Few teams have the chance to take on Real Madrid, and even fewer manage to beat them. Of the 25 players called up by Veljko Paunovic for tonight’s clash with the Whites, 19 will be experiencing for the first time what it means to face a side of such stature. Of the remaining six, only two have defeated Madrid in the past.
Leading the list of those who have beaten Madrid in the past is Santi Cazorla, and he’s also the Oviedo player with the most meetings against the capital club. In a long career, the Llanerense has faced Madrid 18 times while representing Recreativo de Huelva, Málaga and Villarreal — he never faced them while at Arsenal — and tonight he will wear the azulgrana shirt. Yet this hasn’t been a foe that has treated him kindly. In those 18 encounters, he managed to win just once, and it came early in his career at the Bernabéu: a 0-3 triumph for Recreativo in 2006, with a then-21-year-old Cazorla playing all 90 minutes against the likes of Ronaldo Nazário, David Beckham and Raúl. He did, however, find the net on three occasions, and every time he scored, his team collected points. Fans remember his stunning late free-kick that silenced the Bernabéu to earn Málaga a 1-1 draw in the 2011-12 season. Another notable night was a brace with Villarreal that secured a 2-2 draw at El Madrigal in 2019.
The other member of the Oviedo squad who has tasted victory against Madrid is one of the newest arrivals: Eric Bailly. The Ivorian central defender faced the Madrid side on five occasions and won only once, with Villarreal in 2015, a 1-0 win thanks to a solitary goal from Roberto Soldado that tipped the balance. On that day Bailly started and helped stifle Madrid’s famous “BBC” attack — Bale, Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo — that had given Madrid so many joyful nights.
Following Cazorla, the players with the most clashes against Madrid are Nacho Vidal and Salomón Rondón, although neither managed to claim a win in their seven meetings. The full-back from Alicante did manage to earn four draws, while the Venezuelan international only managed to scratch a single point across his record with Madrid. The remaining two players with three appearances each against Madrid are the two central defenders who will start tonight: David Costas and Dani Calvo, and in both cases there were no victories.
For the rest of the Oviedo squad, tonight will be their first encounter with the Spanish giants. And for the coach, Veljko Paunovic, there is a note of nostalgia but also a clear opportunity. He recalled the chances Oviedo squandered in the last league game at home against Madrid in Tartiere, but insists that this is the past and a new memory can be created today. “The past is the past; this is an opportunity to write a new story,” the Serb said. If the blue-and-white side can pull off a historic result, it would be a feat remembered for years and a major boost for a club aiming to climb back to the elite in front of their fans.
What to watch:
– The duel between Cazorla and Bailly against Madrid’s firepower will be a test of experience and composure for Oviedo.
– The young center-backs Costas and Calvo face a stern challenge early in their careers.
– Paunovic will be hoping his side can translate belief into a memorable performance and perhaps turn a rare night into a turning point for the club.
Summary: Oviedo face a Real Madrid side replete with star power, but a handful of Oviedo players have previously conquered Madrid, and the manager emphasizes creating new memories tonight. If they pull off a result, it would mark a historic moment for the club and its supporters. The mood is hopeful, with the aim of springing a surprise and reigniting Oviedo’s push toward the top flight.