Sporting Gijon La Liga W/D/L: 2-4-4 (Home: 2-2-1)
Form (Last 5): DWLDD (Home: WDLWD)
Goal Difference: 10-16 (Home: 7-5)
Interesting Fact: Despite some difficult opening home fixtures, Gijon have got on the scoresheet in four out of five home La Liga encounters thus far – Scoring against Real Mallorca, Athletic Bilbao, Seville & Villarreal; teams with a seasonal objective of finshing in the Champions League places.
Real Madrid La Liga W/D/L: 8-2-0 (Away: 3-2-0)
Form (Last 5): WWWWW (Away: DWDWW)
Goal Difference: 27-5 (Away: 9-3)
Interesting Fact: Under the guidance of the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’, Real kept their first La Liga clean sheet in five matches when beating Madrid rivals Atletico 2-0 last weekend – But the Galacticos have yet to concede more than the solitary one in a league encounter this season.
The former FC Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan tactician, Jose Mourinho, is widely regarded as one of the best managers in the modern era. One of only two managers to clinch the UEFA Champions League crown with two separate clubs, doing so with FC Porto in 2004 and again with Inter Milan in 2009, as well as other countless honours which include Portuguese, Italian and English league triumphs, there is no denying that Real Madrid’s newest dictator has manufactured a formidable reputation as coach. And despite his arrogant demeanour, Mourinho has earned the respect from so many of today’s top managers from all across the globe. However, one manager whose opinion on the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’ is in stark contrast to so many others is Sporting Gijon’s head coach Manuel Preciado, and the Madrid ace has been warned to expect a hot reception when he arrives at El Molinon on Sunday evening.
It isn’t often you find yourself daring to question Mourinho’s motives. Actually, we’ve all found ourselves pondering just what really goes on inside the Portuguese maestro’s head down the years, with the two-time Champions League winners not too far away from controversy. Ahead of the Sunday’s clash with Sporting Gijon in Asturias, Mourinho lamented comments he made earlier in the season regarding his opposite number’s decision to make wholesale changes against Real’s arch-rivals Barcelona back in September, a game in which the Catalans won 1-0. After the match, Mourinho freely expressed his distaste and disgust at Gijon manager Manuel Preciado for conceding defeat even before a ball had been kicked, with the Real boss insinuating that Preciado showed cowardice in his decision to admit defeat. Gijon were to lose the match in question 1-0 via a David Villa strike in the second period, but Mourinho cited this instance as evidence as to why everyone in Spain wants him and Real to fail in their quest to clinch the La Liga crown.
On the eve of their Sunday showdown, the tension between the two managers in question intensified after Mourinho made similar comments to that he made immediately after Gijon were defeat by Barcelona back in September, with Gijon boss Preciado responding by saying, "Who the hell does he think he is? What he has done with Sporting (with his comments) is a serious lack of respect. If nobody at Madrid tells him what respect is, then I’ll tell him.” with the Gijon manager showing his claws ahead of Sunday’s now highly anticipated clash with the La Liga leaders.
If Mourinho wished to raise the ante in a fixture his team really need to win in order to put some breathing space between them and Barcelona, then he’s certainly achieved his goal. We, though, feel he’s made a foe-par. For starters, his war of words with his opposite number will ensure that Manuel Preciado will field his strongest possible eleven, as there’s no way Preciado will want to aid Jose Mourinho in his quest to end Real’s title drought, while the atmosphere inside the 29,000 El Molinon stadium will be hostile to say the least towards the Portuguese wind-up merchant and his players, making life even tougher than it originally was. And make no mistake about, this away encounter with mid-table Gijon will be far from easier against a team who are renowned for making life extremely difficult for the country’s elite inside their own backyard.
Only Valencia have actually gotten the better of Rojiblancos at El Molinon this season, and Unai Emery’s side needed two very early strikes to dampen the hosts’ spirits. The likes of Real Mallorca, Athletico Bilbao, Sevilla and Villarreal, clubs which are regularly challenging for Europe, have all pitted their wits against Preciado’s men in Gijon already this season and all failed in their bids to claim all three points, while even more impressive is the fact they managed to score against all the aforementioned sides, scoring exactly 2 in all but one, the 1-1 draw with Villarreal, their most recent home encounter in La Liga. They should of even won the latter contest, with only a Giuseppe Rossi penalty denying the hosts their third home win of the campaign.
And it’s not as though Real Madrid have been prolific on their travels this season either, drawing at Mallorca on the opening day of the season as well as a hugely disappointing 0-0 affair with Levante in Valencia. Granted their form has picked up greatly but away from home, Madrid do have their flaws, despite having yet to taste defeat all season long, in all competitions. They were fortunate to come away with all three points at Real Sociedad (1-2) earlier in the campaign, thoroughly examined by Malaga en route to an emphatic win (1-4) and needed to come from behind in their last away contest against Hercules (1-3). Fortunately for Mourinho, his side’s forward prowess has helped to overshadow their frailties at the back and the Real boss will need his Galacticos to produce another ruthless effort in front of goal if they’re to leave Gijon with all the spoils, and thus extend their winning run in the league to six matches.
Last season, this clash with Sporting Gijon caused Real problems and the hosts managed to ground out a deserved 0-0 draw. With Madrid now in fine form, sailing through to the last-16 of both the Copa Del Rey and Champions League recently in a campaign which has seen them go sixteen matches without losing, Gijon will need to produce another heroic effort to deny the Madrid giants for the second season running. But they’re in good nick themselves, at home in particular, and although it’s difficult to really predict a Real slip-up, we do envisage Mourinho’s charges receiving a rough ride inside Sporting Gijon’s El Molinon stadium – Their fortress. The hosts have scored against some of the best in the country at home earlier in the season, and we’re banking on Gijon continuing their decent vein of form in front of goal in front of their passionate yet fired up supporters.
Matt’s Selection(s):
Sporting Gijon to Score 1 or More Goals – 1.72 PaddyPower
Both Teams to Score – 2.00 SkyBet
Match Odds:
Sporting Gijon – 13.00 StanJames
Draw – 6.00 Ladbrokes
Real Madrid – 1.29 Bet365
