Real Madrid extended their lead at the top of La Liga to six points on Saturday after seeing off struggling Sporting Gijon at the Bernabeu, but it wasn’t the expected routine victory.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring from the penalty spot with just five minutes on the clock and doubled his tally 13 minutes later, but a Carlos Carmona strike reduced arrears before the break.
Real Madrid went searching for a third goal to put the result beyond doubt, but Sporting weren’t about to lie down and should have left the Bernabeu with a point in the end.