Real Madrid walked into a sold-out Estadio Carlos Tartiere, heard nearly 30,000 voices roar for Real Oviedo’s homecoming, and still left with a clean, ruthless 3-0 win. Kylian Mbappé handled the heavy lifting with a brace. Vinícius Júnior iced it in stoppage time. The champions looked in control from the first whistle, even with a long injury list and a couple of selection headaches.
This was Xabi Alonso’s second league game in charge of a new campaign and a new look. A week earlier, Mbappé needed only a spot kick to win it against Osasuna. Here, he did it in open play—twice—showing the pace, timing, and confidence Madrid bought him for. Oviedo’s return to the top flight brought energy. Madrid brought precision.
Match recap
The first few minutes told the story: Oviedo pressed in bursts and tried to get the ball quickly into Salomón Rondón. Madrid didn’t flinch. Aurélien Tchouaméni kept the middle tidy, Arda Güler found pockets between the lines, and Federico Valverde drove the team forward on the right. Brahim Díaz, preferred on the wing for balance and ball security, linked well with Trent Alexander-Arnold, who stepped high and looked to switch play early.
Madrid’s opener came from a familiar pattern: win the ball, move it fast, and let Mbappé attack space before the defense can set. His movement off the shoulder was too sharp, and his finish too clean. The goal quieted the home crowd and let Madrid dictate tempo. From there, the champions controlled field position and forced Oviedo to defend deep for long stretches.
Oviedo didn’t fold. They looked for wide breaks through Hassan and Chaira and tried to isolate Rondón against the center-backs. A couple of half-chances kept Thibaut Courtois honest. But Éder Militão and Dean Huijsen handled the duels well, and Carreras tracked danger from the far side. Madrid’s spacing—Tchouaméni sitting, Valverde shuttling, Güler drifting into the half-spaces—kept the ball moving and the hosts chasing.
Mbappé’s second killed whatever suspense remained. It came from the same core idea: quick circulation, a burst into the box, and a finish before the goalkeeper could set his feet. Oviedo’s keeper, Aarón, made a few brave stops on other attacks, but he wasn’t getting near that one. With a two-goal cushion, Madrid shifted into control mode, rotated possession, and waited for openings.
Vinícius added the third in stoppage time, a punchy end to a night of sharp angles and measured risk. The Brazilian flirted with a goal earlier—diagonal runs behind the full-back, quick combinations with Güler—but he got his reward late. A 3-0 away win, a second clean sheet in a row, and a front line that already looks in sync—that’s a strong early message from the holders.
For Oviedo, the atmosphere was everything you’d expect from a club back in La Liga after a long wait. The stands were packed—29,758 in full voice—and the team played with the urgency you’d expect at home to the champions. The gap was in both boxes. Madrid finished. Oviedo didn’t.
Defensively, Madrid looked tidy despite notable absences. Alexander-Arnold’s aggressive positioning gave them an extra passer in midfield. Militão took most of the duels; Huijsen read the game well alongside him. Carreras offered balance on the left, choosing moments to overlap rather than bombing forward all the time. Courtois did the rest with sharp handling and calm distribution.
The selection calls went Alonso’s way. He had wrestled with the right wing spot between Brahim Díaz, the teenage Argentine Franco Mastantuono, and Rodrygo. He stuck with Brahim’s control and work rate, betting that Mbappé and Vinícius would carry the volume of chances. That mix worked, even without Jude Bellingham’s late runs and Ferland Mendy’s steady overlaps. Antonio Rüdiger was available again after a six-match ban, but Alonso kept him in reserve.
Lineups, tactics and talking points
Starting XIs
- Real Madrid (4-3-3): Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Militão, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Güler; Brahim Díaz, Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior.
- Real Oviedo: Aarón; Nacho Vidal, Costas, Calvo, Alhassane; Dendoncker, Sibo, Ilic; Hassan, Chaira, Rondón.
Match details
- Date: Sunday, August 24, 2025
- Competition: La Liga, Matchday 2
- Venue: Estadio Carlos Tartiere (Oviedo)
- Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
- Attendance: 29,758 (sellout)
- Score: Real Oviedo 0–3 Real Madrid (Mbappé x2, Vinícius Júnior)
Tactical snapshot
Madrid’s 4-3-3 had a few wrinkles. Alexander-Arnold stepped inside to create a midfield box when building from the back, freeing Valverde to sprint into the right half-space. Güler tucked behind Mbappé, looking for the slip pass or the cut-back. Tchouaméni anchored, broke up counters, and kept the game at Madrid’s preferred pace.
Oviedo’s plan hinged on quick transitions, early crosses, and Rondón’s hold-up play. When they pressed, they did it in short waves, trying to trap Madrid near the touchline. The problem was what happens after the first press is bypassed: Madrid found space behind the midfield line, and once Mbappé got a step, the damage tended to come fast.
Who was missing
Madrid traveled without Jude Bellingham, Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga, and Endrick, all dealing with injuries of varying degrees. That’s a lot of ball-carrying and box presence to replace. The upside for Alonso: he got another clean look at his depth options early in the season, and they passed a tricky away test without leaning on late-game chaos.
What stood out
- Mbappé already looks settled. He scored from the spot last week; here he broke the game open in live play—twice.
- Courtois stacked back-to-back clean sheets, a reassuring sign after a stop-start year.
- Brahim’s selection over Rodrygo and Mastantuono brought control on the right. It helped Madrid manage the game rather than turn it into a track meet.
- Oviedo’s energy is real, especially at home. The next step is turning pressure spells into high-quality chances.
The bigger picture
Two games, six points, and a front three already producing is a solid foundation for a title defense. Madrid didn’t need to be spectacular for 90 minutes. They needed to be clinical in the moments that matter. That part is already in place.
Oviedo takes a few positives from the night: the surge from the stands, the willingness to press, and the fight even at 0-2 down. The learning curve is steep when you face this level of speed and decision-making. Survival in La Liga often comes down to what you do against the teams around you. On this evidence, Oviedo has the structure and spirit to make a season of it.
For Madrid, the to-do list is clear. Get Bellingham, Camavinga, Mendy, and Endrick healthy. Integrate Rüdiger back into the back line rotation. Decide how to share minutes on the right wing without blunting the balance that worked here. If Alonso keeps this blend of control and directness, the attack will keep humming and the clean sheets will follow.
It wasn’t flashy wire-to-wire. It didn’t need to be. Madrid arrived with a plan, silenced a charged stadium, and left with three goals, three points, and very little drama. As early-season statements go, this was firm and familiar: organized at the back, ruthless up front, and already tough to catch.
