Highlights of Real Madrid vs Real Oviedo

 

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Real Madrid Silence Oviedo’s Fairytale Return with Ruthless 3–0 Victory

Estadio Carlos Tartiere, Asturias — August 24, 2025

The Carlos Tartiere was rocking. Blue and white scarves painted the Asturias air with colour, defiance, and a tidal wave of belief. After 24 long years in the wilderness, Real Oviedo had finally reclaimed their place in La Liga. Their fans, many of whom had endured Segunda obscurity and financial collapses, filled every seat with unshakable pride. This was not just a football match; it was a homecoming.

For ninety minutes, however, the romanticism of the occasion had to confront the cold, cutting reality of modern football’s aristocrats. Real Madrid, under new manager Xabi Alonso, strode into Asturias with Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Arda Güler leading the line. And though Oviedo battled with heart, Madrid’s quality was merciless.

When the dust settled, the scoreboard told a harsh truth: Real Oviedo 0–3 Real Madrid. Goals from Mbappé (two) and Vinícius had extinguished the fairytale glow. Yet the night was more layered than the numbers suggested — a meeting between dreamers and giants, passion and precision, history and inevitability.

First Half: Oviedo’s Nerves, Madrid’s Patience

The opening whistle was greeted with a roar so deafening that even Madrid’s stars looked taken aback. Oviedo pressed furiously in the opening exchanges, spurred by the energy of their fans and the veteran guile of Santi Cazorla, now 40 but still the heartbeat of this side.

In the 7th minute, Oviedo carved the game’s first half-chance — Sibo burst forward and unleashed a speculative strike that Courtois smothered comfortably. It was enough, though, to draw roars of approval from the terraces.

Madrid, calm and methodical, began to probe. Arda Güler dictated the rhythm, dropping between the lines and knitting triangles with Valverde and Tchouaméni. The French midfielder was immense, screening every Oviedo counter while recycling possession with precision.

The breakthrough came in the 37th minute, though not without controversy. Tchouaméni dispossessed Leander Dendoncker with what Oviedo insisted was a foul. The referee waved play on, Güler slipped a gorgeous through-ball into Mbappé, and the Frenchman did what he does best — a swivel of the hips, a drop of the shoulder, and a low finish drilled into the far corner.

Oviedo’s protests fell on deaf ears. The Carlos Tartiere turned from euphoria to indignation, but Madrid, unmoved, celebrated with quiet assurance.

Half-time arrived with Madrid one goal ahead. Oviedo had fought with fire, but Madrid’s machine-like composure was suffocating.

Second Half: Hope Flickers, Madrid Kill the Game

Oviedo began the second half with renewed intensity. The crowd demanded a response, and for a fleeting moment, the script threatened to flip. In the 54th minute, Sibo struck a crisp effort that beat Courtois but cannoned back off the post. Gasps of disbelief swept the stadium — that was their chance.

Madrid, stung, responded like champions. Valverde surged forward with relentless energy, Arda Güler kept threading passes, and Oviedo were gradually forced deeper and deeper.

Xabi Alonso introduced Vinícius Júnior for Rodrygo in the 65th minute — a substitution that would prove decisive. Vinícius’ raw pace stretched Oviedo’s back line, creating the chaos Mbappé thrives on.

The killer blow arrived in the 83rd minute. Another turnover in midfield — Oviedo losing composure under Madrid’s press — and suddenly Vinícius was darting forward. With perfect timing, he fed Mbappé, who rifled a finish into the bottom corner for his second of the night. The Frenchman wheeled away in celebration, arms outstretched, as if to say: this is my stage now.

If the second goal extinguished Oviedo’s hope, the third sealed their fate. In stoppage time, Brahim Díaz orchestrated a lightning counter, feeding Vinícius inside the area. The Brazilian cut inside with that trademark shimmy and curled home Madrid’s third. A dagger.

At full-time, Madrid’s bench embraced Alonso; Oviedo’s players slumped to the turf. The contrast was stark — jubilation versus exhaustion, efficiency versus emotion.

Tactical Analysis: Madrid’s Clinical Control

Madrid’s dominance was not built on swashbuckling chaos but on control. Alonso’s system emphasised midfield balance:

• Tchouaméni sat deep, snuffing out transitions.
• Valverde provided vertical thrust, covering ground with tireless energy.
• Güler operated as conductor, completing 61 of 65 passes, many of them line-breaking.

The full-backs, Mendy and Carvajal, stayed disciplined, ensuring Oviedo’s counterattacks rarely found joy. Mbappé, meanwhile, showcased his evolving role: not just a winger, but a ruthless central striker, always positioned to punish turnovers.

Oviedo, to their credit, attempted to press high in phases. But once Madrid settled, the gulf in technical quality was glaring. Their midfielders chased shadows, their defensive line retreated deeper, and their one moment of fortune — Sibo’s strike against the post — went begging.

Standout Performers

Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)

Two goals, constant menace. This was not just about speed — it was his finishing intelligence and positional play that shredded Oviedo. A talismanic performance.

Arda Güler (Real Madrid)

Silken on the ball, relentless in creation. At just 20, he played with the maturity of a veteran, orchestrating Madrid’s tempo and earning plaudits as man of the match.

Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)

Introduced as a substitute, he changed the game’s dynamic. One assist, one goal, and a reminder that even off the bench, he is lethal.

Aaron Escandell (Oviedo)

The goalkeeper made several crucial stops, including denying Mbappé a hat-trick with a reflex save. Without him, the scoreline could have been uglier.

Santi Cazorla (Oviedo)

Though his legs can no longer carry him as they once did, his vision and leadership were vital in keeping Oviedo organised. His standing ovation at full-time was a beautiful moment.

Atmosphere & Wider Context

If the match was cruel to Oviedo on the field, it was generous off it. The Carlos Tartiere’s atmosphere was unforgettable. Fans sang from first whistle to last, even as Madrid pulled away. At the final whistle, they stood and applauded their players — a show of loyalty rooted in decades of suffering and resurrection.

For Madrid, the victory was a statement of intent. Two wins from two, clean sheets intact, and Mbappé already looking like the decisive figure in their title charge. Alonso spoke afterwards about “balance, hunger, and collective spirit” — traits Madrid will need in a long campaign against Barcelona, Atlético, and resurgent Villarreal.

For Oviedo, the lesson was stark. Survival, not fairy tales, will define their season. Nights like this are reminders of the gap they must bridge. Yet their fight, their fans, and their resilience will serve them well.

Conclusion

The return of Real Oviedo to La Liga was never going to be judged on one night against Real Madrid. For 54 minutes, hope flickered. The post rattled, the crowd roared, and the dream lived. But Madrid, kings of ruthlessness, reminded everyone why they remain the benchmark.

Mbappé’s brace and Vinícius’ late strike ensured that Oviedo’s fairytale opening chapter ended in harsh reality. Yet football is not just about scorelines. For Oviedo, this was a night of pride, of history reclaimed, of fans who once feared extinction now watching their team on the grandest stage.

For Madrid, it was business as usual: three goals, three points, another step in the march towards glory.

The romance met the machine, and as it so often does, the machine won.