Ferran Costa's side had to settle for a point in a match full of twists and turns. Javi López-Pinto had put the Arlequinats ahead in the second half, sparking euphoria among the more than 600 away fans in Castellón. This result, combined with Atlético Madrileño's win, leaves the gap at the top of the standings at just one point.
Costa fielded a starting eleven with few changes from the previous match. The new additions were the return of Arthur Bonaldo in place of Carlos Alemán, Albert 'Urri' reclaiming his midfield spot, and David Astals playing at right-back. In attack, Rodri Escudero started instead of Miguelete, who was ultimately called up despite knee discomfort throughout the week.
The game was heavily influenced by strong winds from the start. Centre d'Esports played against the wind during a decisive first half, where the hosts' best chances came from through balls that caught the Arlequinat defense off guard. Sabadell's long passes were often held up in the air, forcing the team to shorten their plays.
The worst news came towards the end when Eneko Aguilar left the field in considerable pain, and Carlos Alemán came on.
Sabadell's clearest chance came from a set piece, with Coscia hitting the post. Villarreal 'B' responded with a corner kick that was swirled by the wind and also struck Fuoli's post. In the second half, Sabadell started better and dominated the opening minutes, but the clearest chances fell to the hosts, with Cheikh forcing a good save from Fuoli and Eto'o missing an open goal.
In the 70th minute, following a defensive error, López-Pinto capitalized to score the first goal, igniting celebrations in the away section. Centre d'Esports grew in confidence after the goal, and Coscia nearly doubled the lead with a powerful shot from outside the box. However, in the 88th minute, in an isolated play, Bonaldo deflected a local cross, unfortunately sending the ball into Fuoli's net, securing the final draw. Next week, Sabadell will host another reserve team, Real Betis.
