This evening, Real Oviedo are set to face a tough challenge against Castellón at the Carlos Tartiere stadium, due to the notable absence of several key players. Indeed, Hassan, Cazorla, Seoane, Lemos and Viñas will be absent, while Sibo, midfielder, will serve a suspension following a accumulation of yellow cards. Additionally, Alberto del Moral, another defensive midfielder, is currently on loan at Córdoba, leaving Javi Calleja, the team’s coach, facing selection dilemmas.
In this difficult context, last winter’s recruits bring a welcome boost to the club. Among these additions, César de la Hoz, the former Valladolid player, stands out as a key asset. He is expected to start against Castellón, scheduled for 4:15 p.m. (local time) on LaLiga TV. With Sibo unavailable and Del Moral out of the game, de la Hoz is the only natural candidate to fill the midfield ‘sentinel’ role.
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There had been speculation that Calleja could consider moving Colombatto into a more defensive role while integrating Cardero into the team. However, Calleja has consistently preferred to play Colombatto in a more attacking role, leaving de la Hoz as the only option for the defensive pivot position.
-It’s important to note that de la Hoz has only had just over a week of training with his new team, but he has already made his debut in a blue shirt in Oviedo’s solid win over Cartagena on the score 1-0, without even having practiced at El Requexón. “Colombatto will definitely play. We want a midfield that creates opportunities while maintaining balance. We need players who can contribute both in attack and defense,” Calleja said during a recent press conference at the club training center. He also added, “De la Hoz has shown an excellent understanding of the game and has integrated well in training; he is now one of us,” highlighting the potential of the new midfielder as he prepares to compensate for the impact of the team’s absences.
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Additionally, another start could be looming for new signing Nacho Vidal, who is set to move into the right-back position. Despite his recent arrival, the squad already has solutions in this sector, and Calleja could call on the versatile Luengo to replace him while Vidal acclimatizes to his new environment.
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