Real Madrid vs. Sporting Gijon: Team News, Predicted XIs, Live Stream, TV Info
They'd hoped 2016 would bring a new chapter. But what it's done instead is add a few lines to the current one.
On Thursday, Real Madrid were handed a transfer ban by FIFA for breaches relating to the signing of youth players, heaping more pain on a club that has done nothing but pinball from one disaster to another for 12 months.
This, after all, comes on the back on Rafa Benitez's sacking. On the back of James Rodriguez's run-in with the police. On the back of the Copa del Rey debacle involving Denis Cheryshev. The Clasico thrashing. Karim Benzena's blackmail scandal. David De Gea. Iker Casillas' horribly managed exit. The sacking of Carlo Ancelotti. The implosions against Atletico Madrid and Schalke.
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And in between, there have been all the hastily organised and incredulous press conferences from president Florentino Perez, laced with denial and finger-pointing and claims of witch hunts. But even Perez seems to have grown tired of such events; in the wake of FIFA's announcement, he left the task to director general Jose Angel Sanchez. "Florentino's credibility up in smoke," was the assessment from AS.
Once again, then, Real Madrid are approaching a game that's almost forgotten amid the noise of the circus, the club's existence perhaps better suited to reality TV than a title chase. And yet, believe it or not, they're still very much in that chase.
Heading into Sunday's clash with Sporting Gijon at the Bernabeu, Madrid sit just four points back from league leaders Atletico and only two back from Barcelona in second. Defeat Sporting, and they'll temporarily supplant Barca, with the Catalans facing a test at home to Athletic Bilbao in the day's final fixture.
Evident around the club recently has also been a feeling of renewal. Now under the management of Zinedine Zidane, Madrid's players look to be in a better headspace, the change of coach having delivered a change in environment and provided an emotional boost to a squad that had looked riddled with angst. "Zidane finds inspiration in the Carlo Ancelotti approach," said AS ahead of Sunday's game.
For Sporting, meanwhile, the Bernabeu isn't exactly an ideal destination in current circumstances.
With seven losses in their last eight league games, Abelardo's men have fallen into the relegation zone and are making clear just how remarkable their promotion last season was. Of course, Sporting might take hope from their draw against Madrid back in August, but on that occasion they were still carrying the momentum from their 2014-15 campaign while Madrid were still working through the early stages of a difficult transition.
Now, though, it's very different.
"Madrid need to have a horrible day [for us to win]," conceded Abelardo in his pre-match press conference. "Madrid can beat you even when they're having an off-day. Depor did really well...and conceded five goals."
Match Details
Date: Sunday, January 17
Time: 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET/4 p.m. local
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), beIN Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), beIN Sports CONNECT (U.S.)
Form Lines
| W: 5-0 vs. Deportivo La Coruna | L: 0-2 vs. Villarreal |
| D: 2-2 vs. Valencia | L: 1-2 vs. Getafe |
| W: 3-1 vs. Real Sociedad | L: 0-2 vs. Eibar |
| W: 10-2 vs. Rayo Vallecano | D: 3-3 vs. Real Betis |
| L: 0-1 vs. Villarreal | L: 0-2 vs. Sevilla |
| W: 8-0 vs. Malmo | W: 3-1 vs. Las Palmas |
Team News
For Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos will miss Sunday's meeting with Sporting, according to Marca, as the club captain continues to struggle with a calf injury. As a result, Raphael Varane will partner Pepe in the heart of the defence, while Marcelo and Dani Carvajal will occupy the full-back slots.
In midfield, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are expected to start, the only question centring on which player will join them. Last time out, against Deportivo La Coruna, Zidane opted for Isco over James Rodriguez. And given the Spaniard's strong performance in that game, he could be preferred again.
In attack, meanwhile, the familiar trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema will definitely start.
For Sporting, centre-back Bernardo will be missing for the rest of the season after suffering a serious knee injury against Villarreal last time out. In his absence, Jorge Mere will partner Luis Hernandez in the middle of the back four and will be flanked by Alberto Lora and Isma Lopez.
In midfield, Real Madrid loanee Omar Mascarell will be unavailable against his parent club, meaning the returning Sergio Alvarez could join Nacho Cases, Jony and Alen Halilovic in midfield, while Guerrero and Antonio Sanabria could lead the attack if Abelardo opts for the sort of 4-4-2 that frustrated Madrid in the opening round of the season.
Predicted Lineups
In the Spotlight
Did we mention there'd been another kerfuffle?
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Real Madrid: 1-12
Draw: 17-2
Sporting Gijon: 20-1
