Oviedo – Real Madrid
After more than 24 years, Real Madrid returns to the Estadio Carlos Tartiere, where the Royals have historically struggled. The last league meeting against Oviedo ended in a 1-1 draw in June 2001, and Madrid has not won a single game in its last four away games there. For Oviedo, this game marks a return to the top flight after almost a quarter of a century, with coach Veljko Paunovic able to call on high-profile new signings such as Josip Brekalo and Belgian international Leander Dendoncker. Real Madrid are still missing key players such as Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga, while Rodrygo faces an uncertain future under Xabi Alonso after being left out against Osasuna. The bookmakers see Madrid as clear favorites, but history cautions against complacency in Asturias.
- Venue: Estadio Municipal Carlos Tartiere, Oviedo
- Date and time: 24.08.2025, 21:30
- Competition: Primera División (Matchday 2)
Oviedo form & record check
Real Oviedo are under pressure after a poor start to the league season. The 0-2 defeat at Villarreal was marked by Alberto Reina’s early red card after only 28 minutes. Coach Veljko Paunovic spoke of an “accident” and criticized the harshness of the decision. The statistics from the last five games are remarkable: Oviedo conceded a goal in every first half, but kept a clean sheet in all of the second halves. With the signing of Leander Dendoncker, the Asturians have brought experience to their midfield. The 30-year-old Belgian brings Premier League experience and could make his debut against Real Madrid. Josip Brekalo is also ready to play after his transfer, although his arrival could lead to further departures in the offense. The team’s 19th place in the table, with the same number of points as Celta Vigo and Mallorca, reflects their precarious situation. On Sunday, the Carlos Tartiere will be the venue for a league match against Real Madrid for the first time in 24 years.
Paunovic is expected to field his usual 4-2-3-1 formation. Escandell could start in goal, with Nacho Vidal, Luengo, Dani Calvo, and Alhassane in defense. The midfield would consist of Sibo and Alberto Reina, while Hassan, Ilic, and Chaira would occupy the attacking positions behind striker Rondón. With new signings Dendoncker, Brekalo, and Bailly, the coach has additional options at his disposal. Brekalo could be an alternative on the wing after signing a contract until 2027. The experienced Dendoncker brings Premier League experience and could strengthen the midfield, while Bailly is expected to stabilize the defense.
Real Form & Record Check
Real Madrid are in mixed form ahead of their away game in Oviedo. The 1-0 win against Osasuna was successful, but by no means convincing. Xabi Alonso’s team needed a penalty from Mbappé in the 51st minute to break the deadlock. Defensively, Madrid looked impressively solid, with Huijsen and Militão allowing only one notable chance on goal. Courtois had little work to do. The offense, on the other hand, is a cause for concern. Madrid struggled to create clear chances against Osanuas’ compact 5-3-2 formation. With 71% possession, the game looked controlled, but only three shots on goal from 273 passes highlight the efficiency problems. Vinícius was successfully neutralized. The club is plagued by important absences: Bellingham, Camavinga, and Mendy are out injured, while Endrick is out with knee problems. The coach currently prefers Güler as the playmaker in midfield, even though Ceballos is available. The statistics from the last five games show four wins and one defeat against Paris Saint-Germain. Madrid scores regularly but also concedes goals consistently. The visit to the newly promoted side could be a stumbling block, especially as Madrid has historically struggled at the Carlos Tartiere.
Xabi Alonso is likely to stick with his tried-and-tested 4-3-3 system against Real Oviedo, which proved solid against Osasuna. However, the new coach will have to do without some key players: Bellingham is still out with a shoulder injury, and Camavinga has not yet recovered from his ankle injury. After a successful start, Carreras could once again be preferred to Fran García at left-back. In midfield, Güler looks set to cement his role as playmaker after earning the position against Osasuna. The return of Carvajal from injury provides additional options, although Alexander-Arnold will have to continue fighting for his place.
H2H Oviedo – Real Head-to-Head & Statistics
The two teams are facing each other for the first time in their history. Oviedo and Real Madrid have never played each other before, making this match a special occasion. Neither Paunovic nor his players can draw on any experience against Los Blancos, and the same goes for Xabi Alonso and his team. The lack of a shared history could well be a factor. Both coaches will have to base their preparations solely on video analysis and general tactical considerations, without any concrete reference points from previous encounters.
The first recommendation, “Both teams to score: No,” is based on an interesting discrepancy between the defensive performances. While Oviedo has conceded goals in each of its last five games, Real Madrid has kept an impressive clean sheet. The Madrid side looked surprisingly compact under Xabi Alonso against Osasuna, conceding only one chance on goal. Oviedo will have to play without a genuine striker in top form after losing key offensive players. The second tip, “Under 1.5 goals – 2nd half,” is based on statistical clarity: both Oviedo (100%) and Real Madrid (80%) have tended to have low-scoring second halves recently. The riskiest tip is “Draw at Half-Time,” which takes into account that Oviedo’s first halves have been weak and Madrid may need time to find their rhythm without Bellingham and Camavinga. The betting market sees Real Madrid as the clear favorite at 1.3, while our analysis identifies value against the market trend in certain areas.
