Villarreal cruised to a commanding victory over newly promoted Real Oviedo in the opening match of the 2025-26 La Liga campaign, with standout performances from Etta Eyong and Pape Gueye securing all three points at Estadio de la Cerámica on August 15, 2025. The Yellow Submarine controlled proceedings from start to finish, dominating possession and creating numerous chances while limiting Oviedo to just five total shots in front of 18,333 spectators.
The match turned decisively in Villarreal’s favor during a crucial eight-minute spell in the first half when Eyong broke the deadlock with a powerful header in the 29th minute following a corner kick routine. The hosts doubled their advantage just seven minutes later when Gueye struck a brilliant left-footed effort from outside the penalty area that found the bottom right corner, capping off flowing team play initiated by Nicolas Pépé. Oviedo’s best opportunity came in the 14th minute when goalkeeper Luiz Júnior brought down Ilyas Chaira in the box, earning a yellow card and conceding a penalty, but Salomón Rondón’s spot kick was saved low to the keeper’s left.
Villarreal’s performance demonstrated why they finished fifth last season and earned Champions League qualification, as manager Marcelino’s side executed their game plan with precision and discipline. The hosts maintained 67.8 percent possession throughout the match while completing significantly more passes and creating multiple high-quality scoring opportunities. Oviedo struggled to establish any attacking rhythm after returning to Spain’s top flight for the first time since the 2000-01 campaign, managing zero shots on target across the entire ninety minutes despite their spirited defensive effort.
The player ratings from multiple outlets reflected Villarreal’s comprehensive superiority across all areas of the pitch. Kylian Mbappé earned the highest individual rating with a 9.1 from Sports Illustrated for his two-goal performance in a separate fixture, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois received a 7.8 rating for his solid showing that included just one save but secured a crucial clean sheet. Federico Valverde posted a 7.2 rating despite lacking the brilliance of his previous performances, while defensive duo Raúl Asencio and Dean Huijsen both earned marks above 7.3 for their composed defensive work that limited Oviedo’s attacking threats.
In midfield, Eduardo Camavinga demonstrated his defensive capabilities with a 7.8 rating despite occasionally appearing lackadaisical in possession, while Jude Bellingham covered immense ground to earn a 7.9 mark for his work rate and long-ball distribution. The attacking trio of Franco Mastantuono, Vinicius Junior, and the match-winning duo all contributed significantly, though Vinicius endured persistent fouling from desperate Oviedo defenders attempting to neutralize his threatening runs down the left flank.
For the home side in the actual August 15 fixture, Etta Eyong justified his selection with the opening goal that came from excellent positioning and timing on the header that beat goalkeeper Aarón Escandell. Pape Gueye followed with his spectacular strike from distance, showcasing the technical quality that has made Villarreal one of Spain’s most entertaining teams to watch. Gerard Moreno remained a constant nuisance for Oviedo’s backline despite eventually being substituted due to injury in the 47th minute, with Tajon Buchanan entering to maintain offensive pressure.
Real Oviedo showed flashes of competitiveness but ultimately lacked the quality and experience needed to compete with established La Liga opposition. Goalkeeper Aarón Escandell made several important saves to prevent a more lopsided scoreline, facing constant pressure from Villarreal’s attack throughout both halves. The visitors saw Alberto Reina receive two yellow cards, with the second coming in the 27th minute for a foul on Pape Gueye, forcing Oviedo to play the majority of the match with ten men and severely hampering their already limited attacking prospects.
Oviedo manager Álvaro Cervera made tactical adjustments at halftime by replacing Haissem Hassan with Marco Esteban, attempting to shore up his defensive structure against Villarreal’s relentless attacking waves. Additional substitutions followed as Federico Viñas replaced Rondón in the 63rd minute and Borja Sánchez and Omar Falah entered in the 77th minute for Luka Ilic and Ilyas Chaira respectively. The final change saw veteran midfielder Santi Cazorla, who had spent successful years at Villarreal earlier in his career, come on in the 85th minute for his Oviedo debut, though by that point the result was beyond doubt.
Villarreal’s substitution pattern reflected their control of proceedings, with manager Marcelino introducing Dani Parejo and Alberto Moleiro in the 70th minute to replace Gueye and Juan Foyth, adding fresh legs and maintaining possession dominance. Alfonso Pedraza and Thomas Partey entered in the 82nd minute for Pépé and Santi Comesaña as the hosts closed out the victory professionally without conceding any late chances or opportunities for Oviedo to mount an unlikely comeback.
The statistical dominance told the story of Villarreal’s superiority, with the hosts recording 25 total shots compared to Oviedo’s five, along with ten corner kicks to the visitors’ solitary set piece opportunity. Villarreal committed ten fouls while Oviedo registered eight, though the visitors’ infractions proved more costly given Reina’s sending off that tilted the numerical balance decisively in the hosts’ favor. The Yellow Submarine’s ability to win the ball high up the pitch and quickly transition into dangerous attacking positions constantly unsettled Oviedo’s defensive organization.
Looking ahead, Villarreal will seek to build momentum from this impressive opening performance as they prepare for their Champions League campaign and pursue another strong La Liga finish. Oviedo faces the considerable challenge of adjusting to top-flight football after their 24-year absence, needing to quickly develop the tactical sophistication and individual quality necessary to avoid relegation. The gulf in class between the established Champions League participants and newly promoted sides was evident throughout this encounter, though Oviedo can take some encouragement from their defensive resilience despite the numerical disadvantage for most of the match.