Real Oviedo returns to the First Division of Spain with Mexican Flavor: Paunovic, Colombatto and Vinas
24 years later, the team owned by Grupo Pachuca is once again experiencing an elite party
Real Oviedo is back in the top flight of Spanish football. They achieved this goal this Saturday in a thrilling match against Mirandes that went into extra time and in which the Asturians won 3-1, thus ending a 24-year wait.
More than 25,000 people filled the Carlos Tartiere Stadium and witnessed an unforgettable night in which Uruguayan Federico Vinas, Argentine Santiago Colombatto, and coach Veljko Paunovic—all with a past in Liga MX—were the protagonists of a promotion marked by the influence of Grupo Pachuca.
From the start, Mirandes complicated the night with a goal from Panichelli that silenced the stadium. But Oviedo was quick to react. A penalty awarded after a header from Costas was confidently converted by Santi Cazorla to make it 1-1. In the second half, Ilyas Chaira appeared to level the tie with a driving goal after a great play down the right. The match went into extra time, and that's where Portillo shined, sealing the final 3-1 with a spectacular volleyball.
Grupo Pachuca's gamble and the key role of former Liga MX players
The story of the promotion has its own names off the field. Since 2022, Grupo Pachuca took control of the club, and under the management of Jesus Martinez and Agustin Lleida, a series of key decisions began. Signings such as Colombatto (formerly of León), Vinas (formerly of América and León), and other loan players from the Mexican group gave the team a renewed identity.
Veljko Paunovic, former coach of Chivas and Tigres, took over at a critical moment and finished undefeated: seven wins and three draws. His change of formation in the final, returning the team to a 4-2-3-1, proved decisive. Vinas, the scorer of key plays, and Colombatto, the driving force in midfield, were essential in sustaining the team in the most tense moments.
The board didn't hesitate when it came to making decisions. They changed coaches three times in less than two years. They bet heavily on the winter transfer market and kept their faith even after losing promotion the previous season to Espanyol.
This promotion is also a vindication of the Mexican management model in European football. Real Oviedo, now in the First Division, is not only celebrating returning to the elite, but also demonstrating that a transnational project can succeed with a mix of talent, patience, and determination.