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La Liga Preview: Sporting Gijon – Real Madrid
Real Madrid hope to put a difficult loss to AC Milan in the Champions League behind them as they travel to the Asturian province to face Sporting Gijon…
24-Oct-2009 1:10:15 AM
Kick-off: Saturday, October 24, 2009, 20:00 CET – Estadio El Molinon, Gijon, Asturias, Spain.
A Sporting Chance
Finishing a disappointing 14th in La Liga last season, just one point away from the relegation zone, Manuel Preciado’s Sporting Gijon have made a strong start to the season. Picking up a draw against Valencia earlier in the campaign, beating a resurgent Mallorca that has made a strong initial claim to a European spot, and snapping up a victory over Athletic Bilbao before a difficult San Mames crowd last weekend are just a few of the impressive feats accomplished by Sporting this season.
But the stakes will be raised a bit higher this weekend as the mighty Real Madrid come to visit and nothing would please Manuel Preciado and the Rojiblancos more than their humble side coming away with points from a match in which the opposition spent €254 million in summer acquisitions.
Madrid Served A Spicy Meatball
Madrid, on the other hand, come into Saturday’s match a little worse for wear. Having lost two out of their last three matches (the first a Liga match at Sevilla and the second the midweek heart-breaker to AC Milan in the Bernabeu), the Spanish press are already beginning to question the competence of coach Manuel Pellegrini.
Los Blancos were dominant against a lacklustre Milan team for the better part of an hour in Wednesday’s match, scoring one goal on a calamitous error by Brazilian goalkeeper Dida and being robbed of a clear penalty on Karim Benzema early in the match.
But one canon of a shot from Andrea Pirlo changed the match entirely and the final 30 minutes of the game saw Madrid lose their composure. The match spiralled out of control and Los Blancos ended the evening giving up two goals to Brazilian starlet Pato and losing by a 3-2 scoreline in the Bernabeu.
To add injury to the insults, Cristiano Ronaldo—the spark in the Madrid attack, remains out and Madrid have their only two losses of the season to show for it. Should a third defeat at El Molinon follow, it could raise some serious doubts in the Spanish capital if Los Merengues are a team or a collection of expensive summer signings—a fate that befell the first Galactico era.
FORM GUIDE
Sporting Gijon
October 18 v Athletic Bilbao (A) WON 2-1 (La Liga)
October 04 v Mallorca (H) WON 4-1 (La Liga)
September 27 v Osasuna (A) LOST 1-0 (LA Liga)
September 24 v Real Zaragoza (H) DREW 1-1 (La Liga)
September 20 v Valencia (A) DREW 2-2 (La Liga)
Real Madrid
October 21 v AC Milan (H) LOST 3-2 (Champions League)
October 17 v Valladolid (H) WON 4-2 (La Liga)
October 04 v Sevilla (A) LOST 2-1 (La Liga)
September 30 v Marseille (H) WON 3-0 (Champions League)
September 26 v Tenerife (H) WON 3-0 (La Liga)
TEAM NEWS
Sporting Gijon
In the absence of injuries and suspensions to his starting squad, Manuel Preciado will reportedly field the same starting XI that beat Athletic Bilbao at the San Mames last weekend. Three out of four Sporting starters, Lora, Rivera and Barral, have history in the Madrid youth ranks and will be eager to show their mettle against their former club. The fourth, Diego Camacho, is out with injury.
Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Juan Pablo – Lora, Gregory, Botia, Canella – Michel, Rivera –De las Cuevas, Luis Moran, Diego Castro – Barral
Real Madrid
Injuries continue to take their toll at Madrid leaving Manuel Pellegrini with limited options in attack. Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema have failed to make the squad list, the latter picking up a knock before the Milan match and the latter sustaining an injury in the midweek encounter. Cristiano Ronaldo continues his month-long absence while Lassana Diarra is out for the weekend match and should be replaced in the starting line-up by Mahamadou Diarra (unrelated). Ruud Van Nistelrooy also remains out with injury.
Pellegrini does recuperate Guti, Gago, and Metzelder, although it is unlikely that any of them will be deemed fit enough to start. In defence, Royston Drenthe could have earned himself a starting position at left-back in lieu of Marcelo, who played the full 90 minutes in the midweek match. Sergio Ramos, Albiol, and Kaka could all see limited time as well in order to avoid fatigue and Arbeloa, Garay, and Rafa Van Der Vaart could see second half appearances.
Finally, in the absence of attacking players, youth player Javier Acuna earns his first call-up for Los Merengues and could possibly make his first-team debut.
Probable Starting XI (4-2-2-2): Casillas – Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Drenthe – Xabi Alonso, Mahamadou Diarra – Guti, Granero – Kaka, Raul
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sporting Gijon
Real Madrid youth products Lora, Rivera and Barral face their former club and will likely put in particularly motivated performances. Of the three, Alberto Lora is making his first appearance against his former side and will be keen to show that his future lies in a club of Madrid’s prestige.
Real Madrid
Kaka is the only one of the three Supergalacticos (Ronaldo, Benzema, and Kaka) left in Saturday’s squad and the onus of creativity and invention in attack falls upon his shoulders. With Benzema and Higuain out, look for the Brazilian to assume a more advanced position behind Raul—one that he favours as he played in the same position in his years at Milan. Royston Drenthe is also a player who has impressed thus far this season and after his first European goal against Milan will be eager to add plenty more. Finally, look for Paraguayan youngster Javier Acuna to make his first-team appearance—if the player’s projection is any indication, he will make many more.
PREDICTION
After suffering two losses in three matches, Madrid need this win to relieve the pressure and reorient their season. Sporting will not make it easy though and in El Molinon certainly have the ability to challenge the Spanish giants. This match will not likely be similar to the 7-1 drubbing Madrid dealt Sporting last year at the Bernabeu.
Sporting Gijon 2-3 Real Madrid
Cyrus C. Malek, Goal.com
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