The Eldense continues to steer the summer saga at Barça, painting the scene pink for months. Even the outfits echo the fashion surge dubbed the Barbie boom, with a touch of elegance that brands this season. Deportivo marked a notable return to the Second Division with a victory, coming back to the league after a sixty-year gap. It happened with a single strike on goal, yet it carried a seriousness and a range of records that spark confidence about what lies ahead.
Eldense wants to consolidate itself in professional football after nearly 60 years of hiatus
The scene quickly showed a shared habit between the teams: a pure joy in possession and a refusal to let the ball burn their boots. The newcomers to this level launched with intent, shaping the tempo in the early minutes. Cartagena offered the first real test.
Ortuno produced a sharp shot after a loose ball, Juan Carlos Real followed with a finish from the right after a move by Iván Calero, and Ortuño again produced a dangerous cross from the left. Eldense answered with a rapid counter, Juanto attempting a long-range effort in two touches that narrowly missed the target.
A warning sign of what was to come appeared before the break when fortune seemed to tilt away from Eldense. Carlos Hernández picked up a muscular injury, and the visitors moved ahead with a swift attack down the right wing, grabbing the lead on the scoreboard.
The day Eldense had been waiting for sixty years finally came.
From there, Juanto surged forward and finished decisively, catching Marc Martínez off guard after a deflection by Datkovic that left the ball tumbling into the net. Almost six decades of anticipation culminated in a goal that would not only write a line in the story but shape its tone. Though not necessarily the most beautiful moment, its significance was undeniable, with Juanto again at the center of the action.
The goal lifted Eldense, lifting Cartagena emotionally as well, but the home side pressed on and nearly restored parity in a counterattack that followed. David Ferreiro moved the ball well, but the sequence did not end in the best way for his team.
“Other” Eldense
With the lead secured after the break, Eldense revealed a second, tougher version: a compact, defensively solid unit able to close out proceedings with everyone pulling in the same direction. A clear demonstration of strategy shaped by Fernando Estévez, this edition of Eldense looks ready to challenge for promotion and to stay up in the division.
The Alicante side managed to keep Cartagena from creating meaningful chances for most of the second half. The visitors managed one clear opportunity, while Eldense responded with a resilient rhythm, absorbing pressure and stifling threats. A later cross into the box led to a moments of danger as Ortuño’s header grazed the post, and the goalkeeper recovered to deny another effort with a brilliant reflex save that preserved the lead and earned the team two valuable points.
As the final whistle approached, anticipation grew for a historic achievement, with Eldense fans filling the Cartagonova stands. The moment was celebrated as a milestone for the club, signaling a new era in which the team could compete with the best in Spanish professional football. The showdown unfolded like a blockbuster, with pink-clad momentum, tactical clarity, and a manager who shaped a bold, belief-driven approach. The next chapter promises more high-stakes battles and a continued journey toward sustained success.
Match sheet
Cartagena: Marc Martinez; Iván Calero, Kiko Olivas, Datkovic, Jairo, Héctor (Mikel Rico, 65′), Luis Muñoz, Musto (Jony Álamo, 65′), David Ferreiro (Lautaro, 65′), Ortuño and Juan Carlos Real (Ayllón, 76′).
Eldense: Guille Vallejo; Toni Abad, Carlos Hernández (Capó, 39′), Íñigo Piña, Arnau Ortiz (Álex Bernal, 71′), Cris Montes (Iván Chapela, 62′), Timor (Lachhab, 62′), Sergio Ortuño, Marc Mateu, Juanto and Andone (Clemente, 62′).
GOAL: 0-1 (40′) Juanto.
REFEREE: Miguel Sesma Espinosa. Warned Timor and Luis Muñoz.
EVENTS: A crowd approaching five hundred Eldense supporters witnessed their team return to the Second Division after nearly sixty years since the 1963/64 season.