* Real Madrid have won all 14 home games in La Liga this season, scoring 46 goals and conceding just six.
* Los Blancos have won eight of their last nine league meetings with Sporting.
* Of those eight previous victories, Madrid have netted 24 times.
* Gonzalo Higuain has recovered from his back operation and he has been included in the squad for the first time since November 29, 2010.
* Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Marcelo are all out through injury, while Xabi Alonso is suspended. Kaka and Fernando Gago are also sidelined.
* Sportig Gijon have only won once in 14 away league games. With six draws and seven defeats, it's joint-second worst record this term.
* The Asturians have not won a game so far this season after conceding the first goal.
* Sporting's last victory over Madrid was in April 4 1996, a 1-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu.
* Manolo Preciado's side have conceded just three goals in three meetings this term against Barcelona and Real Madrid.
* Diego Castro has failed to recover from his hamstring injury. He joins Pichu Cuellar, Rafael Sastre, Mate Bilic, Carmelo and Luis Moran on the sidelines.
LAST MEETING
November 14, 2010: Sporting Gijon 0-1 Real Madrid
The clash at El Molinon was played after a heated pre-match spat between coaches Manolo Preciado and Jose Mourinho. Los Blancos eventually emerged 1-0 victors after Karim Benzema set up Gonzalo Higuain for the only goal of the game on 82 minutes. Sporting's Albero Botia was sent off late in the match.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Real Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Carvalho, Arbeloa; Khedira, Lass; Di Maria, Granero, Oezil; Adebayor
Sporting Gijon: Juan Pablo; Lora, Botia, Ivan Hernandez, Canella; Rivera, Eguren; Nacho Novo, Andre Castro, De las Cuevas; Barral
Prediction
Sporting have given problems to Barcelona (twice) as well as Madrid this season with their no-holds-barred, ultra-defensive approach, and Los Blancos can expect the same again on Saturday evening. Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo's absences could be a problem for Mourinho, but he should still has enough firepower to extend his 100% home record. An early goal will be extremely crucial.
Real Madrid 2-0 Sporting de Gijon 
