The third test of this so atypical preseason has as a stage the Carlos Tartiere this same noon. He Athletic returns to Oviedo, where he has settled traditional matches in the League against a rival who used to fight him decades ago. But these are past times and the carbayón group is involved in other battles. The last one, the permanence, of which a man with red and white roots was the champion. Kuko ziganda He is in charge of an Asturian team whose shirt barely reached its neck when the Navarrese took over its direction.
He saved him, with difficulties, but he did it in a few months and now he is going to start his second season with the Oviedo team, which also includes an old acquaintance of the Athletic fans as is Bingen Arostegi, who acts as his second and who collaborated in these pages.
Despite the fact that it is a lower category squad, the Asturians will be a rival to consider. Ziganda's pupils have added two draws in friendlies against Celta at Balaídos (2-2) and Mirandés at home (0-0). To date it has strengthened con four young footballers, on loan from top-level clubs: Rafa Mújica (Leeds), Cédric (Atlético), Edgar (Betis) and Gabriel Brazao (Inter).
The team of Garitano, who traveled yesterday afternoon and slept in the Asturian capital, is outlining ideas, movements, situations … with the addition that he is mired in a process of adaptation to circumstances that are very adverse due to health and injury issues . Today's will be a good touchstone to see if the so-called ‘meritorious’ continue to show the treasures they hold, because among other things their services can be decisive for the start of the league competition next week.
Must squeeze
Known is that Iñigo Martinez, that today will not play like Yuri and Nolaskoain, and a good part of the positives from Covid-19 will arrive very fair for the match against Granada and in some cases they may not even enter the call. Iñigo Vicente and the Zarraga-Vencedor couple may be one of the great focuses of attention of the day, in which there will be no Black pudding nor the hard core of what can be understood as the type team that handles Garitano. They are reserved for tomorrow's game against Eibar at the Lezama facilities.
By Youtube
The Oviedo meeting, which can be followed live through the channel of Youtube With narration in both Basque and Spanish, it seems that it will acquire a bit more rigor than the previous match against Alavés in Lezama, given that Derio's coach has called up 18 troops 'only'. In addition, the big league date is approaching and you have to spin very fine.
It is the moment that little by little Garitano recover troops, as stated in the press conference after the clash with the Alava team. It is not enough to leave only details but to show more continuity in the effort, although the succession of training days, some doubles, makes the company difficult.
Maybe the meeting of Oviedo has more importance than it seems, especially for some who are with one foot in the first team and the other is not sure where. You have to take advantage of every situation.