Sporting Have Some Players Unavailable For Almería Clash

Sporting Gijón enter a stretch of matches that will ultimately determine their permanence in the Spanish top flight.  The bad news during the weekday is the possible unavailability of three key players. 

A grade-two strain on his left leg will keep Sporting Gijón goalkeeper Iván Cuéllar sidelined for three weeks.  The injury was suffered in Sunday’s draw against Villarreal at El Madrigal. The former Atlético Madrid product played in 13 matches so far this season and earned six clean sheets in the process.

Sporting look to get ready for this weekend’s big clash with relegation implications against Almería at home.  The coaching staff knows that this match is not a be-all and end-all in either team’s respective campaigns, but it will pave the way in the final ten matches of the season. 

Juan Pablo will most likely be the starter for Manolo Preciado after he started the season in that position.

The biggest doubt for Sporting is the possible absence of forward David Barral.  The team’s second leading scorer suffered a knee sprain and despite the medical staff saying that he could be ready for the weekend, Preciado will probably keep him out for precautionary reasons.

Defender Sastre will be unavailable as well.  He picked suffered a muscle strain during the weekend as well.  In addition to the injury, he also was sent off and will have to serve a one-match ban.  Sastre also has not practiced with the team as he traveled to Mallorca to be present for the birth of his daughter.

Sporting are currently in 17th place, just three points clear of the relegation zone.  Their next four matches will be very important in their race to avoid the drop.  Their recent form has not helped them get out of that predicament as they have only earned seven of the last 18 points that in dispute.  In addition to playing Almería, they will visit Real Madrid and Real Sociedad and host Osasuna and Espanyol.