The anthem of Real Madrid echoed across the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium as the players stepped onto the pitch. Confetti burst from pockets of fans in the stands. I had never seen that before, but I really liked the scene. The night was grey and sharp, almost the perfect dramatic setting for a football match.
From the first whistle the mood was set. A woman led the ultras in chants: loud and clear, while the rain began kicking people out of their seats and upwards toward the covered parts of the stand. The opposition, Real Avilés, had arrived with intent, but Castilla immediately showed they meant business.
In the 19th minute, after an intentional move down the left side, Palacios sent in a cross that Loren Zúñiga headed into the opponent’s net. 1-0. Six minutes later, David Jiménez’s measured assist, and Loren again. 2-0. His 3rd goal in the last 2 matches.
Now leading, Castilla shifted into control. Avilés tried to claw their way back and got their one clear moment, when Gete’s strike struck the post in the 64th minute. But Castilla held strong under pressure and managed to hold the clean sheet.
The rain had stopped, but the cold became even worse. My jacket felt thinner by the minute. The stadium didn’t thin out though, the chants still rose and fell across the audience.
Castilla didn’t rush. They didn’t panic. Their dominance from the first half didn’t collapse. They maintained composure and maturity until the last whistle.
Why It Matters
This wasn’t just another home win, it was Castilla’s fourth straight victory, pushing them into playoff-zone contention in the Primera Federación.
Loren’s braces earned the headlines, but the real lesson was: patience under pressure, execution early on and then maintenance. For a young side, that’s a sign of maturity.
And on a night like this, that’s exactly what can warm you up.
