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La Liga Preview: Real Madrid - Sporting de Gijon
Still with a perfect record at home in Primera Division play, los Blancos will try to turn the screw on Barcelona when they host los Sportinguistas on Saturday night...
| Bet: | Returns: | Real Madrid £10.62 | Draw £105.00 | Levante £290.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Real Madrid £10.80 | Draw £100.00 | Levante £260.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Real Madrid £10.80 | Draw £100.00 | Levante £260.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Real Madrid £10.80 | Draw £87.00 | Levante £170.00 |
|
Mar 19, 2010 12:00:00 PM
By Robin Bairner
Kick Off: Saturday, March 20, 2010. 20:00 CET
Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Positive Reaction
Real Madrid may have the opportunity to put clear ground between themselves and Barcelona when they host Sporting de Gijon at the Santiago Bernabeu this weekend, but talk around the Spanish capital continues to revolve around Manuel Pellegrini’s successor in the hot-seat.
As if anyone needed reminding, los Blancos are out of the Champions League, and after failing to push the club beyond the first knock-out stage, the Chilean is under vast pressure. Though the club have voiced their backing for the former Villarreal boss, the media continue to take the line that the cool 56-year-old will be axed come the summer.
Los Merengues have previous for discharging coaches who have failed in Europe but who have succeeded in Spain – just ask Fabio Capello – so even ultimate success in La Primera would probably only provide Pellegrini with partial redemption.
If that is the case, he and his side took their first steps towards it last Sunday, producing a gritty performance against a robust and over-physical Valladolid side away from home. Cristiano Ronaldo smashed home a terrific free kick just as it started to seem los Blancos were in for a difficult evening, before villain of the peace against Lyon, Gonzalo Higuain, himself touted for an unceremonious summer exit, struck a fine hat-trick.
Back to business impressively last weekend, Real Madrid simply confirmed that they are in the title race for the long haul. It might not be the crown they wanted, but it would certainly be better than nothing.
The Ship Has Been Steadied
While Real Madrid aim for the stars and are happy with nothing less, Sporting are simply content to stay out of the gutter. Avoiding relegation has been the aim of Manuel Preciado’s side for the majority of the season, and only a few more positive results will see their goal reached.
Worries were cast over the ability of the team during the midwinter period, when they fell from being European dark horses to relegation candidates on the back of seven losses in nine games. Since stopping the rot with a 1-1 home draw with Valencia on February 13, they have steadily made their way back towards safety, picking up eight points from their last six games.
Now 12th in the standings, Sporting stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Atletico Madrid, though Preciado will seek a better performance against Real on Saturday evening than his side mustered against Athletic Bilbao last weekend. Though they managed to plunder a scoreless draw, goalkeeper Juan Pablo had to repel a penalty kick, while it was their guests who exerted the most meaningful pressure.
Travelling to the capital with only two wins from their 12 away games in Primera Division play this season, there is little room for optimism in los Rojiblancos’ camp. Having lost 7-1 on their last visit to the Bernabeu, it is easy to see why. At least improving on their last outing should prove simple enough...
FORM GUIDE
Real Madrid
WON 4-1 (a) Sporting de Gijon (Liga, March 13)
DREW 1-1 (h) Olympique Lyonnais (Champions League, March 10)
WON 3-2 (h) Sevilla (Liga, March 6)
WON 5-1 (a) Tenerife (Liga, February 27)
WON 6-2 (h) Villarreal (Liga, February 21)
Sporting
DREW 0-0 (h) Athletic Bilbao (Liga, March 13)
LOST 3-0 (a) Mallorca (Liga, March 7)
WON 3-2 (h) Osasuna (Liga, February 28)
WON 3-1 (a) Zaragoza (Liga, February 21)
DREW 1-1 (h) Valencia (Liga, February 13)
TEAM NEWS
Real Madrid
Karim Benzema is back training with the squad, while Mahamadou Diarra, Kaka and Sergio Ramos have all been working at a lesser pace due to injury problems.
Royston Drenthe, meanwhile, is a heavier doubt after mixing his training between indoor and outdoor work this week. Pepe remains a long-term issue.
Probable Starting XI: Casillas; Arbeloa, Ramos, Albiol, Marcelo; Lass, Alonso, Granero; Van der Vaart; Ronaldo, Higuain
Sporting
Sastre and Lora are both expected to shake off physical problems to feature, with the latter playing a midfield role considered a strong possibility. Gregory Arnolin’s return to the heart of the defence in place of Ivan Hernandez is expected to be the only other major alteration to the side.
Probable Starting XI: Juan Pablo; Sastre, Botia, Gregory, Canella; Rivera, Camacho; Lora, De las Cuevas, Castro; Barral
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Real Madrid
It’s impossible to ignore the talents of Cristiano Ronaldo. Riled by the Valladolid last weekend, and the victim of a nasty rake from Nivaldo on his left shin, the Portuguese answered in a perfect fashion, arrowing a free kick into the top corner of the home net to smash the deadlock and open the floodgates. There will be times in the closing weeks of the season that los Blancos’ find it hard to break sides down, and such deadball talent is invaluable.
Sporting
Goalkeeper Juan Pablo proved his worth last weekend by earning his side a point by blocking an Igor Gabilondo penalty in the 0-0 draw with Athletic Bilbao but faces an even greater test on Saturday evening. Los Blancos are rampant in attack at present and the visiting custodian is surely to be frequently tested by the hosts. Only if the former Numancia man is immaculate will his side stand a chance.
