Real Oviedo Returns to La Liga After 24-Year Absence
Real Oviedo has secured promotion back to Spain’s La Liga after a 24-year hiatus, defeating Mirandés 3-1 after extra time in the playoff final on Saturday, June 21.
The club had previously fallen to the second division in 2001, following 13 consecutive seasons in La Liga. Over the years, it competed in the second, third, and fourth divisions before reclaiming its spot in the top tier this season.
Under the guidance of Serbian coach Veljko Paunović—who played for the team during its relegation—Real Oviedo finished the regular season in third place with 75 points, equal with fourth-placed Mirandés, necessitating the playoff.
In the semifinals, veteran midfielder and former international Santi Cazorla, a World Cup champion with Spain in 2010, led Real Oviedo to victory against Almería with a 2-1 win at home and a 1-1 draw away.
In the final against Mirandés, Oviedo overturned a 1-0 first-leg loss and were down 1-0 at home before rallying to win the match 3-1 after extra time. Mirandés initially took the lead in the 16th minute through Argentine striker Joaquín Panichelli. However, Cazorla equalized from the penalty spot in the 39th minute, and Moroccan forward Ilias Sheir extended Oviedo’s lead early in the second half (52nd minute).
The match remained 2-1 at the end of regulation time, leading to two extra periods in which Francisco Portillo scored the decisive third goal for Real Oviedo in the 103rd minute.
With this victory, Real Oviedo joins Levante, the second division champions with 79 points, and Elche, the runner-up with 77 points, in La Liga next season.
