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Copa del Rey | Round Four
Dec 4, 2014 at 7pm UK
 
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Live Commentary: Real Oviedo 0-0 Real Sociedad - as it happened

Sports Mole provides live commentary of Real Sociedad's goalless draw with Real Oviedo in the Copa del Rey.
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Real Oviedo have held Real Sociedad to a goalless draw in their first leg last-32 clash of the Copa del Rey at the Estadio Carlos Tartiere.

The clash sparked to life after the restart following a dismal first half showing from both teams, with Alfred Finnbogason and Josep Sene going close for their respective clubs.

Despite the best efforts of both teams, neither side found the breakthrough and Oviedo - who play in the third tier of Spanish football - will chase a crucial away goal in San Sebastian for the second leg.

Below, Sports Mole brought you live commentary of the clash.


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Hola! Me Llamo Shane y I'll be guiding you through Real Sociedad's last-32 Copa del Rey clash away at Real Oviedo esta noche. I am of course a graduate of the David Moyes language school, where I casually alternate between Spanish and English depending on which words I know.

According to the Scot, Sociedad's B players have been training with him "dos, treis, quatro times a week". This is actually pertinent because Moyes will field some of those fringe players against the Segunda B outfit tonight, with the likes of Carlos Vela - who struck a hat-trick against Elche on Friday - Sergio Canales, Esteban Granero, Imanol Agirretxe and Xabi Prieto all left behind in San Sebastian.

It's a risky move by Moyes in these early stages of his tenure because this Oviedo mob are no mugs. They're top of their respective division, with a pretty stellar home record it must be said. But you can understand Moyes's motives. With Sociedad in the relegation zone when he took over, his mandate would've been simple: survival. We can't really fault him, then, for keeping his big-name players in reserve for their league outings, can we? Of course not.

He has helped them up to 14th in La Liga after Friday's 3-0 win over Elche. We tend to forget what he achieved at Everton because of his Manchester United spell but he is actually a very decent football manager so it would not be at all surprising to see Sociedad climb up the table as he grows more comfortable in the country - and gets a firmer grasp on the lingo!

Anyways, let's look at who Senor Moyeseh has selected for this one shall we? Why not. I'll have team news very soon.

OVIEDO XI: Esteban, Johannesson, Vila, David Fdez, Oscar, Borja Valle, Jon Erice, Omgba, Eneko, Señé, Cervero

SOCIEDAD XI: Rulli; Elustondo, Finnbogason, Pardo, Ansotegi, Zurutuza, Castro, Yuri, Zaldua, Gaztanaga, Hervias

OVIEDO SUBS: Magunazelaia, Nacho López. 14. Generelo. 15. Sergio García. 16. David González

SOCIEDAD SUBS: Zubikarai, Estrada, Callens, Iker Hernández, Oyarzun. Descarte: Aritz Elustondo.

We'll start with our top-flight visitors this evening. Geronimo Rulli starts between the sticks for La Real, with Ion Ansotegi, Jon Gaztanaga, Yuri Berchiche and Joseba Zaldua lining up in defence. Further forward we've got Ruben Pardo, Chory Castro, David Zurutuza - who has two La Liga goals this season - and Gorka Elustondo in midfield, behind Alfred Finnbogason and Pablo Hervias up top.

Incidentally, there's only TWO survivors from Sociedad's 3-0 win over Elche, with Ansotegi and Elustondo both retaining their selection, which probably isn't good for their self-esteem. It's a big night for Finnbogason up top, with the Finnish striker yet to score for the club since his summer move. Might he break that duck tonight? Well let's wait and see.

Let's have a quick look at Oviedo and looks like 39-year-old Esteban starts between the sticks for Sergio Egea's side. Diego Cereveo, who has four goals this season, leads the line. Their most prolific inclusion in midfield tonight is three-goal Emmanuel Omgba. And it looks like Moyeseh isn't the only one protecting his big players for this because Miguel Linares, Oviedo's top scorer this season with 18 goals, is nowhere to be seen, as are quite a few of their top boys. Hmm, chances of an upset just plummeted.

PREDICTION: Right, let's whet the appetite ahead of kickoff and attempt to predict the outcome here. I was going to be quite brazen and predict a giant-killing, but that was before I realised that Oviedo were also resting quite a few of their big players for this one. Now I think Sociedad will win. Let's go 3-1 to the visitors.

Right, kickoff in Oviedo is moments away now. Will third division Oviedo upset their top-flight counterparts? We'll have to wait and see. Let's go.

KICKOFF: Aaaaaaaaaaaand we are off. Sociedad, playing in their red kit, get us underway.

Two minutes in and it's been quite a tentative start as you might expect. I'll say this though - Oviedo may be big underdogs to win this, but they do have a numerical advantage of sorts because their fans are a 12th man so far. Plenty of singing and general noise from the home fans thus far.

