Match Report: Sporting Gijón 0 Real Zaragoza 0

Published on February 26, 2011 by Craig Williams · No Comments

Sporting and Zaragoza cancelled each other out in an entertaining game at the Molinon. In a match which, bar goals, had almost everything expected between two teams battling to move out of the relegation zone, a combination of poor finishing on Zaragoza´s part and bad luck on the part of Gijon meant that the points were shared.

With so much at stake for the winner it promised to be a lively encounter. Zaragoza, sat third from bottom going into the match, just a point behind Sporting. They came looking for a change in fortune from a scorecard in which they´ve took one point from a possible nine in their last three games whilst Sporting came into this one looking to continue their impressive run of form which seen them leave the Mestalla last week. Sporting´s dangerman Barral returned from suspension to lead the line whilst an injury to Leo Franco last week meant Doblas started in goal for Zaragoza, with both Aguirre and Preciado opting for an identical 4-3-2-1 formation.

The game started with Zaragoza the brighter, making the most of their early possession, a volley wide by Andrea after a headed clearance by Cases refusing to trouble Cuellar in the Sporting goal. Good work subsequently by De Las Cuevas and the impressive Lora (dangerous in attack and solid in defence) led to Gijon´s first real chance, the latter´s cut back cleared by the former Celtic forward Jarosick, just as Diego Castro was gearing up to shoot from 8 yards. Advantage being played after Barral was fouled on the half way line led to a further chance not long after, Jose Angel and Diego Castro linking up down the left, the Zaragoza defence, at times shaky, holding strong.

Zaragoza created chances of their own with the confident Ponzo at the helm, shooting from range after being laid off by Betolo, but as they traded chances it was Gijon who really took the game to their opponents in the search for the opener. A first time shot by Barral after being fed by De Las Cuevas was parried by Doblas while more good work down the right hand side from him led to perhaps the game´s best chance, Diego Castro failing to connect from De Las Cuevas´s cutback when he should have scored. The frenetic tempo didnt falter as Zaragoza marked their final chance of the first half, Sinama-Pongolle losing Jose Angel at the back post with his volley delfecting off Botia for a corner. Rojiblanco hearts beating fast no doubt.

More of the same in the second half, an attacking double substitution by Aguerre bringing on Braulio and Uche reflecting his intent on leaving with all three points. But Gijon were the more purposeful and direct, the tireless running of Cases and Andre Castro causing problems for the Zaragoza midfield. Doblas was put to work early saving from Jose Angel as he latched onto a headed flick on from a Gijon corner. De Las Cuevas, mostly taking on the role of provider, fashioned his own chance in front of goal but, in trying some nice footwork at the edge of the box allowed Zaragoza to take breadth when he should have fed Diego Castro in.

With Cuellar yet to really warm his hands Zaragoza spent more and more time camped out in their own half as they struggled to get a foothold on the game, content to try and break on the counter in front of an increasingly impatient home support. A tactical switch by Preciado nearly worked to perfection as Carmelo, just on the park, bundled in from close range, the linesman´s flag the reason the scored remained level. The same was to be said for Zaragoza, Uche´s shot when clear through called back for offside, in what represented a rare venture forward for them. Novo was brought on to try and stretch the Zaragoza defence further in the last fifteen minutes but they held on to leave Asturias with a valid, if somewhat undeserved point, as Sporting´s search for all three points ended with frustration at the final whistle.