Villarreal – Oviedo
Oviedo has been waiting 24 years for this evening, now the return to the Primera División begins at the Estadio de la Cerámica. On Friday, August 15, Villarreal FC welcomes the promoted team, Marcelino meets Veljko Paunovic, two clear projects that have no shared history in the league. In terms of the table, everything is at zero, but the goals could hardly be more different: Villarreal is aiming for the top, while Oviedo is looking for immediate stability.
Villarreal comes into the game on the back of a strong finish to the season and decent preparations, most recently a 4-2 win over Sevilla and a 2-3 defeat at Arsenal. New signing Thomas Partey is registered, while Logan Costa and Willy Kambwala are missing, and Mouriño could start on the right. Oviedo travels with momentum from the promotion final, which they won 3-1 after extra time. Hassan is fit, David Costas is suspended, and Ovie Ejaria is available as a possible emergency replacement.
Villarreal – Oviedo Info
- Venue: Estadio de la Cerámica, Villarreal
- Date and time: 15.08.2025, 21:30
- Competition: Primera División (Matchday 1)
Our markets in a nutshell. Both teams to score: Yes, because Villarreal has scored in every game recently and Oviedo has a high scoring rate of 80%. Hassan is fit and Villarreal’s defense is depleted by the absences of Kambwala and Logan Costa, with Mouriño having to fill in on the right. Foyth is a reliable player, but the coordination can be shaky.
Over 2.5 goals seems likely. 75% of Villarreal’s recent games have ended with over 2.5 goals, and Oviedo has seen over 1.5 total goals in 80% of their games. This is supported by the attacking axes of Parejo, Moleiro, Yéremi Pino and Pepe on one side and Ilic, Hassan and Rondón on the other. Partey is registered and could organize the center, but that won’t completely relieve the rest of the defense.
Under 1.5 goals – 2nd half is a cautious bet, backed by Oviedo’s streak of never going over that mark in the last five games after the break, and because Marcelino’s teams often push forward early. The second half then becomes more tactical and controlled, with the risk remaining due to Villarreal’s offensive power. X2 – 2nd half is a good value option. Oviedo have not lost the second half in their last five games, drawing four of them, and the team looks solid late on. That could be an advantage against a Villarreal side with a tight central defense, even if the overall win at home is clearly leaning towards the Yellow Submarine.
Villarreal Form & Record Check
Villarreal’s run at the end of the season: 4-2 against Sevilla, 2-3 at Barcelona, 3-0 against Leganés, 0-1 in Girona. Mature performances with consistently exploited counterattacking opportunities; in Sevilla, they survived a shaky phase before the break. In Barcelona, they were efficient, while in Girona, their performance was sober and structured.
Noteworthy are the high-scoring first halves, with around 75% of them seeing more than 2.5 goals, as well as a reliable drive toward goal. Early goals against Sevilla, scored by Pino after four minutes and Gueye after eight, demonstrate this, with clear moves involving agile wingers and clean through balls into the center.
The rest of the defense showed vulnerabilities at times. Logan Costa and Willy Kambwala are missing, which is why new signing Mouriño could help out on the right more often. Up front, Baena and Pino carry a lot of weight. Villarreal is formally in 20th place in the table, but practically all teams are level on points.
Our prediction: Marcelino will stick with a 4-4-2 formation. In front of Conde will be a back four of Foyth, Marín, Mouriño, and Pedraza. Interestingly, there were rumors during the week that the club sees Mouriño more as a right-back, so it is also conceivable that he will start on the wing and Foyth will be rested, or vice versa, with Mouriño playing inside alongside Marín.
Buchanan and Pino are expected to play on the wings, with Gueye in the center as a defensive midfielder alongside the pass-strong Suárez. Up front, a versatile duo of Pérez and Moreno. Alternatives for control and balance would be Parejo or Comesaña, with Cardona on the left. Akhomach or Pépé would provide pace off the bench. All of the above are definitely possible starting elevens. No unusual absences have been confirmed in the latest reports.
Oviedo form & record check
Oviedo is carrying momentum from last season. They won 2-1 at home against Cádiz, followed by a mature 2-1 away win in Almería, but the 1-1 draw in the return leg exposed weaknesses in their passing. They lost 1-0 at Mirandés, which was a wake-up call. In the playoff final, they beat Mirandés 3-1 after extra time, thanks to Cazorla’s coolness from the penalty spot and Portillo’s punch.
The patterns are clear. Oviedo has scored in four of its last five competitive games, but has conceded before the break in each of those games and in all of its games overall. After that, the team defends with remarkable stability. Second halves have always remained below 1.5, with discipline but no late pinpricks. The pace picks up on the right, where Hassan is back to his best after overcoming his problems, bringing depth and dribbling.
Paunovic continues to balance the team. David Costas is suspended, Lemos is out, Colombatto is also missing, and Oier Luengo is likely to start alongside Dani Calvo. Reina and Ilic are set in the center, while the choice between Viñas and Rondón remains open up front. New signing Ejaria is an exciting but still unclear option. The club management continues to search for a center back. Oviedo formally starts in 16th place in the table, level on points with Real Madrid above and Real Sociedad below.
We expect a 4-2-3-1 formation under Paunovic. Escandell is likely to start in goal, with Vidal, Luengo, Calvo, and Alhassane in front of him. Reina and Sibo will stabilize the center, with Ilic acting as playmaker. Hassan and Chaira will play on the wings, with Rondón likely to lead the attack. The wings will be responsible for the transitions, with Ilic remaining the connecting link.
This is a prediction, nothing is certain. Personnel issues are shaping the selection, with Costas suspended, Lemos out injured, Seoane doubtful and Colombatto ruled out. Luengo is therefore likely to start alongside Calvo. Hassan is fit in time. Up front, a small decision remains to be made between Rondón and Viñas. New signing Ejaria could start on the bench and come on as a substitute.
H2H Villarreal – Oviedo Head-to-head & statistics
There have been no previous direct encounters between FC Villarreal and Oviedo. Accordingly, there is no H2H data available from which results, goal differences or match progress can be derived.
There are therefore no series, statements on dominance, late goals or red cards. The duel starts on a neutral sheet with no historical template.
