Cazorla, Costas, Thiago, and Vidal before the match against Getafe.
The vision many had back in June was one where Real Oviedo, with survival secured or nearly so, eagerly prepared for their upcoming visit to the Santiago Bernabéu. June—ah, those days when fans proudly boasted about their team in La Liga, finally! They imagined this was no ordinary return, but a 90s revival with echoes of European nights and waving scarves. Nothing could be further from reality. It is the exact opposite.
This is the story of a failure now complete, confirmed by Girona’s draw in Vallecas. In truth, it was a mere formality. No one lost their temper over that match or smashed their TV in frustration. The outcome was expected. A relegation that happened in the shadows, far away—at least it did not occur at the Tartiere. A poor consolation, at best.
The dream narrative after the high of beating Mirandés—what a celebration that was—should have depicted a powerful Oviedo under the guidance of the motivator Paunovic by May. A recognizable team, an energized and joyful stands (only the first part materialized), quality players including a proven scorer (let’s call him Jovic) and a midfield leader (Maksimovic, for instance), with Pachuca avoiding the word Europe but secretly aiming to inch closer year by year, with caution, toward the dream everyone shared.
The real story speaks of an Oviedo returning to Segunda, an abrupt end to the most awaited comeback. It was short—too short—and painful, no need to disguise it. Everything that happened from Paunovic’s hasty departure to Carrión’s arrival left a wound hard to close, an emotional short circuit with lingering effects.
The most painful consequence is not relegation—another stain in a club’s history that has seen more bitter years than champagne celebrations. That is part of football. What truly hurts is the feeling of never having enjoyed the journey.
Oviedo is now in Segunda, and while external factors like the baffling VAR officiating have played a role, they deserve it on merit. They had the worst squad in La Liga and struggled enormously to adapt. Paunovic said last summer, “Some people seem to still be on their honeymoon,” and that statement perfectly captures the reality check with top-flight football.
It was hard for all of us. June was an injection of hope, and nobody wanted to get off that boat. The owners are obviously the main culprits of one of the most disappointing years in the club’s recent history—a centenary in mourning—but self-criticism should apply to every level of this club, so prone to emotional swings. The project lacked everything in Primera, but above all, it lacked keeping its feet on the ground.
Now it is time to learn from the experience and make decisions—especially about this. Let them not be just intentions; let Oviedo truly move forward even if it steps back a division. On the day Oviedo was relegated in 2001 in Mallorca, someone left a message on the board: “We are and will be Primera.” May it not take 24 years to prove that again. May the sorrow be shorter.
