Sporting Gijon vs. Real Madrid: Team News, Predicted XIs, Live Stream, TV Info
The ideal first opponent or the worst possible first opponent: Sporting Gijon could be either for Real Madrid.
All summer new manager Rafa Benitez has stressed that his team will play attacking football, essentially fulfilling his obligation, but on every occasion it's always come with a caveat: We need to defend attentively, too.
"I'd like my Real Madrid side to win, to entertain and to maintain a balance," he said in his pre-match press conference on Saturday, expressing the sort of message he's delivered throughout the pre-season. "Because that is what will enable us to win matches and trophies."
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It's been an atypical summer for Benitez. Usually, he says what he likes when he likes, but this summer, he's said what he's needed to say, going out of his way to please the ears of those who demand that Real Madrid put on a show. A masterpiece. Benitez at heart, though, will want to address this team's long-running defensive problems.
It's why Sporting Gijon are an interesting first opponent for Benitez's Real Madrid. Up against a newly promoted outfit, Los Blancos will be expected to cruise, to dominate, but what might please Benitez most is a systematically sound performance and a clean sheet.
A 1-0 win—like neighbours Atletico Madrid secured against Las Palmas on Saturday—would do the new manager just fine, but after a somewhat laboured summer in front of goal, such a result won't at all please the club's following, which is already skeptical of the Madrilenian.
Thus, Benitez needs a vibrant attacking start to quiet his critics as well as an answer to the defensive shortcomings Los Blancos displayed in the second half of last season. And this issue won't die out after this match. Real Madrid's opening also features clashes with Real Betis, Espanyol and Granada in the weeks to come, meaning Benitez is under pressure to oversee a dominant start to the new campaign.
Essentially, he needs goals, and lots of them. The issue is that won't be his primary concern—not at the expense of all else, at least. What's more, this is a team still working out how exactly it's going to score with a new attacking philosophy featuring redefined roles currently being implemented at the Bernabeu.
For Sporting Gijon, meanwhile, Sunday's meeting with Real Madrid is a grand way to make a return to La Liga after a three-season absence.
It's been a remarkable rise back to the top flight for the Asturian outfit, the club managing to shrug aside significant financial issues that have seen a transfer ban imposed upon it due to debts and failed player payments.
Consequently, Sporting have had to turn to their academy, putting together a squad of staggering youth that somehow managed to lose just twice all season in the Segunda Division in 2014-15. And in the most remarkable contrast to Sunday's opponents, Sporting's spending in the transfer market over the past three seasons has been approximately €1 million. Yes, one.
Thus, Abelardo Fernandez's men are entering a season in which they'll rely on passion and intense home support for survival in the Primera Division. Though the odds will be stacked against them, perhaps they'll be the sort of odds they'll enjoy fighting.
A packed house at El Molinon will greet them on Sunday, hoping a strong tussle will transpire against the league heavyweights.
Match Details
Date: Sunday, August 23
Time: 7:30 p.m. BST / 2:30 p.m. EDT / 8:30 p.m. local
Venue: El Molinon, Gijon, Spain
TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), beIN Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), beIN Sports Connect (U.S.)
Form Lines
| L: 0-1 vs. Villarreal | W: 2-1 vs. Galatasaray |
| W: 3-1 vs. Palermo | D: 0-0 vs. Valerenga |
| L: 0-1 vs. Ponferradina | L: 0-1 vs. Bayern Munich |
| D: 1-1 vs. Almeria | W: 2-0 vs. Tottenham |
| W: 2-1 vs. Racing Ferrol | D: 0-0 vs. AC Milan |
| D: 1-1 vs. Tenerife | W: 3-0 vs. Inter Milan |
Team News
Real Madrid will be without without Karim Benzema and Fabio Coentrao for Sunday's match, as the two are still struggling with injury. Though the latter is considered back-up at left-back to Marcelo, the Frenchman will be missed, as Jese will most likely come into the starting lineup to fill the No. 9 berth.
Centre-back Pepe, despite being included in Benitez's 20-man squad for the trip north, is also under an injury cloud and will likely sit on the sidelines as Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane form the central defensive partnership for the visitors.
For Sporting Gijon, loan signing Omar Mascarell from Real Madrid Castilla will be unavailable against his parent club, while Barcelona recruit Alen Halilovic (on loan as well) will also be missing, per AS.
Midfielder Alex Barrera will also be unavailable for Fernandez against Real Madrid, as he continues his recovery from a serious knee injury.
Predicted Lineups
In the Spotlight
He's got the role he craves, the role he needs. But for Gareth Bale, it only heightens the pressure: He simply has to succeed.
Whether it's the decision of Benitez or that of president Florentino Perez, the Welshman looks poised to start the season playing centrally behind the striker, essentially performing the function of a No. 10.
After two years stuck on the right in Carlo Ancelotti's 4-3-3, Bale is going to have a team built around him under Benitez in 2015-16, the club making a clear attempt to harness his explosive strengths, awarding him the sort of roaming role and freedom he seemingly needs to excel.
Yet, prioritising Bale's needs is likely to have a knock-on effect throughout the rest of Real Madrid's attack. How will Cristiano Ronaldo be affected? What will be the roles of the two natural No. 10s, James Rodriguez and Isco?
Thus, Bale's positioning gives rise to just as many questions as it does answers, and dominance is the only way the Welshman can settle the debate.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Sporting Gijon: 12-1
Draw: 11-2
Real Madrid: 1-5
