Huesca vs Petro de Luanda

Jardiel, appointed to lead Huesca following their relegation to Primera Federación, fielded a largely new-look XI with only two players retained from last season's first-team squad. The starting lineup featured goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga, Víctor García, Álex Calvo, Quique Fornos, Álex Fita, Jimmi Suárez, Jaime Escario, Rafa Tresaco, Diego Gómez, Luismi Redondo and captain Sergi Enrich.

Huesca started brightly, pressing high and forcing Petro into errors. Luismi Redondo came close twice — first sending a dangerous ball across the box that Álex Calvo narrowly failed to turn in, then lifting a lob just over the bar after a well-weighted pass from Calvo.

The breakthrough arrived in the 22nd minute. Tresaco, starting on the right, drove forward on a counter-attack in superior numbers, drew the defence and slipped a precise pass to Diego Gómez. The winger, on loan from Deportivo La Coruña, kept his composure to slot a low, left-footed shot across the goalkeeper and into the far corner — the first goal of the Jardiel era.

Petro de Luanda had a chance of their own in the first half when Gazzaniga made a slightly unorthodox save from a loose ball after a defensive mix-up involving Álex Fita, but the Spanish side went into the break with a deserved lead.

Jardiel changed all ten outfield players at the interval, introducing Killane, Alarcón, Marc Aznar, Djetei, Iván Rodríguez, Óscar Sielva, Gorostidi, Pascu Alba, Diego Collado, Agustín Juárez and Sergi Armero. The wholesale changes disrupted Huesca's rhythm, and Petro de Luanda seized control.

The Angolan side, visibly sharper physically after a longer pre-season build-up, pinned Huesca back for long spells. Their best opportunity came from a direct free-kick that forced Killane into a flying save, keeping the lead intact. At the other end, Gorostidi struck the crossbar from range.

The most contentious moment arrived when Marc Aznar appeared to prevent a clear goalscoring opportunity with a tactical foul — a challenge that, in a competitive fixture, might have warranted a red card. The referee, Pablo Monterrubio Torres, kept his cards in his pocket, a reminder of the trial nature of pre-season.

As the game wore on, Huesca reasserted some defensive stability, and Petro, despite their second-half superiority, could not find a way through.

The introduction of ten new players at half-time could have unravelled Huesca's work, but Killane's save from a set-piece around the hour mark — arguably the best chance of the second half — preserved the advantage. If Petro had equalised there, the momentum shift might have produced a different result. Instead, the miss allowed Huesca to see out the final 30 minutes with growing composure.

Diego Gómez — The Deportivo loanee marked his first appearance in an Huesca shirt with the winning goal, showing composure in a one-on-one situation. His movement off the left flank troubled Petro's defence throughout the first half.

Rafa Tresaco — The architect of the goal. His driving run and intelligent pass created the decisive moment. He also wore the captain's armband in the second half, a sign of his growing status within the squad.

Álvaro Killane — The Argentine goalkeeper made the game's most important save after the interval, keeping Huesca ahead with a strong hand to deny a well-struck free-kick.

Quique Fornos — Composed in possession and strong in the tackle, the centre-back looked assured on the ball, fitting Jardiel's mandate to build attacks from the back.

Player of the Match: Diego Gómez

The scoreline and the balance of play tell two different stories. Huesca's first-half dominance — built on energetic pressing, quick transitions and control of central areas — gave them a lead their performance merited. The second half belonged to Petro de Luanda, who enjoyed sustained spells of possession, worked the ball into dangerous areas, and forced a significant save from Killane. The contrast reflects the different stages of pre-season: Huesca were playing their first friendly after a training camp in Benasque, while Petro, already a week into their Spanish tour, had the benefit of a competitive run-out against Valencia under their belts.

For Huesca, this is a first step in a long rebuild. Relegated from Segunda División after finishing 20th in 2025/26 with a record of 9 wins, 11 draws and 22 losses, the club is now preparing for life in Primera Federación under a new manager and an almost entirely new squad. Jardiel, who took over after the departure of the previous coaching staff, will have been encouraged by the first-half intensity and the defensive organisation shown in the second period.

For Petro de Luanda, the result is a minor setback after their impressive 3-1 victory over Valencia earlier in their Spanish tour. The five-time consecutive Girabola champions (2021–2026) are preparing for the 2026/27 season under Portuguese coach João Pedro Sousa, who is making his debut in African football. They face further friendlies against CD Teruel and Nàstic before returning to Angola for the start of the domestic season, where they will compete in Girabola, the Angola Cup, the Super Cup, and the CAF Champions League.

Huesca's next pre-season fixture is against Osasuna on 26 July in Lerín.

A modest but useful work-out for both sides. Huesca's first-half display carried genuine promise for a team that has been rebuilt from the ground up, while Petro de Luanda's second-half response confirmed they will be a handful for anyone in pre-season. The scoreline flattered the hosts, but the result matters less than the minutes — and the lessons — gained.