First Division - Day 13

Real Madrid 2 - Sporting Gijón 1

Madrid: Keylor Navas; Danilo, Pepe, Sergio Ramos (Marcelo 72‘), Nacho; Modric, Kovacic (Isco 81); Lucas Vázquez, James (Marco Asensio 72’), Cristiano Ronaldo; Benzema. 4-2-3-1.
Sporting: Diego Mariño; Douglas, Lillo, Jorge Meré, Amorebieta, Isma López; Carmona (Viguera 76‘), Sergio Álvarez, Rachid (Nacho Cases 81’), Moi Gómez (Víctor Rodríguez 76‘); Duje Cop. 5-4-1.

Goals:
1-0. 05. Ronaldo (penalty). After Sergio Alvarez tripped Lucas Vázquez in area.
2-0. 18. Ronaldo. Flung himself forward to head long Nacho centre past Mariño.
2-1. 35. Carmona. Connected with Isma López cross and turned shot past Navas.

Yellow cards: Amorebieta 40’, Rachid 61’, Carmona 66’, Nacho 77’.

Real Madrid made sure of going in to (and coming out of) next weekend’s “clásico” in the Nou Camp as leaders after they beat Sporting Gijón 2-1 on a rainy Saturday afternoon. Cristiano Ronaldo put Zidane’s side two up early on, the opener from the penalty spot after Sergio Alvarez tripped Lucas Vázquez in the area, and the second with a diving header from Nacho’s cross. Keylor Navas had to save from Moi Gómez a few minutes later though, and with ten minutes to go to the break Carmona connected with an Isma López cross to reduce the gap. Madrid dominated from then on, Diego Mariño keeping out Ronaldo and Benzema either side of half time, and Kovacic, Ronaldo and Modric going close. With a quarter of an hour to go however the visitors were awarded a penalty themselves when Nacho pushed over Víctor Rodríguez, but Duje Cop fired his spot kick wide, and Navas stopped a late effort from Moi Gómez to deny the Asturians a point.