Match Preview and analysis: Athletic B (H)

Castellón return to Castàlia tomorrow to take on Athletic B, after drawing their last game away to Atletico Baleares last Sunday. The Basque side are coming off a disappointing 0-1 loss to Eldense at home, after a difficult start to the season in general. Their only win has come against Logroñés in Matchday 2, having lost to La Nucia in the first game of the season. CD Castellón will also have a point to prove, after last week’s somewhat disappointing draw.

Team news

Castellón will be without forward Raul Sanchez, following his (debatable) sending off against Atletico Baleares. The club did try to appeal mid-week, however it wasn’t successful. Goalkeeper Alfonso Pastor, on loan from Sevilla, will also be available after missing out last week due to the death of his grandmother. While it remains to be seen who will start between the posts, Cheikh Sarr made a costly mistake last week, and many fans would like to see Pastor given the opportunity to show what he can do. Should he be given the start, it would also be his first appearance in a Castellón shirt.

Analysis

Athletic B are coached by Bingen Arostegui, who is starting his first season in management after spells as assistant manager for Athletic B, Athletic and Real Oviedo in previous seasons.

They are a very young team (unsurprisingly), with an average age of around 20. In previous games, they have lined up with two strikers in a 4-4-2 formation, playing a more direct style of football with a slightly lower line. Their striker Jon Cabo is their danger man, and they can also use their speed down the flanks with wingers Luis Bilbao and Adu Ares.

In the last game they started relatively slowly offensively, so by turning up the tempo from the kick off, Castellón might have a good chance to establish an early lead. However they do seem relatively solid defensively, and only conceded in the last game because of this wonder strike by Mario Soberón.

Manager’s comments

Rubén Torrecilla, CD Castellón: “I want the players who have started to continue because they have done a good job. There hasn’t yet been a moment when I have felt the need to make changes as all the players have done what I have asked of them so far. But there will be the need to make changes eventually, so the important thing is that all players are ready to come in in the event of suspensions, injuries or squad rotation.

Rául [Sánchez] is an important player for us, but we have options who can come in, important players who don’t usually play and who are available. I have total confidence in them and the team.

I disagree with the suspension because not all aerial challenges are yellow cards. We need to have the same treatment for all teams.

Athletic B will give us a very difficult game, we’ll be going against lads who compete very well and don’t have so much pressure on their shoulders to win. They can focus on improving every day. We’ll need to be 150% focused, not make any mistakes, and take advantage of our opportunities.”