Villarreal vs R. Oviedo prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-08-14 19:30.
[p]Set to return to the UEFA Champions League after a fifth place finish last season, Villarreal will open their La Liga campaign by welcoming newly-promoted Real Oviedo to Estadio de la Ceràmica for the first time in 25 years.[/p]
[p]Match News and Current Form[/p]
[p]Villarreal claimed their place at the top table of European football with six consecutive wins at the end of 2024/25, before making two lucrative sales (Álex Baena and Thierno Barry) in an otherwise fairly quiet off-season that was punctuated by the controversial free signing of Thomas Partey. Losing their second and third-most prolific goalscorers of last season is sure to be at least somewhat disruptive, and the club are reportedly seeking further additions to the squad. One win from eight pre-season friendlies doesn’t need to be concerning given the club had similar pre-season results last year before making it all the way to December with losses only to league monarchs Barcelona and Real Madrid (W7, D4). [/p]
[p]Former Villarreal midfielder Santi Cazorla led Oviedo back to the top-flight at age 40 and has re-signed to impart his La Liga experience on the club along with interesting new arrivals such as Horațiu Moldovan and Salomón Rondón. They’re considered the most likely club to be relegated after fighting their way back to the top through the play-offs and will be hoping their centenary season can be one of great celebration and joy. They recorded fewer away defeats than any other club last season in the Segunda División (W7, D9, L5) and could give a good account of themselves on that basis, though it wasn’t until mid-October that a newly promoted team won on the road in La Liga in 2024/25. [/p]
[p]Head-to-Head History[/p]
[p]These teams last met during Real Oviedo’s previous La Liga season (2000/01), with Villarreal winning both encounters.[/p]
[p]Hot Stats and Streaks[/p]
[p]Villarreal won all six league games against newly-promoted clubs last season (agg. 18-5).[/p]
[p]Two-thirds of Villarreal’s league games last season produced over 2.5 total goals, second only to Barcelona (71%).[/p]
[p]Oviedo drew half of their 16 league away games as outsiders last season (W3, L5).[/p]
[p]Oviedo conceded the opening goal in just seven league away games last season, the equal-fewest of the second division. [/p]
[p]Key Players to Watch and Missing Players[/p]
[p]New Villarreal signing Alberto Moleiro scored in six games for Las Palmas last season, striking his team’s first goal on four occasions. Play-off hero Ilyas Chaira was Oviedo’s second most prolific scorer last season with eight goals, six of them after half-time. [/p]
[p]Ayoze Pérez has been absent from Villarreal’s preparations and is questionable, whilst Logan Costa and Willy Kambwala picked up significant injuries during the pre-season to leave Villarreal short on defenders. Real Oviedo are without midfielder Jaime Seoane. [/p]
[p]Betting Analysis[/p]
[p]Villarreal may need some time to find their feet with a new front third, so we’d recommend backing Real Oviedo in the +1.5 goal handicap market. [/p]
[p][i]Author: Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]