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Injuries for Real Madrid, but Zidane's men can pile pressure on Barca in matchday 13

Xinhua, November 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Real Madrid' s continuing injury worries should not be a problem for them when they take on struggling Sporting Gijon on Saturday, knowing a win will pressure FC Barcelona who visit one of their least favorite grounds on matchday 13 of the Spanish season.

Wednesday saw Real Madrid confirm that Gareth Bale will be sidelined for at least a month with an ankle ligament injury. The Welshman joins Alvaro Morata and Tony Kroos on the sidelines with Marcelo and Casemiro also doubts for Saturday' s match in the Santiago Bernabeu.

However, Real Madrid should still be confident of beating a Sporting Gijon side mired in the relegation zone with no win in their last nine matches and with coach Aberlado Fernandez in danger of the sack after seeing his side totally outplayed in a 3-1 home defeat to Real Sociedad last weekend.

That was Real Sociedad' s fourth consecutive win and it lifted the side from San Sebastian up to fifth in the league table ahead of Sunday' s visit from FC Barcelona.

If Real Madrid beat Sporting they would open up a seven-point lead over Barca just a week ahead of their trip to the Camp Nou making it vital for Barca to end 10-years without a win at Real Sociedad' s Anoeta Stadium.

Leo Messi again showed his importance to the side with two goals in Wednesday' s 2-0 win over Glasgow Celtic, while Luis Suarez was also back in the side. Luis Enrique' s doubt is whether to play Neymar in San Sebastian knowing a booking would see him suspended for the Classico.

Atletico Madrid also returned to form in the Champions League and defeated PSV Eindhoven 2-0 with a side that put more emphasis on steel than style than the 11 which has lost its last two domestic matches.

Diego Simeone' s decision will be whether he retains Tiago Cardoso and Jose Gimenez for the visit to play second from bottom Osasuna on Sunday afternoon in what is likely to be an ugly game against a side that desperately needs points.

The weekend kicks off on Friday night as Eibar look to continue their excellent season at home to Betis who last week won their first game under new coach Victor Sanchez.

Malaga will take heart from last week' s point away to Barca but have Juan Carlos and Diego Llorente suspended for the visit of Deportivo la Coruna, who will put faith in striker Florin Andone.

Espanyol look for their first home win of the season against Leganes, who claimed theirs against Osasuna on Monday night, while Sevilla can also keep the pressure on at the top of the table if they can beat a Valencia side who have still to click under new coach Cesare Prandelli.

On Sunday Villarreal will fancy their chances of taking all three points against an Alaves lacking firepower and slipping into the relegation dogfight. Meanwhile Granada look for their first win of the season, but have a difficult task away to Celta Vigo.

Finally the round of matches finishes on Monday with what promises to be an entertaining game between Las Palmas and Athletic Club Bilbao. Enditem