Date: Wednesday 21^st July 2021

Competition: Pre-season Friendly

Venue: Estadio Municipal

Football came home for fans of Balona as they played on the hallowed turf of the Estadio Municipal for the first time under the management of Antonio Ruiz.

The opponents were Alvaro Cervera’s Cádiz C.F. and as the team sheet dropped it showed that Cervera meant business fielding the likes of Jose Mari, Alex, Negredo and Lozano.

OH OH OH OSMAJIC

After the game the name on everyone’s lips was Milutin Osmajic. The 21-year-old Montenegro international scored one and assisted the other in a virtuoso performance after coming on as a second half substitute. It safe to say with the box of tricks he displayed Osmajic is magic! It remains to be seen what impact he will have in La Liga this season. After this performance I’m sure those in attendance will be keeping a close eye on this developing talent.

Alvaro Negredo it was who had the first big opportunity of the game he latched onto a square ball from Nano. He lifted the ball over the onrushing Nacho Miras. With the ball goal bound Jesus Muñoz who had sprinted back headed to safety to the relief of the Balona players and fans.

The midfield battles between Coulibaly and Bandaogo for Balona and Jose Mari and Alex Fernandez for Cadiz were fiercely fought considering this was a friendly game and whilst there were some nice touches from Alhassan Koroma Balona didn’t create too many chances against their La Liga opponents.

Nacho Miras for many the player of the year last season at Balona was once again in fine form. Firstly, diving a full stretch to tip Nano’s curling effort out for a corner. Then Negredo bullied his way to the by line he cut the ball back to Jose Mari who’s shot was expertly saved by Nacho Miras who palmed it away to safety. That one will have stung the palms. Miras was back in action before the break this time diving and collecting at the feet of Nano. The linesman had flagged for offside but Miras was unaware, so it was another excellent piece of goalkeeping from him.

The second half brough with it the introduction of Osmajic and many more substitutes including a debut for Cadiz for new signing Tomás Alarcón. The Chilean another young starlet with a big future under the tutelage of Cervera.

A change in goal for Balona saw new signing Mateusz Kania take over between the sticks. Like Miras he was busy, and he did not disappoint. He pulled off some excellent saves of his own. 

On 78 minutes Osmajic picked up the ball wide and with a real turn of pace he got to the goal line. He clipped the ball back towards the penalty sport where Ivan Chapela steamed in and headed into the goal.

Osmajic was on the charge again soon after this time Kania did fantastic to save his shot. He was not to be denied his goal though and with a ball floated over the top Osmajic ghosted in between two defenders. He plucked the ball out of the air with his right foot and in one motion prodded it past the on rushing Kania into the back of the net. He took the adulation of his team mates for a cracking goal.

All in all, both sides will have been happy with their evening’s work. It’s very early to read too much into what the friendlies played so far mean longer term for Balona. There are more new players yet to pull on those famous black and white stripes. The early indications are that Romerito’s promise of a team that will never quit and keep fighting seems to be ringing true.

Players like Nacho Miras, Alhassan Koroma and Aly Coulibaly look like they will be key to the success of La Recia once again this season.

Copy: Les McKee | Images: Real Balompédica Linense

The Estadio Municipal de La Línea becomes the unofficial capital of Andalucían Football this week as three of the region’s four La Liga sides are in town for pre-season friendly games.

Fans will be treated to three games over four nights featuring Cádiz C.F., Sevilla FC and Real Betis Balompié.

First up on Wednesday evening Real Balompédica Linense will host Cádiz CF (Kick-Off 19:00).

This will be a first opportunity for Balona fans to watch their new look side under manager Antonio Ruiz. The coach known as Romerito has promised the fans “a fierce team” in the famous black and white stripes this season. There were certainly glimpses of this in the opening friendly defeat against Bournemouth at the Marbella Football Center on Friday.

La Recia lost 4-2 but the opening goal that saw Alhassan Koroma use his trickery to fashion an opening for his twin Alusine to power home was hopefully a sign of things to come. Luis Alcalde’s penalty was assured and with last season’s penalty taker Pito Camacho now departed from the club, Alcalde certainly proved his claim to be on spot kicks this term.

Cádiz ended a fifteen-year absence from La Liga and boy did they make an impact upon their return. Manager Alvaro Cervera affectionately known as “Gafas” continually set up his side to concede possession to the opposition. The side were well drilled, worked hard and were a very cohesive unit which made them incredibly hard to break down. On those occasions when teams did get through, they still had to get past the steadfast Jeremias Ledesma in goal which was no easy feat. The on-loan Argentinian stopper has since been made a permanent signing for the Yellow Submarine.

When Cádiz gained possession, they were decisive in using full backs Espino and Iza as outlets to get the ball back to front quickly. Álvaro Negredo formally of Man City brought goals and experience at the top end of the field as Cádiz won their first four away games without conceding a goal. This included famous victories over Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid. They added the scalp of Barcelona to the list of victories in December. A poor run of results after the turn of the year mainly due to injuries to several key players seemed to be dragging the side into a relegation battle. However, Cervera was ready for this eventuality and the acquisition of Rubén Sobrino on loan from Valencia and the return to the side of midfield maestro Alex proved to be the catalyst they needed to get back to amassing points.

In the end Cádiz beat the drop with several games to spare and ended with a 12th place finish. A fantastic effort from all in yellow and they are now building towards another season of La Liga football.

Balona will be the third opponent of Cádiz’s preparations. Barbate were defeated 6-0 in their opener and on Saturday evening Atlético Sanluqueño ran out victors. Dani Güiza missed a penalty before scoring the winner for Atlético Sanluqueño. Balona will face Atlético Sanluqueño in the inaugural season of the Primera RFEF this year and we will find out the date of those fixtures when the calendar is announced on Tuesday 20th July.

Fans will only have to wait 24 hours before the next game. Sevilla FC face UD Las Palmas from La Liga Smartbank.

Diego Carlos (Brazil) and Bryan Gil (Spain) are in Tokyo for the Olympics but based on the Sevilla side that defeated Coventry City 4-0 at the weekend the team they field could feature the likes of club legends Ivan Rakitic and Jesús Navas. Former Liverpool youth starlet Suso may also take some part in the game.

The final game of the trio sees Real Betis square off against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday evening (Kick-Off 19:00).

Real Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini achieved his objective last season leading the Beticos back into Europe. Los Verdiblancos will take part in the Europa League this season and will be desperate to go all the way with the Final scheduled to be played at cross city rivals Sevilla’s Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium.

Real Betis also ran out 4-0 winners this weekend in their friendly with FC Winterthur. Borja Iglesias getting amongst the goals.

Wolves parted company with Nuno Espírito Santo at the end of last season. He will now be in the dugout for Tottenham Hotspur this season. The new man at the helm is Bruno Lage. The appointment of the former Benfica boss keeps the Portuguese continuity at the club that has several of the Euro 2020 Portugal squad amongst their ranks.

This game certainly seems to have captured the imagination of the many Premier League fans that now reside in and around the Campo de Gibraltar and a large attendance is expected.

It’s also chance for local fans of Cádiz, Sevilla and Real Betis to see their heroes up close and personal too.

So, come along and witness a hat-trick of top-class action at the Estadio Municipal.

Tonight at 19:00 at the Estadio Municipal de La Línea: REAL BALOMPÉDICA LINENSE-CÁDIZ CF

Copy: Les McKee | Images: Real Balompédica Linense