MADRID (Interstat) — Real Madrid opened its La Liga campaign with a 2-0 victory over Real Oviedo on Thursday afternoon at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, a result that validated the pre-match projections of the Interstat game simulator but required a patient approach to break down a stubborn visiting defense.

Gonzalo García put the home side ahead in the 44th minute, finishing a sequence that began with a threaded pass from the midfield. The goal came just before halftime, giving Real Madrid a narrow advantage after a first half in which it controlled possession but found few clear chances against a compact Oviedo block. Jude Bellingham doubled the lead in the 80th minute, converting from close range after a corner kick was initially cleared only to fall to the England international at the edge of the six‑yard box.

Real Madrid’s defense, anchored by its central pairing, limited Oviedo to a handful of half‑chances, none of which forced a serious save from the goalkeeper. The visitors’ best opportunity came early in the second half when a counterattack ended with a shot that sailed wide of the far post. Oviedo, promoted to the top flight this season, showed resilience in its first match back but lacked the final‑third sharpness to trouble the reigning champions.

García’s opener was his first goal of the season after an offseason transfer from the club’s youth system. He started in place of an injured forward and made the most of the opportunity by positioning himself well in the box to meet a cross. Bellingham’s strike was vintage of his late‑arriving runs; he has now scored in three consecutive league matches dating to last season.

The victory gave Real Madrid one win and zero losses in La Liga play and across all competitions. Oviedo dropped to zero wins and one loss in both the league and overall. The result extended Madrid’s home winning streak to 11 league matches dating to last season.

The match was the season opener for both teams. Real Madrid will travel next week to face Valencia, while Oviedo returns home to host Athletic Bilbao.

In the final moments, Madrid nearly added a third when a long‑range effort from Federico Valverde was tipped over the crossbar by Oviedo goalkeeper Leo Román. Román finished with five saves, several of them coming in a frantic final 10 minutes when Oviedo pressed forward in search of a consolation goal.

The game also marked the managerial debut for Oviedo’s new coach, who took over in the offseason. His side imposed a disciplined shape but struggled to build sustained attacks, completing fewer than 10 passes in the attacking third in the first half. Madrid’s fullbacks pushed high throughout, pinning Oviedo’s wingers into defensive roles.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Real Madrid 2, Real Oviedo 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Real Madrid with a 97.70 percent probability to win.