Castellón will long remember the two points they let slip away at the Alfonso Murube (1-1). For much of the match, they accomplished the hardest tasks: breaking down Guille Vallejo’s wall, surviving the uncomfortable atmosphere that Ceuta always creates at home, and finding an ideal scenario to strike after Fabrizio Brignani’s 0-1 goal just after the break. They had clear spaces and golden chances to kill the game in the second half, but couldn’t finish off a Ceuta side that stayed alive thanks to their goalkeeper’s miraculous saves, the wind, the rain, and the competitive spirit still present in José Juan Romero’s squad. Football eventually exacted its toll. Marcos Fernández equalized from a penalty kick in stoppage time. Two points evaporated, dealing a heavy blow to their playoff push and leaving the dream of direct promotion even further away.
After winning at La Rosaleda, Castellón hit a small bump (1 point out of 6 in the last cycle) and stumbled again against a Ceuta team that acts as a judge at the top. For the Caballas, this point is a welcome one, lifting their tally to 55.
Ceuta celebrates Marcos’ equalizer.
As is often the case at the Murube, Ceuta came out with an extra gear. José Juan Romero’s side tried from the start to impose their aggressive rhythm, the one that so often lets them control home games. Castellón accepted the exchange of blows while sticking to their usual identity: high press, advanced defensive line, tight spacing between lines, and fierce aggression after losing the ball. All of this was backed by a constant threat down the left flank, where Cipenga quickly began to cause problems with his runs.
The match started open, entertaining, and at a good pace. Ceuta had the first big chance after the 15-minute mark, with a good run from Redru down the left. The full-back sent a low cross into the six-yard box, where several deflections and scuffed shots from Marcos, Kuki Zalazar, and Marino Illescas were miraculously kept out by Castellón. Redru’s injury—he had to leave the field clutching his right calf—changed the flow of the game. José Juan Romero had to reshuffle by bringing on Diego González, and gradually Castellón began to feel more comfortable on the pitch.
Match action.
From silence to Castellón’s takeoff
The match was halted for about ten minutes due to a medical issue in one of the stands at the Murube. An absolute silence fell, inevitably influenced by the memory of a Ceuta fan who died a few months ago during a game against Almería. Fortunately, it turned out to be just a scare, and the match resumed. After the pause, Castellón returned much sharper. They started finding abundant space and stringing together clear chances before halftime. Guille Vallejo kept Ceuta in the game with a spectacular save from Jakobsen during a very lengthy stoppage time that extended to the 56th minute. Cala also came close twice in quick succession: first forcing another brilliant stop from the Ceuta goalkeeper, then sending a free header over the bar.
Castellón celebrates.
The goal finally arrived just before halftime, once again showcasing the enormous attacking richness of Castellón. From a corner, Ronaldo delivered a perfect cross into the six-yard box, with many players converging on the finish, and Fabrizio Brignani appeared to finally break down Guille Vallejo’s wall, making it 0-1. After the break, Castellón found space to run and began to consistently punish Ceuta’s transitions. Mabil hit the post, and Pablo Hernández’s men had several clear three-on-three situations where they lacked the final touch, composure, and precision on the last pass. Ceuta kept hanging on.
