Barcelona will look to continue their unbeaten start to the 2025/26 La Liga campaign when they travel to Estadio Carlos Tartiere to lock horns against promoted Real Oviedo on Thursday, September 25.
The Catalans have had a solid start to their league campaign with four wins and a draw from the first five league games. That draw came against Rayo Vallecano, who held them to 1-1 back in August.
Hansi Flick’s men need to register a win in their away trip to Oviedo to keep up with Real Madrid as they triumphed 4-1 over Levante away from home on Tuesday.
Barcelona are coming off a 3-0 win over Getafe in the previous encounter while they eked out a 2-1 win over Newcastle United in the Champions League opener this season.
Meanwhile, Oviedo are in the Spanish top flight after 24 years and haven’t had a rollicking start like their opponents. The hosts have lost four out of their first five league games and only registered a single victory, which came against Real Sociedad at home.
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Real Oviedo vs. Barcelona lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest
Veljko Paunovic has some injury concerns as Nacho Vidal and Luka Ilic were both forced off in their previous clash against Elche and are unlikely to feature against Barcelona.
Alvaro Lemos, David Costas and Ovie Ejaria also remain on the sidelines.
Paunovic may shift to a back-three system with Eric Bailly joining the starting XI to partner David Carmo and Dani Calmo. Leandro Dendoncker will be the key player in the middle as the Belgian will have the tough task of dealing with Barcelona’s world-class midfielders.
Santi Cazorla is expected to feature in this match, with Salomon Rondon leading the line for Oviedo despite misfiring in his first four games for his new club.
Real Oviedo predicted starting XI (3-4-1-2, right to left): Aaron (GK) — Bailly, Carmo, Calvo — Ahijado, Dendoncker, Reina, Alhassane — Cazorla — Chaira, Rondon
Injured: Vidal (hamstring), Ilic (ankle), Lemos (knee), Costas, Ejaria (muscular)
Suspended: None
Flick has plenty to think about when it comes to injury. Fermin Lopez misses this fixture after he suffered a groin issue against Getafe and will be out for three weeks, while Gavi is set to undergo surgery on a knee problem and could be out for a prolonged period.
Apart from them, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Alejandro Balde are also unavailable for this match while Lamine Yamal, who missed the Getafe clash, will be assessed ahead of kickoff and currently remains a doubt.
Considering the teenager’s fitness concerns, Ferran Torres may start on the left flank after scoring a brace against Getafe with Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski partnering him in attack.
Barcelona predicted starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): J. Garcia (GK) — Kounde, E Garcia, Cubarsi, Martin — Pedri, De Jong, Casado — Raphinha, Lewandowski, Torres
Injured: Gavi (knee), Ter Stegen (back), Balde (hamstring), Lopez (groin), Lamine Yamal (groin, doubt)
Suspended: None
Real Oviedo vs. Barcelona match details
- Date: Thursday, September 25, 2025
- Kickoff time: 9:30 p.m. local / 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT / 5:30 a.m. AEST (Sep. 26)
- Location: Estadio Carlos Tartiere, Oviedo (Spain)
- Competition: La Liga matchday 6
- Referee: Jose Luis Munuera Montero
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