FC Andorra Secure Vital 0-0 Draw at Sabadell in Gritty Battle

FC Andorra claimed a hard-fought 0-0 draw at CE Sabadell’s Estadi de la Nova Creu Alta, ending the hosts’ perfect home record through a gritty defensive display anchored by goalkeeper Jesús Owono.

The contest matched coach Carles Manso’s prediction of a bruising encounter, marked by physical duels, long balls, and intense pressing rather than open play. Sabadell, under former Andorra manager Ferran Costa, imposed their direct style, suffocating Andorra’s attempts to control possession in the first half.

Early tension arose in the eighth minute when Owono’s risky backpass to Bomba invited pressure from Joel Priego, but the goalkeeper stopped the striker’s central effort. Andorra struggled for rhythm on a tough surface, with few clear openings. After the break, Moró Sidibé wasted a prime chance, breaking free from Pere Pons only to sky his shot with Jordi Cano unmarked nearby. Sabadell’s Ángel Baena missed an open goal, ruled offside by referee José Luís Guzmán Mansilla, while Javi López-Pinto fired over soon after.

Owono proved decisive late on, blocking Miki Codina’s half-volley with his foot in the 92nd minute and watching Yanis Rahmani head wide from a corner in stoppage time. Andorra mustered no shots on target but kept a clean sheet, halting a run of defeats.

Substitutions reflected the battle’s toll: Andorra brought on Álex Calvo for Andoni López at halftime, Hugo Solozábal and Nicolás Quintana for Efe Akman and Lautaro around the 65th-67th minute mark, Hugo López for Sidibé on 70 minutes, and Lautaro Spatz for Jordi Cano on 83. Sabadell switched López-Pinto and Miki Codina for Pere Pons and Eneko Aguilar on 53-54 minutes, Alain Ribeiro for Ton Ripoll on 63-64, and Rahmani for Giorgi Obolskii on the same mark, with Óscar Sanz exiting for Marc Catalá on 77-78.

Yellow cards went to Sabadell’s Obolskii and Priego, and Andorra’s Andoni López, Akman, Marc Domènech, Cano, and Alende. VAR official was José Antonio López Toca.

Manso praised the result afterward: “This is a stadium that demands so much and they’re very intense. They play with lots of long balls, and this point has to help us grow. Keeping a clean sheet matters. Sometimes we’re guilty of making it all too pretty.”

Andorra, seventh from the bottom on seven points, host Castelló at Nou Estadi de la FAF on Sunday at 2pm before 7,672 fans.

Match details

CE Sabadell: Diego Fuoli; Ton Ripoll (Alain Ribeiro 64’), Óscar Sanz (Marc Catalá 78’), Edgar González, Eneko Aguilar (Miki Codina 53’); Urri, Pere Pons (Javi López-Pinto 53’), Ángel Baena, Quadri, Joel Priego; Giorgi Obolskii (Rahmani 64’).

FC Andorra: Jesús Owono; Carrique, Bomba, Diego Alende, Andoni López (Álex Calvo 46’); Sergio Molina, Efe Akman (Hugo Solozábal 67’), Marc Domènech; Jordi Cano (Lautaro Spatz 83’), Moró Sidibé (Hugo López 70’), Lautaro de León (Nicolás Quintana 67’).

Referee: José Luís Guzmán Mansilla (Andalusia). Attendance: 7,672.