In a La Liga clash that feels more like a battle for survival than a football match, Real Oviedo host Mallorca at the Estadio Nuevo Carlos Tartiere on December 5, 2025. With Oviedo languishing at the bottom of the table and Mallorca desperately trying to distance themselves from the relegation zone, stakes couldn't be higher. Will Oviedo find their way out of the dark depths of 20th place with only nine points, or will Mallorca seize this opportunity to cement their spot above the dreaded drop?
Predicted Lineups: For Oviedo, expect a 4-1-3-2 formation: GK: Aarón Escandell, DEF: Nacho Vidal, David Costas, Dani Calvo, David Carmo, MID: Leander Dendoncker, Santi Cazorla, Ilyas Chaira; FWD: Salomón Rondón, Federico Viñas. Meanwhile, Mallorca should line up in their tried-and-true 4-2-3-1 formation: GK: Lucas Román; DEF: Johan Mojica, Antonio Raíllo, Martin Valjent, Pablo Maffeo; MID: Samú Costa, Omar Mascarell; FWD: Sergi Darder, Mateo Joseph; leading the line will be Vedat Muriqi.
Looking at recent form tells us two stories: one full of despair for Oviedo and another where Mallorca shows glimpses of resilience despite being marred by inconsistency. Oviedo's last five matches read like a horror story-two draws and three losses. Their latest encounter against Atletico Madrid highlighted all too starkly their struggles in front of goal with an xG of just 0.62 compared to Atletico's 1.69. With only two goals scored in their last five outings and unable to register a win since early October (yes folks, you heard right), they're in dire need of points-and fast.
On the flip side is Mallorca-a side that has gathered 13 points from 14 games but looks nothing short of vulnerable defensively. Their recent performances tell a different tale: two draws and one victory over Getafe have kept them above water but certainly not sailing smoothly. The double whammy from Vedat Muriqi could prove crucial again as he leads their attack with six goals this season.
One fascinating contrast between these teams lies in their tactical setups and how they play the possession game. Despite often struggling to maintain control-averaging about 41% possession across those dreadful fixtures-Oviedo tends to engage opponents physically as evidenced by their average foul count rising notably compared to Mallorca's less aggressive approach. In stark contrast, Mallorca enjoys about 52% possession when they can get it together but then falters on defensive duties with corners conceded reaching excessive levels recently.
Taking a closer look at offensive stats reveals some telling discrepancies as well: while both teams have been fairly lackluster offensively-with Oviedo particularly struggling for shots-they've had wildly varying success rates with actual scoring chances created. Mallorca's shot conversion ratio stands slightly better than Oviedo's dismal conversion figures which hover near rock-bottom among La Liga teams.
Defensively though? That's where things get interesting-or alarming depending on your perspective! While Oviedo boasts a higher number of saves thanks to Aarón Escandell-who has managed to keep his team afloat amid onslaughts-the sheer number of defensive errors proves that being busy doesn't always translate into effectiveness.
For key players heading into this match-up? Keep an eye out for Vedat Muriqi from Mallorca who needs no introduction as he's proven time and again he can turn scraps into goals-his back-to-back brace against Osasuna was nothing short of heroic considering his team's situation. For Oviedo? A player like Santi Cazorla, albeit past his prime but ever-lurking creativity may well hold keys to unlock desperate defenses.
Ultimately this match shapes up not just as two teams seeking valuable points but also serves as a litmus test for contrasting styles-the possession-based setup of Mallorca versus Oviedo's gritty grind-it-out mentality demands tactical adaptability from both sides if they want anything beyond merely sharing spoils.
The prediction here? With home advantage tipping the scales ever so slightly towards Real Oviedo-who surely can't go another match without winning-and with pressure mounting on both ends-you could very well see them snatch three precious points against what has proved time after time to be a prone-to-error Mallorca defense. Expect either Cazorla or Rondón stepping up and turning frustration into jubilation! All aboard for what promises to be a thrilling tussle down at Tartiere!