Sporting Gijon vs Real Madrid Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

Preview

Joel Amorim Aug 17, 2015 @ 12:34 pm

Next Sunday, 23rd of August 2015, the all-powerful Real Madrid will travel to Asturias to measure forces with the newcomers Sporting de Gijon at El Molinon for Round 1 of the Spanish Liga BBVA.

There is a new skipper at the helm of Real Madrid’s vessel, which was slightly adrift for large periods throughout last season. Rafael Benitez is the new man in charge and although his nomination might not have been consensual, the Merengues’ supporters and Cristiano Ronaldo himself have to get used to the idea.

Real Madrid did good throughout the pre-season matches and were only defeated twice, and by a narrow margin, by AS Roma and Bayern Munich. The departure of the almost legendary Iker Casillas to FC Porto this summer caused some unrest among his former teammates and among the supporters, but the decision had already been made for quite some time and there wasn’t any way back. Los Blancos have, on the other hand, signed the Brazilian right back Danilo from FC Porto, brought back Casemiro, who was on loan at the the Portuguese powerhouse, and brought in Espanyol’s goalkeeper, Kiko Casilla, to mitigate the departure of their former captain. The Russian wonderboy, Denis Cheryshev, has also returned from his loan to Villarreal, and he is, according to Rafa Benitez, an important future asset for the team.

Real Madrid’s first match for the new La Liga campaign is a predictably complicated travel to El Molinon to face the newcomers of Sporting Gijon. Los Blancos have won two of the last three matches they’ve played against the Asturian side, but they should avoid complacency next Sunday, if they want to leave the match with the three points in their bags.

As for Sporting de Gijon, after a splendid campaign at Liga Adelante last term they have deservedly returned to the first tier of Spanish football but they now need to be at their best to be competitive at one of the best football leagues in the World.

Their manager, former Barcelona centre back Abelardo Fernandez, is doing a fantastic job with the Asturian team and the football style they showcased last term was quite impressive. Gijon were punished with a transfer ban during the summer that was only recently lifted and for that reason they are still on the process of strengthening their team. Omar Mascarell arrived last week on loan from Real Madrid and the Paraguayan forward has joined them on loan from AS Roma also in the last few days.

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