Real Madrid welcome Real Oviedo to the Santiago Bernabéu tonight for a La Liga clash that carries more emotional weight than competitive stakes. After last weekend's painful defeat in El Clásico, which officially handed the league title to Barcelona, Los Blancos are looking to restore some pride in front of their home fans.
This marks the second consecutive season without silverware for the Spanish giants—a drought that hasn't sat well in the Spanish capital. Whispers of change are growing louder, with reports of ongoing talks to bring Jose Mourinho back for a sensational return. The Special One would be tasked with healing a fractured dressing room, following recent tensions between Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde, as well as reported issues involving Kylian Mbappe.
For now, though, the focus remains on the pitch. Real Oviedo arrive rooted to the bottom of the table, already relegated and preparing for life in the Segunda Division next season. The last meeting between these sides ended in a comfortable 3-0 win for Madrid back in August 2025.
Manager Alvaro Arbeloa faces a lengthy injury list. Mbappe has returned to training after a hamstring issue but is unlikely to be risked, while Valverde's participation is in doubt after injuries sustained during his altercation with Tchouameni. Dean Huijsen also looks set to miss out. Rodrygo, Eder Militao, Arda Guler, Ferland Mendy, and Dani Carvajal are all ruled out entirely.
For the visitors, Eric Bailly's broken nose keeps him sidelined, joining suspended duo Javi Lopez and Kwasi Sibo. Jaime Vazquez is out injured, and Leander Dendoncker remains a major doubt.
It's been a season of frustration for Real Madrid. After exiting the Champions League to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, a run of just two wins in their last six league games saw Barcelona seize the title. For Real Oviedo, their centenary season ends in disappointment—relegation was confirmed after languishing at the bottom since January. Tonight, both sides have little left to play for, but pride and professionalism remain on the line.