Skip to main content
Nieuws
Transfers

Preview: Real Oviedo host Real Madrid on LaLiga return

Preview: Real Oviedo host Real Madrid on LaLiga return

Delen

Real Oviedo welcome Real Madrid to the Estadio Carlos Tartiere for their first Spanish top flight game at home in over 24 years.

By Graham Ruthven

Back in the big time

The spectacle of Sunday’s home opener against Real Madrid is the sort of thing Real Oviedo have missed. It’s been 24 years since Los Azules last hosted a LaLiga match. This sort of occasion was a world away when Oviedo nearly went bankrupt in 2012.

Real Oviedo suffered defeat to Villarreal on opening weekend, but will fancy their chances of turning home advantage into a more positive result against Los Blancos. Estadio Carlos Tartiere could produce an intimidating atmosphere to rival any other in the league.

Xabi Alonso started his LaLiga managerial career with an unconvincing 1-0 win over Osasuna secured thanks to a Kylian Mbappé penalty kick. Real Madrid must improve quickly.

Barcelona’s strength means Real Madrid can’t afford to drop any points on Sunday even this early in the 2025/26 season. Anything less than three points for the visitors would increase the scrutiny on Alonso.

December 1998 was the last time Real Oviedo beat Real Madrid in a league fixture. A home win would be truly historic.

Key players

Salomón Rondón missed a penalty for Oviedo in their first LaLiga game for 24 years last weekend. The experienced centre forward is expected to keep his place in the lineup, but must be more clinical in front of goal.

Goalkeeper Aarón Escandell made a number of saves to prevent Oviedo from conceding more than twice. The 29-year-old will likely need to be at his shot-stopping best against Real Madrid’s formidable forward line.

Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior will almost certainly feature from the start for the visitors, although questions remain over the pair’s capability in an Alonso system. Can they press from the front in the way their new manager wants?

Dean Huijsen has enjoyed a positive start to life as a Real Madrid player and will most likely start in central defence alongside Éder Militão with Álvaro Carreras in line to start once more on the left side of the backline.

Fede Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Arda Güler could feature in central midfield with the latter already earning himself a reputation as one of Alonso’s favourites in an unfamiliar deep role.

Team news

Alberto Reina saw red against Villarreal and will be suspended for Sunday’s meeting with Real Madrid as a consequence. 40-year-old Santi Cazorla could be in line for a start.

Álvaro Lemos and Jaime Seoane are expected to miss this weekend’s match. Otherwise, Veljko Paunović has a fully fit squad to choose from.

Alonso is without a number of key players through injury. Jude Bellingham is currently unavailable after undergoing a shoulder operation with Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga and Endrick also on the sidelines.

Tactically, Alonso has a decision to make. He used an orthodox 4-3-3 formation against Osasuna, but could switch to a back three after utilising the shape during the Club World Cup.

Prediction 

Real Oviedo 1-2 Real Madrid

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from LaLiga with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Preview: Real Oviedo host Real Madrid on LaLiga return

Real Oviedo welcome Real Madrid to the Estadio Carlos Tartiere for their first Spanish top flight game at home in over 24 years.

By Graham Ruthven

Back in the big time

The spectacle of Sunday’s home opener against Real Madrid is the sort of thing Real Oviedo have missed. It’s been 24 years since Los Azules last hosted a LaLiga match. This sort of occasion was a world away when Oviedo nearly went bankrupt in 2012.

Real Oviedo suffered defeat to Villarreal on opening weekend, but will fancy their chances of turning home advantage into a more positive result against Los Blancos. Estadio Carlos Tartiere could produce an intimidating atmosphere to rival any other in the league.

Xabi Alonso started his LaLiga managerial career with an unconvincing 1-0 win over Osasuna secured thanks to a Kylian Mbappé penalty kick. Real Madrid must improve quickly.

Barcelona’s strength means Real Madrid can’t afford to drop any points on Sunday even this early in the 2025/26 season. Anything less than three points for the visitors would increase the scrutiny on Alonso.

December 1998 was the last time Real Oviedo beat Real Madrid in a league fixture. A home win would be truly historic.

Key players

Salomón Rondón missed a penalty for Oviedo in their first LaLiga game for 24 years last weekend. The experienced centre forward is expected to keep his place in the lineup, but must be more clinical in front of goal.

Goalkeeper Aarón Escandell made a number of saves to prevent Oviedo from conceding more than twice. The 29-year-old will likely need to be at his shot-stopping best against Real Madrid’s formidable forward line.

Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior will almost certainly feature from the start for the visitors, although questions remain over the pair’s capability in an Alonso system. Can they press from the front in the way their new manager wants?

Dean Huijsen has enjoyed a positive start to life as a Real Madrid player and will most likely start in central defence alongside Éder Militão with Álvaro Carreras in line to start once more on the left side of the backline.

Fede Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Arda Güler could feature in central midfield with the latter already earning himself a reputation as one of Alonso’s favourites in an unfamiliar deep role.

Team news

Alberto Reina saw red against Villarreal and will be suspended for Sunday’s meeting with Real Madrid as a consequence. 40-year-old Santi Cazorla could be in line for a start.

Álvaro Lemos and Jaime Seoane are expected to miss this weekend’s match. Otherwise, Veljko Paunović has a fully fit squad to choose from.

Alonso is without a number of key players through injury. Jude Bellingham is currently unavailable after undergoing a shoulder operation with Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga and Endrick also on the sidelines.

Tactically, Alonso has a decision to make. He used an orthodox 4-3-3 formation against Osasuna, but could switch to a back three after utilising the shape during the Club World Cup.

Prediction 

Real Oviedo 1-2 Real Madrid

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from LaLiga with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.