Eldense facing an impossible challenge?
The early missteps in the staging, one mishap in the opening minutes and another just after the break, disrupted the solid rhythm Eldense had shown at La Cerámica. Jorge Pascual put Villarreal B ahead as the clock barely ticked past four minutes, and Alberto del Moral extended their lead after the teams returned to the field for the second half. The Catalan club had fought hard, but the balance swung decisively toward the Castellón side, who had struggled to find their footing against a squad that has repeatedly troubled them in recent encounters.
In the opening moments, the visitors appeared sharper, capitalizing on a fast transition and clean finishing. The goals came thanks to timely authoring by Pascual, and a well-orchestrated buildup that left the defense stretched and exposed. The home crowd watched as the visitors settled into a commanding position, using their physicality in midfield and a direct approach to threaten on the counter and through set pieces. Eldense pressed to regain control but found themselves chasing after a deficit that grew heavier as the half wore on.
The match became a study in contrasts. Eldense generated moments of promise through organized pressure and smart ball circulation, yet the execution lacked the clinical edge required to trim the deficit. Villarreal B, meanwhile, exploited gaps in the defensive line, stepping into advantageous positions and converting opportunities with precision. The duel on the pitch unfolded with a clear message: the visitors had the upper hand in most phases of the game, and Eldense had to fight to reset and salvage what they could from the clash.
The derby began with excitement as the ball found the feet of Pascual, who benefited from a brilliant pass from Tasende. Ontiveros delivered a clever through ball that left the striker in a clean shooting lane, and a late-reading defender failed to close in time. The opportunity materialized into a precise finish at the near post, opening the scoring and sending a wake-up call through the Eldense defense. As the game progressed, the home side found themselves forced to rethink their approach and defend deeper, inviting more pressure from the visitors who used the width of the pitch to stretch the block and exploit the space behind the full-backs.
Deportivo’s attempt to pull level relied on higher quality movement and sharper finishing. Villarreal B, however, found almost every flaw in the opposing back line and exploited it with a combination of off-the-ball runs and quick exchanges. Ontiveros stood at the center of these actions, weaving through traffic and orchestrating the attack with his vision. The finishing touch arrived when Alex Fores converted a patient buildup, making it 2-0 before the half-hour mark and widening the gap that Eldense would have to overcome after the break.
soul sledgehammer
The second half carried a harsher rhythm. The temperature at La Cerámica remained high, and the home team pressed forward with renewed intensity. Eldense fought to stay in the contest and managed to pull a goal back through a clever sequence in which Estévez read the situation and Ortuno executed a precise, hard-running finish from the middle of the box. An excellent assist from the right flank, delivered by the former Alcoyano winger, helped reduce the deficit to 2-1 and gave the game a flicker of belief for the visitors, even as they faced a resilient defensive unit from the hosts.
Despite the momentum shift, Villarreal B answered with decisive resolve. A second header from Alberto del Moral restored a comfortable margin for the home side and calmed any remaining nerves. The result felt fair given the balance of chances and the clinicality shown by the Yellow Submarine’s reserve squad. Eldense continued to battle, but their late attempts to push through the middle of the park were stifled by a well-organized back line and a goalkeeper who held the line when it mattered most.
In the final stretch, a grim reality set in for Eldense. The Valencian club faced a rigid defense and a relentless counter-lever, making it difficult to pry open the door for an equalizer. The atmosphere grew tense as players pushed harder, spurred on by the home faithful who still believed a late swing could turn the tide. The whistle finally confirmed a 3-1 scoreline that reflected the flow of play and the decisive moments that defined the match.
injuries
The regional duel also carried a cautionary tale on the injury front. Early in the second period, Marc Daué suffered a heavy blow that forced him to leave the field. After a brief spell of treatment, he returned to the sideline, clearly struggling with mobility and balance, before finally being withdrawn. The decision came amid a flurry of substitutions intended to recalibrate the balance and preserve energy for upcoming fixtures. As the minutes ticked away, the visitors and home side both navigated through fatigue and physical strain, attempting to manage the declines and protect key players from further risk.
With twenty minutes left on the clock, the Alicante-based squad sought to exploit any lapse in the home defense. Long-range efforts tested the goalkeeper, but none were clean enough to alter the scoreline. As the clock approached stoppage time, a late test from Marc Mateu from the spot did not find its target, his shot sailing high over the bar. The drama of the finish lingered, yet the final judgment remained unchanged as the referee signaled the end of the proceedings shortly thereafter.
Next up, Deportivo hosts Eibar at Nuevo Pepico Amat on Monday evening. The fixture marks a notable return of professional football to Elda after a long absence, and it will be a crucial chance for Estévez’s squad to assess the health and availability of players who have been managing knocks and niggles. One certain absence concerned Timor, who left the field with a leg complaint before the match concluded, adding to the squad’s list of concerns as they prepare for the next challenge.
DATA SHEET
► Villarreal B: Iker Álvarez, Altimira, Espigares, Abraham, Tasende (Pablo Íñiguez, 88), Del Moral, Carlo, Ontiveros (Tiago Geralnik, 51), Illias Akhomach (Ferrari, 67), Jorge Pascual (Diego Collado, 67), Álex Fores (Rodri Alonso, 67).
► Eldense: Guille Vallejo, Toni Abad, Iñigo Piña, Pedro Capó, Marc Mateu, David Timor, Sergio Ortuño (Youness Lachhab, 64), Cris Montes (Iván Chapela, 54), Arnau Ortiz (Jesús Clemente, 54), Juanto Ortuno (Marc Daué, 71), Andone (Álex Bernal, 54).
► Goals: 1-0 4: Jorge Pascual. 2-0 29: Alex Fores. 2-1 34: Juanto Ortuno. 3-1 50: Del Moral.
► Referee: Orellana Cid (Andalusian committee) assisted by Garrido Concha (Castilian-Leonese) and Ramos Cinos (Cantabrian) on each flank. Villarreal showed Abraham and Espigares for B and Sergio Ortuño for Eldense.
► Events: The match took place as part of the La Liga Hypermotion day two, under a 33-degree temperature and 41 percent humidity at La Cerámica stadium.
Sources note the details of the clash as reported by regional outlets covering the Castellón derby and the surrounding football context. These accounts emphasize the balance of play, the impact of key moments, and the ongoing assessment of player fitness and tactical cohesion as both sides look ahead to forthcoming fixtures.