Overview
Real Oviedo officially returned to La Liga after a 24-year absence, when they passed the Segunda Division play-off round last season to win a valuable promotion ticket.
From being struggling in the third and fourth division, the Astor team has now had a spectacular journey to return to the number one playground in Spain. However, Oviedo is still considered to be in the group of candidates to stay in the league this season.
Coach Veljko Paunovic's team opened the campaign with a difficult away trip to Villarreal and accepted a 0-2 defeat. In the next round, the challenge will be even fiercer when they have to face Real Madrid - a team that Oviedo has only won 14/85 of their encounters in history and has lost 55 matches.
The last time the two teams met was in the Copa del Rey 2022, when Real Madrid won 4-0.
However, Oviedo still have some mental support as they have held Real Madrid to a draw in their last four encounters in La Liga three times, including a 1-1 draw in June 2001. This is the last season that Oviedo have been in the top flight.
On the opposite side, Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid started the new season with a minimal 1-0 victory over Osasuna. It was not a really impressive performance, but Kylian Mbappe's only goal was enough to help Los Blancos bring home all 3 points on the opening day.
Alonso has been aware of the pressure of chasing Barcelona since the start of the season, after Real Madrid finished second last season with four points behind their arch-rivals.
They were also eliminated from the quarter-finals of the Champions League by Arsenal. Therefore, the Spanish strategist certainly wants the team to improve their performance, avoiding unnecessary stumbles against weaker opponents.
This past summer, Real brought in 4 new players, including 3 defenders, but the midfield is still considered an area that needs to be upgraded in the future. The possibility of Los Blancos detonating a blockbuster in this transfer window is almost unlikely.
For now, Real Madrid's goal is to win all 6 points in the next 2 rounds against Real Oviedo and Mallorca, thereby creating favorable momentum before entering the September international break.
Personnel situation
Real Oviedo will be without Alvaro Lemos due to injury, while the possibility of Santiago Colombatto, Jaime Seoane and Lucas Ahicado playing is still open.
In defense, David Costas is ready to return after his suspension, but Alberto Queen is sidelined after receiving a red card in the loss to Villarreal.
Up front, it is no surprise that veteran Salomon Rondon continues to be the team's number one hope.
On Real Madrid's side, Alonso is still without the services of Jude Bellingham, Ferland Mendy, Endrick and Eduardo Camavinga due to injury.
However, Los Blancos will welcome the important return of Antonio Rudiger after suspension, promising to strengthen the solidity of the defense. Eder Militao also showed his fitness in the match against Osasuna and is likely to continue to play alongside Dean Huijsen.
Up front, Rodrygo could once again face Brahim Diaz for a spot, while Mbappe remains the most fearsome explosive.
Expected lineup:
Real Oviedo: Escandell, Costas, Dendoncker, Calvo, Vidal, Ilic, Sibo, Alhassane, Chaira, Rondon, Hassan
Real Madrid: Courtois, Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras, Valverde, Tchouameni, Guler, Brahim, Mbappe, Vinicius.
The match between Real Oviedo and Real Madrid takes place at 2:30 a.m. on August 25 (Vietnam time).