SHOT! We've had our first shot, and it's the hosts. Jon Erice finds himself with plenty of space in the middle of midfield, and he drives a fairly tame shot at goal which Gulli comfortably saves. Promising though.

BOOKING: Ruben Pardo picks up a strange yellow card early on for Sociedad. I think it was for dissent after the midfielder questioned what was a poor decision to award Oviedo a free kick in the first place.

David Moyes is remonstrating with the fourth official over Pardo's booking now. I'd love to hear that conversation.

Nine minutes in and Oviedo very much the better team. Early doors of course, but it's been promising opening 10 minutes or so. Midfielder Emmanuel Omgba is putting plenty of pressure on Sociedad's centre-halves when they're in possession.

Good defensive work from striker Diego Cervero, who chases back and Hervias and fouls him, resulting in a free kick just outside the box.

That free kick came to nothing but it's been a good spell from Sociedad, who fashion a few corners now. Ruben Pardo swung in a fine ball but Elustondo's glancing header flew over the bar.

Better from Oviedo in recent minutes, producing one or two clever passes and back-heels to provide the flair for this clash so far. It's a massive stadium this, too, considering the hosts play in the third tier of Spanish football.

Hasn't been a great game so far in truth. Only 17 minutes in but neither goalkeeper really forced into action as of yet. Oviedo's stopper, Esteban, is 39 so it's worth having a few shots on him. That's a bit of ageist actually.

SHOT! Sociedad finally fashion their first shot, but it's a shocker as Gaztanaga runs on to a dropping ball from outside the box and looks to volley it beyond Esteban, but it goes well wide. Like David Moyes's Spanish, though, they're getting better.

CHANCE! First real chance of the game and Elustondo does brilliantly to snuff it out. Sene gallops past Yuri a bit too easily, but Elustondo is across really well to pressure him just when he's about to pull the trigger. Good defending.

Both these sides met back in this competition back in 2003, by the way. It was a 2-1 Sociedad win that day but the current crop of La Real players will do well to score twice tonight. They've done very little in the final third, with Finnbogason particularly poor thus far.

Zaldua does really well there. Borja Valle had just cut inside Elustondo and looked like he was going to fire at goal, but the left-back got back well to snuff out the chance.

What a fantastic run this is by Hervias, who evades around five challenges before being taken down by Jonathan Vila in the box. It was a penalty, but it wasn't given. Stick-on.

It's all gone a bit sloppy. There's been quite a few hospital passes in the last few minutes. We know from team selection that neither manager is too fussed about this match, but hopefully this indifference doesn't spread to the players.

Emmanuel Omgba has been the star of the show so far. The Cameroonian has been superb in Oviedo's midfield, breaking up attacks and showing great enthusiasm in a match that neither manager patently wanted. He's been a class act thus far.

Sorry but the referee is doing this spectacle absolutely no favours. It's so stop-start, resembling an NFL game almost because the ref is far too quick to blow up for minor incidents.

Oviedo fans have been great, though. They've been quite boisterous throughout and they can inspire their team to an upset here. Very little inspiration among the players so far it has to be said.

BOOKING: Diego Cervero is booked for a foul on Chory Castro, which takes some doing because the Uruguayan has been virtually invisible so far.

Three minutes left until the break and I'd be hugely surprised if there's a breakthrough before the half-time whistle. It hasn't been a classic. Let's leave it at that.

SAVE! Just as I type that, we see our best chance of the game, and it's left-back Yuri, who goes around Johanneson before firing a shot at goal, but Esteban is down well at his near post to palm away.

HALF TIME: OVIEDO 0-0 SOCIEDAD

Even the referee has seen enough and blows up for half time after about 16 seconds of added time. Sociedad had a corner so they might be a bit angry, but we can't fault the ref.

Without pulling punches, it's been a fairly dreadful first half from both teams, my friends. Sociedad went close late on when Esteban punched away Yuri's near-post effort, but other than that the only entertainment came from David Moyes trying to communicate with the fourth official.

STATS! Surprisingly, Sociedad boast 70% of the possession, but they've done absolutely nothing win it. One yellow card apiece too, with Pardo and Cervero both going into the book - one for dissent, the other for a rash challenge.

Sociedad actually should've had a penalty, too. Pablo Hervias, easily their best player in this half, went on a surging ran before being clipped by Vila in the box, but the ref was having none of it. It wasn't quite Mike Jones-type refereeing, but it was still pretty poor it has to be said.

Right, put the kettle on and meet me back here in about four minutes for what will hopefully prove a better second half.

SUBSTITUTION: Moyes shuffles his pack and replaces centre-back Elustondo with Alexander Callens. Unfortunately it's a like for like change.

