In Gijón, Florentin Bloch, born in Normandy in 2000, and Laura Riquelme, from Villa in Lleida born in 2001, found themselves at a local bank one day. The staffer behind the counter recognized that one of them was tied up with something urgent and lifted his hands to his head. She is a French goalkeeper for Sporting B, while he is a left-back for Oviedo Femenino, originally from Lleida. When asked about their experience in Asturias, the couple recalled a summer arrival filled with sudden, fierce rivalry between Oviedo and Sporting, a tension they hadn’t anticipated. They shared these reflections with La Nueva España in Oviedo, just days after the season’s first Asturian derby. Their story stands as a vivid example of the intense, well-understood competition that defines the region, and it also carries a lot of affection. The kiss the couple shared during this report’s preparation was a small symbol of that warmth. In Asturias, rivalry is monumental, sometimes dramatic: stories of past clashes, issues with spectators, ticket dramas, and more. Yet there is space for respect, for neighbors who become friends, and for couples who bridge the divide. Riquelme and Bloch met while both played for Toulouse, and they have been a couple since September 2019. They continue their lives in Asturias, wearing the colors of the two rival teams. Riquelme notes a running joke among colleagues that her partner plays for Sporting, but they are happy to see him doing well. A strong rivalry can coexist with good times when one side shines the most, she adds. Bloch, who spent his youth at Aran Valley and played for Toulouse until age 14 before moving to Rodez, is now a familiar face at Oviedo. A recent ankle sprain followed a tough clash on the last matchday.
The bond between Bloch and Riquelme has shaped how the pair approach football at every turn, including potential paths with Sporting B and Oviedo. When Sporting’s officials pursued a goalkeeper for their reserve side, Bloch’s profile, including his time with PSG and the Unionistas academy, came into view. After a stint with the Alavés reserve, the Sporting talent scouts recognized that Riquelme would likely star for Oviedo Femenino. That call altered everything. Bloch began with the rojiblanco reserve squad and began to feature in the first-team mix more regularly. Abelardo recruited him against Cartagena, framing it as a strong opportunity for a club with a storied history in Spanish football. He emphasizes that football remains the priority, but being with his partner brings a positive balance to life and to the sport—football wins, and so does love.
Today, Bloch and Riquelme reside in Gijón and fill their home with conversations about football. They watch matches from both sides, sometimes analyzing the same plays to learn from each other. They rarely quarrel, preferring to study tactics and individual movements together. They attend each other’s games whenever the calendar allows. Riquelme explains that watching her partner perform well is important to her, and Bloch adds that having a partner who shares the same profession makes daily life easier, from shopping to cooking. Now they look toward the derby at Tartiere. The French goalkeeper believes the match holds great significance and hopes Sporting will win 2-0, while Riquelme predicts a tightly contested 1-0 win for Oviedo. Whatever the outcome on Saturday in the home of Bloch and Riquelme, life will carry on—and so will their affection. The question of a potential wedding in the next derby remains to be seen.