Soccer | Royal Murcia
Real Murcia receives Calahorra tonight in its premiere this season, with the fans hooked and after having exceeded 10,000 subscribers
The day has come. Real Murcia starts its journey in the First Federation tonight (9:30 p.m.). The illusion of an official match, without erasing from the retina the last competition clash: the promotion against Penya Deportiva at the Rico Pérez in Alicante. Football returns to Enrique Roca, against a Calahorra that will have a difficult mission, such as frustrating the pepper rush after its good preseason, putting together a guaranteed squad and having the second largest fan in group 2, with more than 10,000 subscribers on his return to the bronze category of Spanish football.
Mario Simón has several dilemmas, all around the starting eleven. The doubt between whether Miguel Serna or Antonio Gallego will play under the sticks will, luckily, be purely sporting. The coach stated that he has the entire squad available. And each line of the field has one or more question marks as to who will start in the first league match.
Javi Rueda and Alberto López aim to start on the wings, with Alberto González as marshal behind. A priori, Iván Casado or Íñigo Piña will compete to be González’s partner. In the center of the field, Ganet and Gracia seem fixed, and between Aguza or Galindo it seems that the dispute will be for the third hole in the midfield, a point above captain Armando Ortiz.
The presence of Pedro León is expected to be indisputable on the right, and the debate seems to be born on the left. The level of Loren Burón and Arnau Ortiz give him many ballots to start, escorting, presumably, the Venezuelan Miku. However, Simón has alternatives for all positions and will make his starting team in line with the rival: Club Deportivo Calahorra.
A team that gives favoritism and pressure to Real Murcia, despite being recently promoted and, in the case of the Calagurritanos, eleventh last season. Special match for two men: Edu Luna and Israel Vicente. The first of them for his Murcian past, from 2019 to 2021; the second, for being a season ticket holder from Murcia and a former worker of the pepper club.
three keys
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Arnau or Ganet?
The position of midfielder or advanced midfielder will be one of the first decisions that the coach, Mario Simón, will have to make. Betting on Arnau would mean giving the attacking area a boost in pace and mobility, before a presumed Calahorra wall. Perhaps the third midfielder is the most decisive player in a duel of these characteristics. -
Hobby.
Reaching 10,000 subscribers, the illusion of Murcia is palpable and the stands want to enjoy football again. The good image in preseason gives good vibes to the fans, who want to start the match with a victory. If possible, with a colorful and attractive game. -
Gabarre.
Accompanied by Marcos Baselga, the striker on loan from Real Zaragoza, responsibility for the goal from Calagurri will fall on the shoulders of Toni Gabarre. The former player from Alcoyano will be the offensive reference, so the defense from Granada will have to make every effort to dry up the striker from Huesca.
Of course, Luna is still dragging an injury that has prevented him from debuting with the La Rioja club. Another who will not be at the Enrique Roca stadium will be Mounir, a left-back who has left the team weeks after signing from Águilas. Those who will be on the pitch will be Toni Gabarre and Marcos Baselga, those responsible for Calahorra’s goal. Another old acquaintance of Real Murcia is Sergio Chinchilla, author of the 1-1 in the match with Penya Deportiva in the clash for promotion from the Second RFEF.
revamped rival
A completely renewed team arrives, in clear restructuring. Only four players remain from the squad that saved the category in 21/22 (Miguel Martínez, Íñigo Zubiri, Imanol Barace and Álex Arias), which has been reflected on the pitch in the preseason duels: only one win, by 1-0 against Cultural Leonesa, in seven games. A team made up of young people on loan from Second Division teams or bets from the Second RFEF that arrives in Murcia with little to lose and a desire to surprise.
Real Murcia can find a duel similar to the one that faced the subsidiary of Mallorca: a seasoned and defensive team that will not look for complications. At the risk of suffering or becoming desperate if he doesn’t open the can soon, Mario Simón will have to find the key from minute one.
A local win would mean a lot. From giving the last push to the season ticket campaign, which has about three weeks left, and repeating what happened last season: starting at home with a smile, like against Marchamalo (3-2) a year ago. A victory that, moreover, would take the nerves out of a squad hungry and eager to please their fans, in a demanding season where the pressure of fighting to be in the top zone can wreak havoc. It will be necessary to manage the nerves from the initial whistle.
If you look at the sensations that each team transmits in these weeks of preparation, the favoritism would clearly be scarlet. But as Mario Simón has rightly said, one thing is the preseason and another is the official competition. Today will be the first stop on the path of illusion.
#Start #illusion