Sporting Gijón 2-0 Real Mallorca

Real Mallorca failed to continue their good start in La Liga as former Barcelona defender Alberto Botía snatched a vital win for Sporting Gijon against a changed Mallorca XI at El Molinon.

The Rojiblancos, who were showcasing renovation work carried out on their stadium for the first time, struggled to create clear-cut chances against the Islanders, who had one of the worst away records in La Liga season. Fans largely attributed their poor away form to Manzano’s insistence on switching to 4-5-1 away from home, but this was a tradition Laudrup continued.

Martí was ruled out of the XI and didn’t fly to Gijón, and he was replaced by Tomás Pina. And defender Iván Ramis made his return, but into the holding midfielder role of the 4-5-1 formation.

Two minutes into the second half, defender Botía showed composure to turn inside the area and rifle his shot past the despairing dive of Dudu Aouate and into the net.

Despite Fernando Cavenaghi making his full debut for the away side, they were unable to break through and Diego Castro sealed the win late on with a sweet finish from the centre of the area that nestled in the corner. Nunes’ straight red only compounded Mallorca’s misery.

After the 4-0 humbling at the hands of Atletico Madrid, Sporting coach Manuel Preciado welcomed an important three points, and opposite number Michael Laudrup and his team left with nothing.

Teams

Sporting Gijón (4-2-3-1): Juan Pablo; Lora, Gregory, Botía, Canella; Eguren, Rivera; Nacho Novo (Bilic 86), De las Cuevas (Carmelo 68), Diego Castro; Sangoy (Barral 68).
Substitutes: Cuéllar; Hernández, Sastre; Carmelo; Barral, Bilic, Morán.

Goalscorers: Botía 45; Diego Castro 85 pen.

Real Mallorca (4-5-1): Aouate; Cendrós, Nunes, Rubén, Ayoze; Nsue, Ramis, Pina (Pereira 56), De Guzmán, Castro (Webó 69); Cavenaghi (Sergi 86).
Substitutes: Lux; Martí Crespí, Corrales; Pereira; Víctor, Webó, Sergi.
Red card: Nunes 84.

original article by Goal, edited by realmallorca.co.uk