Real Oviedo vs Atletico Madrid Predictions & Match Preview

One of the standout Copa del Rey Round of 32 fixtures sees Atletico Madrid travel to Asturias to take on second tier Real Oviedo. It’ll be a special occasion at the Carlos Tartiere given it’s now 22 years since Oviedo were last in the top flight with few opportunities since to test themselves against elite level opposition.

That’s not the case for Oviedo’s coach though. Álvaro Cervera had plenty of recent duels with Atleti during his time as Cadiz boss and he has made a strong start to life in Asturias having taken over as Real Oviedo head coach in October. It’s just 1 defeat in 9 for Oviedo overall heading into this game with fellow Segunda outfit Granada defeated in Round 2 of this competition.

Whereas there has been top flight action since then, Real Oviedo have had a rest over the festive and new year period so they ought to be in pretty good condition for this game. Defensively they have improved considerably since Cervera took over with just 1 goal conceded in their last 6 competitive outings, although none of those games featured more than one goal in total so it hasn’t exactly been thrilling viewing.

Atletico Madrid will have a pretty good idea of what to expect as a result and they certainly can’t afford to take this game lightly given the struggles they’ve had this season. That’s unlikely to be the case anyway given the Copa del Rey now represents Atleti’s only realistic shot at winning a trophy this season.

January is already shaping up to be an interesting month at the Metropolitano both on and off the pitch. Matheus Cunha has already departed and rumours continue to circulate around Joao Felix whose departure may allow Los Rojiblancos to do some fresh business of their own. There was at least a winning return for Atleti as they beat Elche 2-0 in LaLiga last week in their first game after the World Cup but there is pressure on them here and there’s also a big clash with Barcelona to come this weekend.

Score Prediction: Real Oviedo 0-1 Atletico Madrid

With two coaches who are known for defensive football, it’s hard to see this being particularly open. Oviedo will most likely look to play on the break and they have the tools to frustrate Atleti but over 90 minutes, the visitors should have enough to find a breakthrough.

PLEASE NOTE – Our Copa del Rey predictions are not betting tips! No profits are guaranteed if you’re using them to bet on Spanish football. If you are gambling, do so responsibly and never stake more than you can afford to lose. BeGambleAware.