Sports Mole previews Friday's La Liga match between Real Oviedo and Espanyol, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.
Both royal oviedo and Spanish On Friday night, they will compete in week eight of the 2025-26 season as they try to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight.
The home team is currently ranked 17th La Liga standingsThe Catalan side have taken 12 points from their first eight games this season, with the visitors in ninth place.
Game preview
Real Oviedo has recorded 2 wins and 6 losses in 8 games in La Liga this season, accumulating 6 points and ranking 17th. It is only one step away from the relegation zone, but only 1 point ahead of Mallorca, which is at the bottom of the standings.
The Blues are back in the top flight for the first time since the 2000-01 season, having secured their return to La Liga through last season's La Liga play-offs, so their target this season is to finish 17th or above.
After losing 0-2 at home to Levante in the last game, Veljko Panovic was fired by Oviedo. Louis Carrion Now back in charge of the club.
Carrion, who has been unemployed since leaving Las Palmas in October 2024, previously coached Oviedo from September 2023 to June 2024, winning 20 of 42 games in charge.
The Blues have won 28 of their 85 previous games against Espanyol, with the two teams last meeting at the Carlos Tatière Stadium in June 2024, when the team won 1-0.
At the same time, the Espanyol started the season well, with 3 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses in 8 games, and 12 points.
The Catalan side are ninth in La Liga but have picked up just two points from their last four games, drawing with Girona and Valencia and losing to Real Madrid and Real Betis.
Manolo GonzalezThe team lost 2-1 at home to Real Betis before the international break, so a return to winning ways will be on the agenda in Oviedo on Friday night.
The Blazers finished 14th in Spain's top flight last season, so there is room for improvement this season, having won their first game since September's international break – a 3-2 victory over Mallorca.
Espanyol last faced Oviedo in La Liga in March 2001, a 2-2 draw, but they have lost just one of their last nine top-flight games against Friday's opponents.
Real Oviedo La Liga schedule:
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Espanyol La Liga schedule:
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Team news
Oviedo will welcome Luka Ilic back to the squad on Friday, with the 26-year-old missing the clash with Levante before breaking through the international break in October.
Alvaro Lemos Still sidelined with a knee injury, the home side hope Nacho Vidal will recover from a hamstring problem to start at right-back.
Solomon Rondon scored his first goal of the season in the win over Valencia at the end of September and the experienced forward is expected to continue to feature in the final third.
As for the Espanyol team, Harvey Puado The injury will keep him out for December, but the Catalan side are in fine form heading into Friday night's clash with Oviedo.
Head coach Gonzalez is likely to make the only change to the starting XI against Real Betis, with Puado's absence expected to open the door for Urco Gonzalez to come on at the first whistle.
Father Milla In strong form this season, with three goals in six games, the 33-year-old will become an eye-catching starter, while Roberto Fernandez will continue to feature in the final third.
Possible starting lineup for Real Oviedo:
Eskander; Vidal, Carmo, Bailly, Alhassane; Colombatar, Dendoncker; Hassan, Ilic, Chairman; Rondon
Possible starting line-up for the Spaniard:
Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Riddell, Cabrera, Romero; Gonzalez, Lozano; Dolan, Excito, Milla; Fernandez
We say: Real Oviedo 1-1 Espanyol
Carrion is determined to restart his life as Oviedo manager, but Espanyol have made a strong start to the season. It wouldn't be shocking to see a home or away win here, but we believe this tight contest will end in a draw.
For a breakdown of the game's most likely outcomes, scores and more, click here.
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