Disciplinary Challenges Undermine Real Oviedo’s Season

The numbers speak for themselves, and Real Oviedo is burdened by a glaring statistic. The blue team holds the record for the most red cards in the entire Primera División, totaling as many as their goals scored this season, which stands at eight. This alarming statistic sheds light on their inability to gain momentum this season and contrasts sharply with another surprising fact: they are the third-lowest team in the league for yellow cards.

Overall, the team has received 32 yellow cards, a figure surpassed only by Barcelona (25) and Elche (30), placing them in a tie with Real Madrid, Celta, and Espanyol. In stark contrast, Sevilla leads the league with 58 cautions, even though they have only played one match with a reduced squad. Real Oviedo, however, has paid a steep price for each individual error.

Prominently featured in this narrative is Fede Viñas. The Uruguayan forward has been the most frequently expelled player in the league, accumulating three red cards over 18 matches—a record that is hard to match and makes him an unwitting figure in this negative classification. His 14 fouls committed have resulted in unfortunate expulsions, further complicating the team’s prospects.

The discrepancy becomes even more pronounced when the scope is broadened. Oviedo ranks only eighth in terms of total fouls committed (220), far behind teams like Real Sociedad, which has committed 276 fouls yet remains the only team in Primera that has not faced any expulsions. Meanwhile, the blue team sits at the top of the red card table, ahead of Real Madrid (6), Girona (5), and Athletic (4).

The trend was evident from the very first matchday. In the opening game, Alberto Reina received two yellow cards within just 27 minutes, during a match already marred by a missed penalty from Salomón Rondón. This served as the first serious warning of a recurring pattern.

The next instance occurred at the Coliseum against Getafe, where Fede Viñas was shown a direct red card after a VAR-reviewed tussle shortly after entering the game. Viñas had been substituted in and lasted a mere 22 minutes on the field.

In Week 7, Oviedo celebrated one of their finest nights at Mestalla, staging a comeback against Valencia with goals from Ilic and Rondón. Yet, even in victory, they faced adversity as Ilic received a second yellow card in stoppage time, forcing the team to endure the final moments with ten players.

It wasn’t until Matchday 13 that another expulsion occurred, yet it proved to be crucial. In their match against Rayo Vallecano, Chaira received a direct red card just after the start of the second half, leaving Oviedo vulnerable to an opponent eager to secure three points at the Tartiere.

The clash against Mallorca brought the situation to a head, with two late-game expulsions—those of Cazorla and Viñas—leading to a disappointing outcome and crucial absences for the upcoming visit to Sánchez-Pizjuán. There, they suffered their most arduous defeat of the season (4-0), witnessed the departure of Luis Carrión, and another red card was issued to David Carmo, who continues to tread a fine line with disciplinary issues.

The latest expulsion, as of now, occurred at Mendizorroza, with Viñas again in the spotlight. Two consecutive actions led to two yellow cards, resulting in twenty final minutes of play in a disadvantaged position, effectively eliminating any chance for victory and jeopardizing even the point they managed to secure.

This recurring pattern imposes unrelenting penalties and leads to a clear conclusion: Real Oviedo is self-sabotaging. Addressing these issues will be crucial if they wish to ensure that their performance on the field outweighs disciplinary statistics in the second half of the season.