Sporting Gijon - Mallorca Preview Match

Pre Match
March 21, 2012 7:00 PM GMT
Estadio Municipal El Molinón — Gijón
Referee:‬ Pedro Jesús Pérez Montero‎

Gijon

Sporting lost a crucial encounter in their attempt to beat the drop as they went down 2-1 to Granada on Saturday. That defeat means the Asturian side have won only once in the five matches since Javier Clemente took charge last month. Miguel de las Cuevas has missed the last two matches but expects to be fit for this one so Oscar Trejo could drop out. Nacho Cases made a positive impact when he was introduced after the break at Nuevo Los Cármenes and he should be rewarded with a start against Mallorca.

Mallorca

 Mallorca's decent form of late of continued as they held on to beat Atlético Madrid 2-1 at the weekend. Joaquín Caparrós' side were reduced to 10-men with 37 minutes remaining in that match as Iván Ramis handled on the line, so he, along with Chori Castro and Michael Pereira, is suspended. Those absences should mean returns to the starting line-up for Emilio Nsue and Alejandro Alfaro in midfield, whilst at the back Pau Cendrós will start at right-back with Chico moving into the centre of defence.

Probable Lineups

Gijon (4-2-3-1) : Pablo, Canella, Gregory, Botia, Lora, Galvez, Cases, Colunga, Cuevas, Mendy, Barral.

Mallorca (4-2-3-1) : Aouate, Caceres, Nunes, Chico, Chendros, Tissone, Marti, Nsue, Victor, Alfaro, Hemed.

 

Prediction

With only 11 games remaining this is a must-win game for Sporting, who despite winning only six out of 27 games remain only three points from safety. Mallorca are more comfortably situated in mid-table and with some key players missing through suspension, Clemente's team should want it more. In front of a passionate crowd under the floodlights at El Molinón, the home advantage may just sway this in Sporting's favour.

Gijon  2 - 1  Mallorca