There was little festive cheer to be had in either the Sporting de Gijon or Malaga camps over the course of the Christmas recess. Both sides found themselves embedded in the drop zone during the break, and as the halfway point of the season approaches, so does the urgency both sides feel for points.
Los Sportinguistas are in a particularly tight spot, lying second from bottom with only 12 points. With only six wins in the previous calendar year, head coach Manuel Preciado is rather clinging to his job, and a failure to win at the weekend would be another important blow to his gut, particularly as the vital January transfer window is opening.
Some solace can be taken from the fact that both of the Asturian side’s victories have come at home, though a run of nine matches without picking up maximum points is a rather alarming statistic. Instead, 1-1 draws are the order of the day – Sporting have earned four such results over the course of the last two months in the league.
In their final match before Christmas, Diego Castro struck a potentially vital last minute equaliser against Deportivo La Coruna to earn his side a point. It may not be much, but it will have kept morale up in a difficult period.
A lack of goals has been los Rojiblancos’ most chronic problem during this campaign, and if they cannot find the net against the Andalucians’ feeble rearguard, it’s questionable whether they ever will.
Changes Aplenty?
Malaga are only marginally better off than their weekend hosts. Manuel Pellegrini’s side have earned 13 points to date but have achieved them in a rather different manner. While Sporting pick up their marks by earning regular draws, los Boquerones are win or bust, ending all square in only one encounter to date this term.
The appointment of Pellegrini in November was designed to change the fortunes of the Rosaleda club, though the Chilean has not had the instant impact that might have been desired. Instead, he will be handed funding in the January transfer window with which to strengthen his squad.
Argentine centre-back Martin Demichelis has already been snapped up from Bayern Munich as the former Real Madrid boss aims to reshape a defence that has been much too profligate in the first half of the season. Demichelis’ arrival is unlikely to be the last addition to the rearguard, with rumours suggesting that Sporting left-back Jose Angel one face who could arrive.
Too often in the early part of the campaign, Malaga allowed the game to be dictated to them. Pellegrini won’t get the Andalucians playing champagne football, but that’s not what’s required just now: wins are.
TEAM NEWS
Sporting
Barral is suspended, but there have been no reports of fresh injury problems in the camp. Gaston Sangoy, Sebastian Eguren and Nacho Novo returned to training later than the remainder of the squad.
Malaga
Martin Demichelis has trained with the club and could debut. A host of players, including Edu Ramos, have been told to look for new clubs in January.
Prediction
Malaga should improve in the second half of the season, but it’s unlikely that the revolution will begin with particular speed. Nevertheless, a trip to Sporting would offer the possibility of three points in the opening weeks of the season, so a victory should not be discounted on Sunday. A tense affair will be on the menu if there’s not an early goal.
Sporting de Gijon 1-1 Malaga 
