Real Madrid had an important mission this weekend to keep up the chase against Barcelona even with little time left in pre-season, still searching for the best physical shape to kick-start the new LaLiga season. Luckily for the Merengue fans, the 3-0 win against Real Oviedo showed important progress, even if there were a few scares during the 90 minutes at the Estadio Nuevo Carlos Tartiere.
One of the most striking aspects of the team's recent promotion to Spain's top flight was the atmosphere of intense pressure and hostility towards their rivals, as the fans were very active with constant chants and a considerable proximity to the pitch. In other words, it won't be easy for the better qualified teams to get good results in this environment.
However, Real Madrid managed to go into the break with the lead after a great ball recovery by Aurélien Tchouaméni, who handled the ball very well and set up Kylian Mbappé, and the Frenchman finished with great precision after excellent control to give Xabi Alonso's side the lead.
The second half proved to be a difficult game with Real Oviedo's defensive lines very well closed and organized, and they began to trouble us a lot with long-range shots, requiring good saves from Courtois. We had an open game until the final minutes, but we had the big turning point of the match in the 87th minute. Midfielder Kwasi Sibo hit the Real Madrid crossbar in the hosts' main chance of the game, but soon afterwards, Kylian Mbappé was assisted by Vinícius Júnior to extend the lead.
The Brazilian was one of the protagonists of the second half after coming off the bench, having received a yellow card for simulating a penalty in the box. However, the best possible response was given, with an assist and a goal in stoppage time, ensuring that Xabi Alonso's side maintained their 100% record.
Rodrygo may have thrown away his last chance at Real Madrid
However, one of the most eye-catching moments was Rodrygo. In the midst of various speculations about being traded, the Brazilian started in Real Madrid's first team and ended up not making the most of the opportunity, leaving the pitch very angry after failing to make an impact against a technically inferior team.