The Huesca side improved as the game went on in a match with few clear chances. After the break, Agustín Juárez had two of the best opportunities of the game, first in a one-on-one against Astralaga and later with a goal that was ruled out for an earlier foul on an Atlético defender. The Argentine striker had another chance in the final minutes, but he was unable to beat the reserve side’s goalkeeper.
With this draw, the Huesca side takes a point from the visit of the rojiblanco reserve team to El Alcoraz and moves to five points after four rounds. The response compared with the previous game was clear, particularly in terms of competitiveness and defensive performance, but Huesca once again dropped points in a match in which it had enough chances to claim a greater reward.
THE MATCH
Following the painful and worrying defeat to Villarreal B, Raúl Jardiel made a partial overhaul of his starting lineup, making as many as five changes and setting up in a 4-4-2 formation. Among the new faces, Kembo came into the heart of the defense, Gorostidi into midfield, Diego Gómez on the left wing, while Agustín Juárez and veteran Sergi Enrich partnered up front.
With these players on the pitch and after a period of feeling each other out, Huesca, having learned the lesson from the previous round, started brightly and showed a competitive edge. Indeed, Jardiel’s side produced attacks and crosses from the wings, while defensively they pressed the reserve side’s buildup from the front, led by the energetic Enrich and Juárez.
Gazzaniga turned away the only dangerous chance created by the Madrid side in the first half. Photo: S.D. Huesca
Even so, the Aragonese side’s most dangerous opportunities came from set pieces. Two precise and dangerous crosses from Sielva narrowly failed to find a teammate able to connect with a shot on target inside the Atlético area. At the other end, Gazzaniga was forced to work hard to save a direct free kick taken by David García shortly before half-time, with the teams going into the break goalless after neither side wanted to make mistakes and both struggled to finish their attacks in the opposing penalty area.
LACK OF FINISHING
Upon returning to the field, Huesca made no substitutions in an unusual situation, as Raúl Jardiel had made three half-time changes in each of the first three rounds. The game therefore remained just as tight, with both teams leaving few spaces and opportunities for their opponents.
Nevertheless, five minutes into the second half, an active Agustín Juárez took advantage of a good pass from Salva Ruiz to create the clearest chance of the game so far. The Argentine striker managed to shake off the center-backs and go one-on-one with Astralaga, but he lacked composure when finishing and his shot was saved by the goalkeeper of Fernando Torres’ team.
Juárez was the most dangerous player in the Huesca ranks. Photo: S.D. Huesca
Moments later, Juárez again emerged as the main protagonist. A goal by the Argentine was disallowed by the referee after he had pushed an Atlético defender just before taking the shot that ended up in the net. The decision to rule out the goal was upheld after the official was called to the FVS monitor by the coach of the Aragonese club and reviewed the incident.
Even so, Huesca continued to push in an intense match in which both teams began to suffer physically. Once again, Juárez, after a precise pass from Kembo, failed to convert a clear chance, sending the ball too far to the right of the Madrid goal. The game therefore ended without either team managing to beat the opposing goalkeeper, while Huesca, with Agustín Juárez its most dangerous player, took a point from a match in which it lacked a clinical edge.
MATCH DETAILS
S.D. Huesca: Gazzaniga; Víctor García, Kembo, Guillem Molina, Salva Ruiz; Sielva, Gorostidi; Diego Gómez (Tresaco, min 72'), Pascu, Agustín Juárez (Collado, min 90+1'); Sergi Enrich (Cristian Herrera, min 61').
Atlético Madrileño: Astralaga; Hueso (Sergio Díez, min 65'), Antal, Javier Gil, Solà; Alcañiz, David García (David Muñoz, min 85'), Helguera; Domènech (Vega, min 65'), Cubo (Álvaro Justo, min 85'), Santos (Kamate, min 14').
Referee: Ekaitz García Arriola. Booked Diego Gómez (min 28') and Sielva (min 62').
Match information: Group 2, fourth round of Primera RFEF, played at El Alcoraz (Huesca).
