Santi Cazorla helps Real Oviedo end 24-year LaLiga absence

Santi Cazorla completed a remarkable return to his boyhood club Real Oviedo by playing a pivotal role in their promotion to LaLiga after a 24-year absence. The 40-year-old midfielder scored a crucial penalty in the second leg of the promotion playoff final against CD Mirandés, helping overturn a first-leg deficit and sparking a dramatic comeback. Oviedo secured a 3-2 aggregate victory with additional goals from Ilyas Chaira and Francisco Portillo, whose extra-time volley sealed the win and triggered an emotional pitch invasion. Cazorla’s journey is especially inspiring given his severe injury struggles, including 11 operations and a battle with gangrene that once threatened his ability to walk. Having returned to Oviedo in 2023 out of deep affection for the club, Cazorla even considered playing without pay due to league wage rules. The club's promotion marks a triumphant return to Spain’s top flight, celebrated as a historic achievement by players, fans, and coach Veljko Paunovic alike.