PREDICTION
With eight successive Liga wins since defeat to Barcelona in the early winter, Real are on a charge. Manuel Pellegrini’s side are scoring for fun, having registered at least three goals in each of their last seven Liga games. With 13 wins from a possible 13 at the Bernabeu, it’s almost impossible to see them losing that run against a side like Sporting. Home win this weekend, and a comfortable one at that.
Real Madrid 3-1 Sporting de Gijon
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Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
Positive Reaction
Real Madrid may have the opportunity to put clear ground between themselves and Barcelona when they host Sporting de Gijon at the Santiago Bernabeu this weekend, but talk around the Spanish capital continues to revolve around Manuel Pellegrini’s successor in the hot-seat.
As if anyone needed reminding, los Blancos are out of the Champions League, and after failing to push the club beyond the first knock-out stage, the Chilean is under vast pressure. Though the club have voiced their backing for the former Villarreal boss, the media continue to take the line that the cool 56-year-old will be axed come the summer.
Los Merengues have previous for discharging coaches who have failed in Europe but who have succeeded in Spain – just ask Fabio Capello – so even ultimate success in La Primera would probably only provide Pellegrini with partial redemption.
If that is the case, he and his side took their first steps towards it last Sunday, producing a gritty performance against a robust and over-physical Valladolid side away from home. Cristiano Ronaldo smashed home a terrific free kick just as it started to seem los Blancos were in for a difficult evening, before villain of the peace against Lyon, Gonzalo Higuain, himself touted for an unceremonious summer exit, struck a fine hat-trick.
Back to business impressively last weekend, Real Madrid simply confirmed that they are in the title race for the long haul. It might not be the crown they wanted, but it would certainly be better than nothing.
The Ship Has Been Steadied
While Real Madrid aim for the stars and are happy with nothing less, Sporting are simply content to stay out of the gutter. Avoiding relegation has been the aim of Manuel Preciado’s side for the majority of the season, and only a few more positive results will see their goal reached.
Worries were cast over the ability of the team during the midwinter period, when they fell from being European dark horses to relegation candidates on the back of seven losses in nine games. Since stopping the rot with a 1-1 home draw with Valencia on February 13, they have steadily made their way back towards safety, picking up eight points from their last six games.
Now 12th in the standings, Sporting stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Atletico Madrid, though Preciado will seek a better performance against Real on Saturday evening than his side mustered against Athletic Bilbao last weekend. Though they managed to plunder a scoreless draw, goalkeeper Juan Pablo had to repel a penalty kick, while it was their guests who exerted the most meaningful pressure.
Travelling to the capital with only two wins from their 12 away games in Primera Division play this season, there is little room for optimism in los Rojiblancos’ camp. Having lost 7-1 on their last visit to the Bernabeu, it is easy to see why. At least improving on their last outing should prove simple enough...
FORM GUIDE
Real Madrid
WON 4-1 (a) Sporting de Gijon (Liga, March 13)
DREW 1-1 (h) Olympique Lyonnais (Champions League, March 10)
WON 3-2 (h) Sevilla (Liga, March 6)
WON 5-1 (a) Tenerife (Liga, February 27)
WON 6-2 (h) Villarreal (Liga, February 21)
Sporting
DREW 0-0 (h) Athletic Bilbao (Liga, March 13)
LOST 3-0 (a) Mallorca (Liga, March 7)
WON 3-2 (h) Osasuna (Liga, February 28)
WON 3-1 (a) Zaragoza (Liga, February 21)
DREW 1-1 (h) Valencia (Liga, February 13)
TEAM NEWS
Real Madrid
Karim Benzema is back training with the squad, while Mahamadou Diarra, Kaka and Sergio Ramos have all been working at a lesser pace due to injury problems.
Royston Drenthe, meanwhile, is a heavier doubt after mixing his training between indoor and outdoor work this week. Pepe remains a long-term issue.
Probable Starting XI: Casillas; Arbeloa, Ramos, Albiol, Marcelo; Lass, Alonso, Granero; Van der Vaart; Ronaldo, Higuain
Sporting
Sastre and Lora are both expected to shake off physical problems to feature, with the latter playing a midfield role considered a strong possibility. Gregory Arnolin’s return to the heart of the defence in place of Ivan Hernandez is expected to be the only other major alteration to the side.
Probable Starting XI: Juan Pablo; Sastre, Botia, Gregory, Canella; Rivera, Camacho; Lora, De las Cuevas, Castro; Barral
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Real Madrid
It’s impossible to ignore the talents of Cristiano Ronaldo. Riled by the Valladolid last weekend, and the victim of a nasty rake from Nivaldo on his left shin, the Portuguese answered in a perfect fashion, arrowing a free kick into the top corner of the home net to smash the deadlock and open the floodgates. There will be times in the closing weeks of the season that los Blancos’ find it hard to break sides down, and such deadball talent is invaluable.
Sporting
Goalkeeper Juan Pablo proved his worth last weekend by earning his side a point by blocking an Igor Gabilondo penalty in the 0-0 draw with Athletic Bilbao but faces an even greater test on Saturday evening. Los Blancos are rampant in attack at present and the visiting custodian is surely to be frequently tested by the hosts. Only if the former Numancia man is immaculate will his side stand a chance.
PREDICTION
With eight successive Liga wins since defeat to Barcelona in the early winter, Real are on a charge. Manuel Pellegrini’s side are scoring for fun, having registered at least three goals in each of their last seven Liga games. With 13 wins from a possible 13 at the Bernabeu, it’s almost impossible to see them losing that run against a side like Sporting. Home win this weekend, and a comfortable one at that.
Real Madrid 3-1 Sporting de Gijon
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