Real Madrid will be aiming to make it successive wins at the start of the 2025-26 La Liga campaign when they travel to newly-promoted outfit Real Oviedo on Sunday night.
Los Blancos opened their season with a 1-0 victory over Osasuna, while Real Oviedo began life back in the top flight of Spanish football with a 2-0 defeat to Villarreal.
Match preview
Real Oviedo are back in La Liga for the first time since 2000-01, with the team navigating their way through last season's Segunda Division playoffs to book their spot in the top tier for the 2025-26 campaign.
The Blues have actually played in the third and fourth tier since their last relegation from La Liga, so it has been some rise back to this level, but they are expected to be among the relegation battlers this term.
Veljko Paunovic's side opened their La Liga campaign with a clash against Villarreal; it was always going to be difficult playing away to the Yellow Submarine in gameweek one, and they suffered a 2-0 defeat.
Real Oviedo have only won 14 of their previous 85 matches against Real Madrid, suffering 55 defeats in the process, including a 4-0 reverse when the pair last locked horns in the Copa del Rey in November 2022.
The last La Liga meeting between the two sides finished 1-1 in June 2001, though, and three of their last four contests in Spain's top flight have actually ended all square.
Real Oviedo's Santi Cazorla in action on May 20, 2024 [IMAGO]
As for Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso's side opened their La Liga campaign with a 1-0 victory over Osasuna; it was far from a convincing performance, but Kylian Mbappe's goal was enough to secure all three points.
Alonso will be looking for an improved performance this weekend, and the Spaniard will know that there is little room for error in the early weeks of the campaign due to Barcelona's immense strength.
Real Madrid finished finished second in La Liga last season, four points behind the champions Barcelona, while they were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Champions League by Arsenal.
Four signings have been made this summer, including three defenders, but midfield is an area that the club would like to boost, potentially next summer, as a big-money arrival before the end of this market seems unlikely.
Los Blancos will be expecting to put two more wins on the board against Real Oviedo and Mallorca ahead of the September international break, with the team then returning to action on September 14 against Real Sociedad.
Real Oviedo La Liga form:
L
Real Madrid La Liga form:
W
Team News
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham on February 19, 2025
Real Oviedo will be without the services of Alvaro Lemos through injury, while Santiago Colombatto, Jaime Seoane and Lucas Ahijado remain fitness doubts for the promoted outfit.
David Costas will be available again after serving a suspension, but Alberto Reina is now banned, with the defender sent off in the two-goal defeat to Villarreal last time out.
There are not expected to be any real surprises in the home side's XI on Sunday, with experienced striker Salomon Rondon again in line to feature in the final third of the field.
As for Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham, Ferland Mendy, Endrick and Eduardo Camavinga are again expected to be unavailable for selection due to injury problems.
However, Antonio Rudiger will be back in the squad after serving a suspension against Osasuna.
Eder Militao proved his fitness against Osasuna, and the Brazilian is in line to continue alongside Dean Huijsen at the back, while Brahim Diaz could again keep out Rodrygo in the final third of the field.
Real Oviedo possible starting lineup:
Escandell; Costas, Dendoncker, Calvo; Vidal, Ilic, Sibo, Alhassane; Chaira, Rondon, Hassan
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouameni, Guler; Brahim, Mbappe, Vinicius
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We say: Real Oviedo 1-3 Real Madrid
Real Oviedo have the quality to cause Real Madrid problems in this match, and we are backing the home side to find the back of the net. However, Alonso's side should ultimately be able to navigate their way to all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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