Saturday, February 18, 2012

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19.02. (Sun) 18:00 Real Sporting - Atletico Madrid

Arda Turan - Atletico Madrid
Arda Turan - Atletico Madrid

PROBABLE LINEUPS


SPORTING GIJON


Pablo
Lora, Botia, Gregory, Canella
Cases, Rivera
Carmelo, Castro, Cuevas
Barral
ATLETICO MADRID


Courtois
Juanfran, Miranda, Dominguez, Luis
Thiago, Gabi
Turan, Diego, Adrian
Falcao

Sporting Gijon are struggling at the foot of La Liga table, lying four points below 17th place and safety. Their recent results led to the implementation of Javier Clemente as coach, replacing Inaki Tejada despite the club stating that the departed boss was to remain in charge until the end of the season.

The new coach will be without Ricardo for the visit of Atletico Madrid, whilst he has injury worries over Ivan Hernandez as well. Roberto Canella and Alberto Botia both picked up knocks last time out but should be fit for Sunday's match.

Atletico Madrid are another team with a new coach at the reins, although Diego Simeone has led them for six La Liga games by now. His tenure has seen them climb up the table to within a point of the Champions League places.

Diego Lopez and Antonio Lopez are both out for the trip to El Molinon on Sunday, whilst there are further injury worries over Silvio and Diego Godin. Simeone could reinstate Miranda into defence after he served his one-match suspension but the Atleti coach may decide not to shuffle a settled back line which has seen them keep six consecutive clean sheets in La Liga.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Sporting Gijon have the worst defensive record in La Liga, conceeding 43 goals in 22 matches. Despite this, only 13 of those goals have been conceded at El Molinon.
  • The hosts have shipped at least two goals in five of their last seven matches.
  • Goals will be harder to come by for the home side after the sale of Nacho Novo to Legia Warsaw in midweek.
  • Atletico Madrid have yet to concede under Diego Simeone in La Liga.
  • Los Rojiblancos enjoyed success in the Europa League on Thursday, beating Italian side Lazio away from home 3-1, consequently the first goal Atleti have shipped under the Argentine.
  • The capital club have picked up 12 points out of a possible 18 in Simeone's first six games in charge; though defensively sound, they have struggled to find the back of net - playing out three 0-0 draws.
Prediction
Under new management Sporting will offer a greater resolve but Atleti's superiority should tell in the end, denying Clemente a dream start.
Editor's Prediction
Sporting G 0-1 Atl. Madrid