RESTART: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're back underway in Oviedo. The hosts kick us off and here's to hoping it's a lively 45 minutes.

CLOSE! What a way this would've been to open the scoring, as Zurutuza gallops forward from left-back and fires a fierce shot at goal, but it whistles just wide. Esteban acted like he had it covered but he was never reaching it. Ever. Fine shot.

SHOT! It's opening up a bit more now thankfully, and Omgba looks to fire Oviedo ahead but his left-footed half volley is dragged a bit wide.

BOOKING! It's 2-1 to Oviedo in the yellow card stakes as Borja Valle goes into the book. Right decision I think.

It's worth pointing out that away goals do count in this competition, so you wonder if Sociedad will get a bit more adventurous as the game goes on. If they are serious about this cup, and Moyes says they are, then they can't be happy to take a 0-0 draw back to San Sebastian.

Oviedo probably the better team in this half, but they're yet to really do much. They made EIGHT changes to their lineup, including the omission of 18-goal Linares so it's a big ask for them.

CHANCE! Oh dear. We've waited 56 minutes for a proper chance and it goes begging! Finnbogason, who has been so anonymous so far up front, swings a left foot at Zaldua's low cross but his shot goes just wide. Still, he should've definitely scored.

SAVE! Sociedad really turning the screw now, and it's a fine save from Esteban, who palms away Castro's fierce volley from inside the box. They need to score one of these chances.

SUBSTITUTION: Oviedo roll the dice now and Cervero makes way for David Gonzalez, who looks lively immediately and has an effort at goal, but it's blocked.

CHANCE! Oh no Oviedo should've scored! It's Sene, who attempts an acrobatic effort just four yards out but his effort flies into row-z. Easily the hosts' best chance of the game, and one they might yet regret.

PENALTY APPEAL: This game has been well and truly cranked up a notch as Omgba goes over in the box from a Callens challenge. Every Oviedo fan inside the ground is on their feet urging the referee to point to the spot, but it never happens and the home supporters are furious - so is Omgba himself!

SUBSTITUTION: Sociedad make their second change now as Alain Oyarzun replaces Zurutuza in that number 10 role.

Going back to that penalty claim and that's two decisions that the referee has gotten majorly wrong after Sociedad were denied a spot-kick in the first half. Poor ref is having a mare tonight unfortunately.

The sting has been taken out of this one since the penalty appeals. Neither side doing a whole lot with the ball at present, but we've still got the guts of 20 minutes remaining in this first leg.

CHANCE! Oviedo the stronger team in these past few minutes and defender David Fernandez heads narrowly over the bar from a corner. Fair play to both sides for picking up the pace in this second half.

CHANCE! It's only Finnbogason again, with the Icelandic striker missing another fine chance. Hervias clipped a wonderful little ball over to him, but he completely misses the gilt-edged header and takes a tumble in the box, which saw him booked! He scored 29 goals in Netherlands for Hereenveen last season. Make of that what you will.

SUBSTITUTION: Oviedo make their second sub now as Borja Valle goes off to plenty of applause after his shift, with Sergio Garcia coming on.

SHOT! Another long-range effort from left-back Yuri, but this one wasn't quite as close as his previous attempts and it's a good bit wide.

BOOKING: Oscar Ruiz is booked for Oviedo now after literally hugging Hervias to stop him galloping away. Cynical, but the visitors have a decent free kick here...

And it's a wonderful ball in from Castro, but I think it's Finnbogason, who connects with the header this time but it bizarrely goes toward the corner flag. Maybe he's trying to impress Oviedo's Sergio Garcia by finding the pin?

Hervias has been far and away Sociedad's stand-out performer tonight. The tricky winger wins a really good free kick on the edge of the box. This is a chance. Let's see what it produces...

Shocking effort, as Gaztanaga's free kick cannons off the wall and goes out for a throw-in.

Squeeky bum time for Oviedo as the hosts find themselves having to defend a few goalmouth scrambles, but they do so admirably. I feared for them just then, I thought Sociedad would nick it.

THREE MINUTES ADDED ON:

Looks like we're heading for a goalless draw, but we've still got three minutes left. Let's go!

CHANCE! It's Finnbogason yet AGAIN, and he sends a really poor header over the bar. That could've been that. Shocking effort.

FULL TIME: REAL OVIEDO 0-0 REAL SOCIEDAD

That's that! What a very decent first-leg result for the hosts, who successfully held top-flight Real Sociedad to a goalless draw. There was chances at both ends, but in the end a draw was definitely a fair result. Shocking first half, but the second 45 more than made up for it. Good game.

Anyways, thank you very much for joining our live commentary. Hopefully you enjoyed it and we'll see you next time. Cheers!

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Carlos Vela Garrido of Real Sociedad celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the La Liga match between Real Socided and Elche FC at Estadio Anoeta on November 28, 2014
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