Calvo Sotelo Puertollano visited the bottom-placed team in the group needing three points to move away from the relegation zone. The match was a tense and even affair, where the home side fought back with intensity. The victory came from the penalty spot in a controversial play that sparked debate on the last-placed team's field.
Tactical analysis: low block and transitions of Calvo Sotelo ⚽
The visiting team opted for a medium block that dropped back into their own half, looking to break out in quick transitions down the wings. However, a lack of precision in the final third and the high pressure from the bottom-placed side prevented them from creating clear chances. The home defense, well-organized, forced Calvo Sotelo to resort to direct play, which didn't work until a run by their winger led to the decisive penalty.
VAR didn't arrive, but the controversy did 🟨
If the match had been played in the First Division, VAR would have had work to do reviewing the penalty. Here, in Tercera RFEF, the referee pointed to the spot without hesitation, while the home players protested as if their lives depended on it. Calvo Sotelo breathed a sigh of relief, but the fans already know that if the bottom-placed team can put them under pressure, the season promises to be full of excitement.