Sporting: Cuéllar; Lillo, Jorge Meré, Amorebieta, Babín, Isma López; Carmona, Sergio Alvarez (Akram Afif 92’), Mikel Vesga, Moi Gómez (Nacho Cases 69’); Duje Cop (Dani Ndi 79’). 5-4-1.
Madrid: Kiko Casilla; Danilo, Sergio Ramos, Nacho, Coentrao (Marcelo 57’); Isco, Kovacic (Casemiro 89’), James; Lucas Vázquez (Mariano 71‘), Morata, Marco Asensio. 4-3-3.
Goals:
1-0. 14. Duje Cop. Steered shot past Casilla after Vesga lifted ball over defence.
1-1. 17. Isco. Picked up Lucas Vázquez pass and cut in to fire shot across Cuéllar.
2-1. 50. Vesga. Looped header past keeper after Babín headed over free kick.
2-2. 59. Morata. Angled header down past keeper after Danilo crossed from right.
2-3. 90. Isco. Collected Marcelo pass and ran on to drill low shot past Cuéllar.
Yellow cards: Sergio Alvarez 34’, Lillo 61’, Isma López 79’, Nacho Cases 87’, Morata 89’, Akram Afif 92’.
Real Madrid maintain their three point lead at the top with a game in hand going in to next weekend’s “clásico” after a last gasp 2-3 victory over Sporting Gijón on Saturday afternoon. Zidane made no less than nine changes from his midweek Champions League line-up, and they went behind early on when Duje Cop ran on to Vesga’s lofted pass to beat Kiko Casilla. Just three minutes later though Madrid were level, Isco cutting past three players before firing a shot wide of Cuéllar, and later in the first half the local keeper had to be at his best to keep out a header from Nacho. Five minutes after the restart however Vesga headed the Asturians back in front after Babín headed across a long free kick, but once again the visitors equalized soon afterwards, Morata getting above Babín to head Danilo’s cross inside the far post. Danilo and Mariano headed chances wide, and Marcelo drilled a shot just past the post after a dazzling run by Isco, but it looked if the points would be shared until Isco unleashed a long shot wide of Cuéllar with the game already in the ninetieth minute.