Real Madrid will be joining Real Oviedo for the first time in 24 years after the latter was promoted to Spain's top pilot.
Unlike last season, Los Blancos started the league campaign with three points. The club's 1-0 victory over Osasuna was comfortable but boring, and the new look of Xabi Alonso Real Madrid is still finding their identity.
Five days later, they set out for the real Oviedo from the Spanish capital. Veljko Paunović's man, who beat Villarreal 2-0 in his return to Spain's top game, is now working on a bigger test against La Liga runner-up.
Both clubs will score three points in the game for the first time since 2001, both eager to make statements under the lights of Estadio Carlos Tartiere.
This is Sports Illustrated La Liga Conflict Guide.
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Real Oviedo vs. Real Madrid's positive record
Current Form (All Competitions)
Real Oviedo
real Madrid
Villarreal 2–0 Real Oviedo -15/8/25
Real Madrid 1–0 Osasuna – 19/8/25
deportivo laCoruña2–1 Real Oviedo -6/8/25
WSG Tirol 0–4 Real Madrid -12/8/25
Real Oviedo 1-0 Culture Leonsa -3/8/25
PSG 4–0 Real Madrid – 9/7/25
Real Oviedo 0–0 Villarreal -31/8/25
Real Madrid 3–2 Dortmund – 5/7/25
Getafe 1–1 Real Oviedo -31/7/25
Real Madrid 1-0 Juventus – 1/7/25
nation
TV/live broadcast
USA
ESPN+, ESPN drive, fubotv
U.K.
Prime Minister's Movement 1
Canada
TSN+, Prime Video
Mexico
Sky movement
Alberto Reina (right) was suspended for Sunday's match. /Jose Jordan/ AFP via Getty Images
The injured Álvaro Lemos, Lucas Ahijado and Jaime Vázquez will all miss the clash with Real Madrid. Brandon Domingues was not on the squad of Paunović due to illness.
On Friday, after Espanyol gave away the La Liga opening match of Espanyol in just 27 minutes, the host will not have Alberto Reina.
The good news is that after the lack of Royal OR code season and the match against Villarreal, Godardo is back. Although it is unlikely that the midfielder will start, he will probably stay on the bench for a while.
Salomón Rondón is the player who watches the real Oviedo. / fotmob
Real Oviedo predicted lineup with Real Madrid (3-4-3): Escandell; Costas, Dendoncker, Calvo; Vidal, Ilić, Sibo, Alhassane; Chairman of Hassan Rondón
Rodrygo is once again ignored by Xabi Alonso vs. Osasuna. /Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/ISI Photos by Getty Images
Real Madrid still has no injuries to Jude Bellingham, Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavega and Enderick. For Los Blancos, the absence of the England internationals in the La Liga opener was particularly evident as they worked hard to create goals from the open game.
Alonso can pay tribute to 18-year-old Franco Mastantuono, giving Real Madrid a 10th or fresh face on the right wing, but the manager may stick with Brahim Díaz, while Rodrygo's future remains uncertain.
Now, the new owner can also choose Antonio Rüdiger as the centre-back has served in his six games. Éder Militão remains the leader in nodding along with Dean Huijsen.
Xabi Alonso decided to make it on the right. / fotmob
Real Madrid predicted lineup with Real Ovito (4-3-3): courois; Alexander-Arnold, Militão, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Güler; Díaz, Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior
Not only will Real Madrid have an edge over Real Oviedo in every position, they will also be eager for a more convincing performance than La Liga’s opener. It's hard to imagine Mbappé or Vinícius Júnior trying to find the back of the net on the newly promoted side.
In addition, Alonso's soldiers looked defensive last time with the return of Militão and the addition of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Huijsen and Álvaro Carreras. If his backline reappears and shows up, Thibaut Courois will not have much to do on Sunday.