic period in which Choco Lozano and Jose Arnáiz went close for Barça B. The blaugranas couldn’t find a way through. Oviedo’s big chance came in the 83rd minute as they recovered possession and raced through on goal but Owusu was unable to finish.

In the end, the draw at the Miniestadi was a fair result and it serves to keep the blaugranas out of danger in Division 2A. Next week, Gerard López’s side face Numancia.