Sporting de Gijon v Real Mallorca
The Glass Is Still Half Full
Sporting de Gijon and Mallorca could barely have started the season in any different a manner, yet the two sides are pitted against each other in Round 2 of action, with the hosts aiming to bounce back from a heavy opening day defeat and the guests looking to build on a magnificent point. Manuel Preciado’s side had to wait until Monday evening to get their campaign underway against an Atletico Madrid outfit who had been busy winning the European Super Cup, but it was not a fixture worth waiting for from a Sportinguista point of view as they were crushed 4-0.
The coach indicated after the game that he felt Atleti were in simply awesome form, touting them as potential challengers to Barcelona, but that only acted as a mask to his side’s rather shambolic display. “I like to see the glass as half full,” Preciado said after the opening match of the campaign. “Surely the players will want to respond. I’m happy with all new players. They have not come to play one game but to play an entire league.”
Centre-back Gregory Arnolin, meanwhile, has spoken of the importance of los Rojiblancos winning their home games this season. “Our league will be played at home,” he told AS. “We cannot let go of points at El Molinon.” Only on five occasions did Sporting lose at home last term, and knowing Mallorca’s travel sickness from last term, they will certainly be going for maximum points.
Season Starts Now
Home games were generally bankers for three points last season for Mallorca, though nothing was expected of the Balearic club in their opening fixture of the campaign against Real Madrid at the Iberostar Estadi. Faced with a newly reinforced Blanco side, it was anticipated that Los Bermellones would be overwhelmed and lose valiantly.
In his first competitive game in charge, Michael Laudrup saw his team excel, defying expectations by battling to a scoreless draw against a Madrid side who failed to live up to their billing. Los Merengues may have misfired, but much of that was due to the excellent performance from the hosts.
“Our season begins against Sporting, in our next match,” the coach, whose brother Brian was this week diagnosed with cancer, explained to the media. “The next four games, of which three of them are within seven days, are very important to know where we stand.”
After travelling to Gijon, the Canary Islanders then face matches against Osasuna, Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad. Given that these are the matches that will be played in close proximity, squad rotation will be vital, though Laudrup isn’t entirely satisfied with what his side achieved in the summer. “We were looking for two players per position in the transfer market, and we have not fully achieved this, but we have three strikers, which is interesting both for me and for the rest of the group,” he stated, having captured Fernando Cavenaghi from Bordeaux towards the end of the transfer window.
Replicating last season’s terrific campaign seems virtually impossible, but Mallorca’s start has shown they can once again be an effective disrupting force in La Primera.
Team News
Sporting
There are no injury problems in the Sporting ranks, with Jose Angel fine despite having a heavy nose bleed on Wednesday. Alberto Botia and Canella have both been away with Spain’s Under-21 side.
Carmelo faces a fight for his place on the right side of midfield from new signing Nacho Novo, who could equally occupy a role further forward.
Probable Starting XI: Cuellar; Lora, Gregory, Botia, Canella; Carmelo, Rivera, Eguren, Diego Castro; De las Cuevas; Barral.
Mallorca
Tuni is the only player unavailable to Michael Laudrup. Marti is 50-50 and Laudrup won’t know if he is available for selection until the last moment whilst Jonathan De Guzman is training again. There is even hope that Ivan Ramis could be available for the Balearic Islanders.
Dudu Aouate and Emilio Nsue are also available for selection after returning from international duty. And Cavenaghi, despite travelling to France for the birth of his child, is available for selection too.
Probable Starting XI: Aouate; Cendrós, Nunes, Rubén, Ayoze; Nsue, de Guzman, Pina, Castro; Cavenaghi, Victor.
original article from Goal.com – edited by realmallorca.co.uk for accuracy.
Edit
Pep Martí has not travelled to Gijón and is likely to be replaced in the starting XI by Tomás Pina.