Villarreal opened the 2025-26 La Liga campaign with a 2–0 home win over newly promoted Real Oviedo at Estadio de la Cerámica on Friday. The visitors squandered an early chance when veteran striker Salomón Rondón saw his 14th-minute penalty saved by goalkeeper Luiz Júnior. Oviedo’s evening deteriorated further when midfielder Alberto Reina was dismissed for a second yellow card in the 27th minute. The numerical advantage allowed the hosts to take control. Three minutes after the sending-off, Etta Eyong headed in from a corner to give Villarreal the lead, and Pape Gueye doubled the margin with a long-range strike seven minutes later. Villarreal managed the second half comfortably to secure the points, while Oviedo—back in Spain’s top flight after a 24-year absence—failed to register a shot on target after the break. Before kick-off, Villarreal paid tribute to former club icon Santi Cazorla, now 40 and playing for Oviedo, acknowledging his 334 appearances for the “Submarino Amarillo.” Oviedo will host Real Madrid next, while Villarreal travel to Sevilla in the second round of fixtures.