Real Madrid versus Sporting Gijon – La Liga: Match Preview
Spanish Primera Division action resumes once again this weekend http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AS-Real-c38478 Madrid host Sporting Gijon on Saturday, 2nd of April. As both teams prepare for their tough tie at Santiago Bernabéu, let’s take a look at how Jose
Mourinho’s men will match up against Manuel Preciado’s team:
Real Madrid
With their UEFA Champions League quarter-final looming large on the horizon against Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid go into their Spanish league tie against Sporting Gijon just five points behind the league leaders, Barcelona. In
all reality, Real Madrid cannot afford to gain anything but a win against Sporting Gijon. Jose Mourinho’s men are in a fine run of form at the moment as they have won all five of their previous five competitive fixtures.
In doing so, Real Madrid have scored a total of 17 goals and conceded only two. This tremendous run has seen Jose’s outfit close in on Barcelona. Los Blancos can take further comfort from the fact that they defeated Sporting Gijon
by a goal to nil early on in the La Liga season when both the teams met in November of 2010.
Sporting Gijon
In contrast to Real Madrid, Sporting Gijon are caught in the web of a Spanish relegation battle. Rojiblancos are just three points off the relegation zone in La Liga at the moment. Presently, Sporting occupy the 15th
place spot with only 32 points from 29 matches. Additionally, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Manuel-c23383 Preciado’s boys have been in a horrible run of form.
Out of their last five competitive fixtures, Sporting Gijon have won two, drawn two and lost one. Despite the fact that their only loss came against Sevilla, Gijon have been inconsistent to say the least. Their lack of regularity
with results has come back to haunt them as there are now only nine matches left to play in the Spanish Primera Division. A loss against Madrid will propel them into the drop zone if other results don’t go their way whereas a win will do wonders for the side
that hail from the north of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Spain-c3011.
Team News
Real Madrid are set to make a late decision on Cristiano Ronaldo’s fitness level. However, it is expected that the Portuguese starlet will miss the tie against Sporting as a precaution for his involvement in the UEFA Champions
League next week. Gonzalo Higuain is also out of action for the former European champions due to his fitness issues.
Expected Real Madrid line up:
Casillas, Ramos, Albiol, Carvalho, Marcelo, Di Maria, Khedira, Ozil, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alonso-c5254, Benzema, Adebayor
Alternatively, Sporting Gijon have a fully fit squad at their disposal. Their mercurial midfielder, Diego Castro, is fit to start as well as their acrobatic shot stopper http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/David-Barral-c10428 is still recovering from a minor
flu problem but the striker is expected to feature against Real Madrid on Saturday.
Expected Sporting Gijon line up: Pablo, Lora, Botia, Hernandez, Canella, Castro, Cases, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rivera-c31194, Las Cuevas, Eguren, Barral
Key Players
Mesut Ozil will take up the offensive charge for Real Madrid in Ronaldo’s absence. The German midfielder has been an exceptional performer for Los Blancos this season as he has already contributed with a total of ten goals and
fifteen assists in the 2010-2011 football season. Ozil also scored in Real’s latest Spanish league encounter against Atletico Madrid.
On the other hand, Sporting Gijon will be hoping that http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Diego-Castro-c11103 can fire them to a favourable result at Santiago Bernabéu. Sporting’s star playmaker has scored nine goals in the Spanish Primera Division this season. Not only
that, he has also assisted two goals in the 2010-2011 season.
Prediction
Real are undoubted favourites to win this encounter in question. However, it won’t be an easy ride for the Spanish giants as Sporting Gijon are fighting to retain their La Liga status for the 2011-2012 season.
Prediction: 2-0 to Real Madrid.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely of the writer’s and do not reflect the official editorial policy of
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