RCD Espanyol de Barcelona vs Real Oviedo Preview

What we know

RCD Espanyol de Barcelona will take on Real Oviedo at the RCDE Stadium on March 8, 2026. Espanyol is currently positioned 6th in La Liga with 34 points, while Real Oviedo finds itself at the bottom of the table in 20th place with just 16 points. This matchup will be vital for both teams, as Espanyol is vying for a European spot, and Oviedo hopes to escape the relegation zone.

Recent form shows Espanyol's last five matches yielded a split record of 1 win, 1 draw, and 3 losses, indicating some struggles. In contrast, Real Oviedo has matched their performance with 1 win, 3 draws, and 1 loss in their last five outings.

Availability

Both teams come into the match without injury concerns or suspensions reported, allowing them to field their full-strength squads.

Predicted Lineups

RCD Espanyol de Barcelona:

• Marko Dmitrović
• Ángel Fortuño Viñas
• Pol Tristán
• Llorenç Serred
• José Salinas
• Rubén Sánchez
• Miguel Rubio
• José López
• Clemens Riedel
• Carlos Romero
• Charles Pickel
• Omar El Hilali
• Ferran Gómez
• RamónTerrats Espacio
• Urko González
• Antoniu Roca
• Jofre Carreras Pagès
• Roberto Fernández

Real Oviedo:

• Aarón
• Horaţiu Moldovan
• Miguel Narváez
• David Costas
• Dani Calvo
• Lucas Ahijado
• David Carmo
• Javi López
• Marco Esteban
• Rahim Alhassane
• Omar Falah
• Santiago Colombatto
• Ovie Ejaria
• Santi Cazorla
• Luka Ilić
• Kwasi Sibo
• Haissem Hassan
• Alberto Reina

Tactical note

Espanyol will likely look to control possession and exploit Oviedo's defensive vulnerabilities while trying to find gaps in their backline. The offensive strategy employed by coach Manolo González could focus on high pressing, disrupting Oviedo's build-up play. Meanwhile, Jorge Almada's Real Oviedo may aim for a compact defensive display, hoping to catch Espanyol on the counter-attack.

What to watch

Fans should keep an eye on the battle between Espanyol's attacking line and Oviedo's defense. Additionally, the outcome of this clash could be pivotal for both teams' aspirations in the league moving forward. The last head-to-head between the two teams took place on October 17, 2025, where Espanyol fell 0-2 to Real Oviedo, adding to the intrigue.