Castellón vs Sabadell

Pablo Hernández fielded a recognisable 4-2-3-1 shape with three new arrivals in the XI — goalkeeper Saipi, right-back Juanjo Nieto, and holding midfielder Álvaro Martín. José Albert, back from a loan at UD Ibiza, started at left-back.

Castellón signalled their intent inside the first minute when Raúl Sánchez forced a save from a tight angle at the near post. The early pressure told in the 16th minute: a rapid transition released Pablo Santiago on the right flank, and his driven cross found Álvaro García, who swept the ball home with the inside of his foot for the first goal of the pre-season.

Álvaro García nearly doubled the lead moments later, again combining with Pablo Santiago, but the Sabadell goalkeeper saved his close-range effort. The second goal arrived before the interval — Miguelón collected the ball on the left side of the area, cut inside onto his right foot, and placed a low shot inside the far post after a lay-off from Alcázar.

After a cooling break midway through the first half, Hernández replaced all but three outfield players (Raúl Sánchez, José Albert, Álvaro Martín). The pattern continued after the break, with Castellón controlling possession and creating chances. Substitute Camara rattled the side-netting, and Iñigo Córdoba forced a corner with a header that was tipped over.

Álvaro García's 16th-minute opener set the tone. The early goal allowed Castellón to dictate the tempo, rotate personnel freely, and test tactical combinations without chasing the game. Sabadell never registered a sustained period of pressure in response.

• Álvaro García — Scored the opener and nearly added a second. His movement and link-up with Pablo Santiago on the right flank were the most dangerous attacking outlet in the first half.
• Álvaro Martín — The new signing from the summer window controlled the tempo from deep midfield. Local outlet El Periódico Mediterráneo named him MVP of the first half, praising his "movilidad constante y calidad con su pierna izquierda."
• Miguelón — The academy product capped a composed display with a well-taken second goal, cutting inside from the left to finish with his right foot.
• Pablo Santiago — Provided the assist for the opening goal and created Álvaro García's second chance with another intelligent pass.

The provider payload records a 2-0 half-time scoreline and a second half with no further goals. The match page does not display possession, shots or xG figures — typical for a low-profile friendly — but the narrative from match reports confirms Castellón dominated both halves. The use of 21 players by Hernández reflects the primary objective of pre-season: building fitness and integrating new arrivals rather than chasing a margin. The six debutants (Saipi, Juanjo Nieto, Álvaro Martín, Bellari, Vlak, Iñigo Córdoba) all had between 30 and 60 minutes of action.

As a pre-season friendly, the result carries no competitive weight, but it offers early signals: Castellón retained their 4-2-3-1 structure from last season, suggesting tactical continuity under Hernández. The club's official website noted the historic significance of hosting a first-team match at Ciudad Deportiva La Coma for the first time. The Orelluts will continue their pre-season schedule with further friendlies before the 2026/27 Primera Federación campaign begins. Sabadell, also preparing for the new season, will look to sharpen their attack after failing to register a shot on target in the first half.

A textbook pre-season opener: early goals settled the game, heavy rotation gave minutes to the entire squad, and every new signing got a run-out. The performance was "recognisable" in structure and approach — exactly what Hernández would have wanted from the first rehearsal.