The first H2H between Real Oviedo and Barcelona for 24 years went the way of the La Liga champions, who ran out 3-1 victors at the Carlos Tartiere Stadium and condemned their hosts to a fifth defeat in six games since gaining promotion from the Segunda División.
Given the length of time between meetings, it was no surprise to see the unfancied hosts harry and compete for every ball in the fledgling minutes, while Barcelona monopolised possession.
Four early corners for Oviedo had the home support in full voice, though Barça’s speed on the break and constant threat when going forward quickly silenced them again.
Marcus Rashford’s fierce volley brought the best out of Oviedo keeper Aarón Escandell, and once Pedri was allowed time and space on the ball, the hosts started to sit deeper than usual and chased shadows for large parts of the first half.
Unusually, the visitors were a little sloppy in their passing but still looked dangerous, Rashford again extending Escandell with a wicked curling shot.
Salomón Rondón almost nicked a goal with an inventive flick as Oviedo pressed, and the same player soon became one of the 10 men behind the ball as the hosts made life difficult for Barça.
Just after the half hour Raphinha saw his low drive hit the upright with Ronald Araújo’s follow-up well saved by an overly busy Escandell, before Joan García’s huge error left him in no man’s land and, despite Oviedo’s Alberto Reina being 40 yards out, he took full advantage with a stunning looping effort to put them 1-0 up, scoring just their second goal in six games in so doing.
Haissem Hassan showed Gerard Martín a clean pair of heels straight after HT, but García was equal to his shot, the hosts surprisingly making the running again.
First to every ball and stronger in the challenge, they were embarrassing the Catalan giants, and on 55, Araújo found himself in the left wing position – the confusion he helped to instigate ended with right-back, Eric García, prodding home the equaliser at the far post.
That sparked Barça into life, though Oviedo managed to hold firm against the onslaught from the visitors until the 70th minute, when substitute Robert Lewandowski powered home a magnificent header.
With the hosts then chasing the game, the spaces began to open up for Barça, and the Polish international almost bagged another from an impossible angle.
As the game entered its final stages, the sloppiness in Barcelona’s play returned, affording Oviedo unexpected opportunities to get forward, to which the crowd responded.
Fortunately for Hansi Flick, his side managed to see out the last few moments without too much trouble, and with two minutes left, a towering header from Araújo sealed all three points, wrapping up Barcelona’s seventh straight win in Thursday-held La Liga games – and making it a round dozen goals scored (one conceded) in three league matches for the Catalans.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Santi Cazorla (Real Oviedo)