Real Madrid, hamstrung by the absence of four key forwards, drew
their first blank of the season as they were held to a goalless
draw by Sporting Gijon at El Molinon.
Already without Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooy because
of injury, Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini also had to do without
Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain for the trip to Gijon due to niggles,
and without that forward power the big-spending capital club could
not find the breakthrough.
To put into perspective tonight's result, Madrid had smashed 11
goals past Sporting in their two meetings last season and coming
into the encounter Pellegrini's troops had averaged over three goals
a game this term, netting 31 times in just 10 league and Champions
League games.
It was though a disappointing night for the title hopefuls, who
have now won just once in four matches since world record signing
Ronaldo picked up his ankle injury, losing to Sevilla and then again
in midweek in Europe to AC Milan before drawing tonight.
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