Real Oviedo (18th, 3pts) vs FC Barcelona (2nd, 13pts)*
*Standings at time of writing
Competition/Round: 2025-26 La Liga, Matchday 6
Barcelona Outs & Doubts: Marc-André ter Stegen, Alejandro Balde, Gavi, Lamine Yamal, Fermín López (out)
Oviedo Outs & Doubts: Federico Viñas, Álvaro Lemos (out), Nacho Vidal, Luka Ilic, Oviemuno Ejaria, David Costas (doubt)
Date/Time: Thursday, September 25, 2025, 9.30pm CET (Barcelona), 8.30pm BST/WAT (UK & Nigeria), 3.30pm ET, 12.30pm PT (USA), 1am IST (India, Friday)
Venue: Estadio Municipal Carlos Tartiere, Oviedo, Spain
Referee: Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias
VAR: Valentín Pizarro Gómez
How to watch on TV: ESPN Deportes (USA), Premier Sports 1 (UK), SuperSport (Nigeria), others
How to watch online: ESPN+ (USA), Premier Sports Player (UK), FanCode (India), DAZN (Spain), others
Following a dominant win over Getafe to extend their winning streak in all competitions after the international break to three games, Barcelona return to La Liga action with a road game against newly-promoted Real Oviedo at the Carlos Tartiere Stadium on Thursday Night Fútbol.
Barça come into this one looking to continue building momentum after a disappointing first month and remain strong in the chase of leaders Real Madrid, who are still 100% and don’t look like losing anytime soon. The Catalans can’t control if and when Madrid will drop points but can control their ability to win all three available points in every game of theirs, and they will be big favorites to pick up another victory in this one.
Oviedo are back in La Liga for the first time in 24 years after an incredible journey in which they almost went out of business and needed financial support from former players just to avoid bankruptcy, but they’ve risen from the ashes and are once again back in the top flight to the delight of a loyal and incredibly passionate fanbase.
Unfortunately, because of their inability to spend big, Oviedo have by far the weakest squad in the league and the gulf in quality between them and the rest of the top flight teams has shown: Oviedo have lost four of their first five games and have scored just once so far, although that goal was enough to secure their only win of the season against Real Sociedad last month.
There are a few players with La Liga and even Premier League experience in the squad, but they’re already dealing with injuries to key starters and don’t look like true competitors for survival so far. They will be playing for a miracle against an in-form Barcelona, hoping that the Blaugrana take them for granted and assume it’ll be a walk in the park against a side far less talented than the mighty Barça.
Hansi Flick’s side has shown zero signs of arrogance and complacency since the international break, but the challenge is still there to not drop their levels and not lose focus against a team they’ll be expected to beat comfortably.
Barça must take this seriously from the start, create and convert enough chances early, and not give the home team and the home crowd any hope that a major upset could happen.
Let’s dance.
POSSIBLE LINEUPS
Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Garcia; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsí, Martín; Casadó, Pedri; Raphinha, Olmo, Rashford; Ferran
Oviedo (4-2-3-1): Escandell; Ahijado, Calvo, Carmo, Alhassane; Sibo, Dendoncker; Hassan, Reina, Chaira; Rondón
PREDICTION
There is a serious gap in quality between these two teams and Oviedo can’t score, so the only way Barça don’t win this is by being arrogant and taking the game for granted, and I don’t think the version of the Blaugrana we’ve seen since the international break is taking this one for granted: 3-0 Barça.
