Sporting vs. Real Madrid: Team News, Preview, Live Stream and TV Info

Rory MarsdenApr 13, 2017

Despite dropping points as they drew with Atletico Madrid last time out, Real Madrid actually managed to extend their lead at the top of La Liga to three points after second-placed Barcelona lost to Malaga.

Los Blancos face Barca at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 24 and could effectively wrap up their first title triumph since 2012 with a Clasico victory—as well as being three points clear Real also have a game in hand.

Before taking on the Blaugrana, though, Zinedine Zidane's Real face the prospect of a trip to relegation-battling Sporting Gijon on Saturday, a game they will be widely expected to win.

Team News

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 08: Pepe of Real Madrid CF grimmaces in pain after being tackled by his teammate Toni Kroos (R) during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Club Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 8, 2017 in Madrid, Spa

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Per Goal, centre-back Pepe suffered two broken ribs against Atleti and could potentially be out for the rest of the season.

With Raphael Varane also sidelined for up to a month with a hamstring issue, Zidane will likely have to field Sergio Ramos and Nacho in the centre of his defence for the Sporting clash.

The hosts themselves are waiting on the fitness of Douglas, Lacina Traore and Duje Cop after the trio missed Sporting's latest 3-1 defeat to Real Sociedad.

Preview

Real's draw with Atleti ended a six-match winning run for Los Blancos, but the Madrid giants have still not lost since February.

Their opponents on Saturday have lost their last two fixtures and won just one of their last nine matches.

There are 16 teams in between Real and Sporting in La Liga's standings, while Zidane's side have accrued 50 more points from one less game in 2016-17, per La Liga:

However, when the two sides met at the Bernabeu for the reverse fixture in November, Real only edged out Sporting by a single goal in a 2-1 win—Cristiano Ronaldo scored two early goals.

Sporting can at least be encouraged ahead of Saturday that they managed to restrict Real at home, where they are so often rampant.

And Los Blancos could also be suffering some fatigue given their Wednesday UEFA Champions League clash against Bayern Munich.

GIJON, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 18: Head coach Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia 'Rubi' of Real Sporting de Gijon reacts during the La Liga match between Real Sporting de Gijon and Atletico Madrid at Estadio El Molinon on February 18, 2017 in Gijon, Spain. (Photo by

Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

In all likelihood Real will collect all three points relatively comfortably in Gijon. The attacking quality Real boast is remarkable, with Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale backed up impeccably by the likes of Alvaro Morata, Marco Asensio and James Rodriguez.

Sporting have the third-worst defensive record in La Liga this season having conceded 61 goals in 31 games.

Manager Rubi is attempting to drag Sporting out of the relegation zone and could hardly face a tougher challenge at this stage of the season.

However, given the home advantage, and the fact Real could be affected by their midweek travails, it is not beyond the realms of possibility Sporting could take something from Saturday's match if they are well organised and can frustrate the visitors in attack.