Injury-ravaged Real fire blanks in Gijon

After losing to AC Milan in the Champions League in midweek, Real Madrid dropped two points in the title race with a 0-0 draw at Sporting Gijon on Saturday as they failed to score for the first time this season.

Real go top above Barcelona on goal difference but the champions, also beaten at home in Europe by Russians Rubin Kazan, can open up a three-point lead with a home win over Real Zaragoza on Sunday.

Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini was shorn of striking options with Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuain and Ruud van Nistelrooy injured so the onus was on Raul and Kaka.

The pair had two of Real’s best chances, with Esteban Granero missing the other, but Real could not find a way through against a Sporting side that remain unbeaten at home and a respectable seventh in the table.

“Football can be like this sometimes,” reflected Real playmaker Guti. “You can create lots of chances but don’t take them.

“We had some important attacking players absent today and of course we missed them.”

Sevilla, the only Spanish side to win in the Champions League this week, can move a point behind Real if they can overcome Espanyol at home later on Saturday.

The Milan defeat had raised defensive issues again and Spanish international Raul Albiol was dropped to the bench with Argentine Ezequiel Garay taking his spot at centre-back.

Sporting had lost 7-1 and 4-0 against Real last season so must have feared the worst.

Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas, at fault for two Milan goals, flapped at an early cross but Sporting could not take advantage of the mistake.

Kaka had Real’s first effort on 20 minutes with a low shot before Raul swivelled and shot wide close to the half hour mark following a goalmouth scramble.

Gijon had their best opening close to half-time with Miguel de las Cuevas, who has four goals already this season, forcing Casillas to get down quickly to defend his near post.

Sporting goalkeeper Juan Pablo denied Esteban Granero with an outstretched foot early in the second half and then a fingertip save to thwart a fierce Kaka free-kick.

Substitute Rafael van der Vaart almost caught Pablo out with an overhit cross but the goalkeeper recovered just in time to palm the ball over.

“This is like a win for us,” said Sporting coach Manolo Preciado. “We worked so hard and you could see how tired we were at the end.”

At Atletico Madrid, unpopular coach Abel Resino may have gone but the fans jeers continue after the club failed to beat nine-man Real Mallorca struggling to a 1-1 draw at the Vicente Calderon.

A last minute equaliser from Borja Valero denied Atletico victory after Diego Forlan had put them in front from the penalty spot.

The insipid display will not have impressed incoming Atletico coach ‘Quique’ Sanchez Flores.

“It was difficult for us after the first sending off then even more so after the second dismissal,” said Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano.

“It seemed impossible after they scored with the penalty but the draw was fair and on the trip home I will wonder what would have happened if it had been 11 against 11.”

Former Valencia and Benfica coach Flores will officially take over on Monday after Resino was sacked on Friday.

Mallorca defenders Josemi and Ivan Ramis were sent off before the hour mark for handball and after missing a first half spot-kick, Forlan made no mistake with his second penalty on 53 minutes.

However, Valero struck in the final minute to give Mallorca a point they deserved after hitting the post minutes earlier.