Real Oviedo vs Atletico Madrid

La Liga heavyweights Atletico Madrid head to the Estadio Nuevo Carlos Tartiere to encounter second-tier Real Oviedo in the Copa del Rey round of 32.

Despite languishing in mid-table lethargy in the Segunda Divison, Real Oviedo stunned Granada 1-0 in the last Copa del Rey round following an extra-time 3-2 win over lower-league Torrelavega in their opening cup tie. However, ‘Los Azules’ have established themselves as ‘entertainment killers’ of late, with their last six competitive outings seeing one or both sides failing to score in matches garnering under 1.5 total goals (W4, D1, L1). Oviedo’s water-tight backline will have to carry the weight again if they’re to upset the odds and beat Atletico Madrid for the first time since a 3-2 La Liga victory in 1998. They’ve since gone winless in five consecutive H2Hs in all competitions (D3, L2).

On the other hand, Atletico Madrid made light work of lower-league outfit Arenteiro in the previous Copa del Rey round (3-1) to set up this tie and went on to thump Elche 2-0 in their first post-World Cup La Liga fixture. Including friendlies, Diego Simeone’s men have won their last four matches by a two-goal margin to steady the ship following an underwhelming five-game winless streak in competitive football (D2, L3). Indeed, they’ve won their last two away fixtures, each in Copa del Rey, having lost three straight games on the road beforehand by a single-goal margin. It’s still a bit odd that ‘Los Colchoneros’ have only kept one clean sheet in their last seven matches outside the Metropolitano Stadium.