Real Oviedo makes dramatic return to La Liga after 24 years
Santi Cazorla and Real Oviedo have indeed done it: On Saturday evening, the 40-year-old fulfilled one of his final career dreams with promotion to La Liga. The return match against Mirandes was hard to beat in terms of drama.
Who else? Santi Cazorla laid the foundation for Oviedo's comeback with his penalty. IMAGO/ZUMA Press Wire
Levante and Elche had already been confirmed as La Liga newcomers , but the second leg of the final in Oviedo on Saturday evening would determine the third newcomer. In front of almost 30,000 spectators, the atmosphere at the Tartiere was thrilling long before kickoff. The entire stadium was covered in blue – including Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso, who was rooting for his hometown club. A grand choreography rounded off the impressive scene.
And the great hope was also back: Santi Cazorla, who had missed the first leg due to minor complaints, was in the starting eleven with the captain's armband and was expected to have an influence on the game again despite his 40 years .
In an intense opening phase, Oviedo dominated the game, enjoying almost 73 percent possession at one point. However, just as in the first leg (1-0), it was the opponent who scored: Mirandes's simple break down the left was enough for Benito to cross and find striker Panichelli, who headed in against Aaron's run (16'). Panichelli, of course – he had already scored 20 times in 40 regular-season appearances. Only Almeria's Luis Suarez scored more often (27).
But the belief in Oviedo remained unbroken. Even more so when Santi Cazorla coolly converted a penalty for the handball brought the celebrated equalizer (39th minute). Seven minutes after the restart, the roof of the Tartiere almost blew off when Chaira actually scored the opening goal for the home side (52nd minute).
Joker Portillo redeems an entire regionThe game was heading for extra time, but there were still two huge chances: Panichelli was denied by keeper Aaron from close range (80th minute), while on the other side, Oviedo substitute Alemao fired the ball just over the bar (84th minute).
So extra time was needed to decide the game. Alemao missed with a low shot after 101 minutes, before Portillo, also a substitute, saved Oviedo's day two minutes later with a shot on the turn (103'). Santi Cazorla, already substituted in the 72nd minute, sprinted onto the pitch with the entire bench to celebrate.
| stadium | New Carlos Tartiere |
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Because Oviedo also survived the second half of extra time, their return to La Liga after 24 years of absence was complete. It was the crowning achievement of Santi Cazorla's remarkable career, as he recently announced: "For me, being promoted with Oviedo would be tantamount to winning my first European Championship." And Santi Cazorla even won two European Championships with Spain – in 2008 and 2012.
