Sporting Gijon head into round 20 of the La Liga season following a 1-0 win away to Lugo. The victory ended a five-match winless streak for Sporting Gijon in the Segunda.
On Sunday, Sporting will host FC Cartagena, as they go in search of a second straight win in the league. Cartagena are sixth in the league and holding on to a promotion playoff place. The Zebras are coming off a surprise 1-0 loss to Villarreal B in midweek.
➕3⃣ de corazón, coraje y lucha.#RealSporting— Real Sporting (@RealSporting) December 8, 2022
➕3⃣ de corazón, coraje y lucha.#RealSporting
The defeat ended a two-game winning streak for Cartagena. The Zebras took 10 points from the last 18 points on offer in the Segunda. Cartagena only scored seven goals across the last six games and conceded six times.
Cartagena are one of the Segunda’s best away teams this season. They took 14 points from their opening nine games in the league. The Zebras posted a +2-goal difference away from home, while posting a record of 4W-2D-3L.
Sporting Gijon picked up just seven points from the last six games in the Segunda. Sporting struggled for goals, scoring six times and conceding six goals to opponents.
Los Rojiblancos are one of the Segunda’s weaker home teams with a record of 4W-3D-2L. The team scored 15 goals in nine home games while conceding 10 times. Sporting Gijon are unbeaten in five of their last six games at home. Their recent home form bodes well for a result on Sunday.
Sporting Gijon and FC Cartagena have met just four times previously. Sporting hold a record of 2W-1D-1L against the Zebras. The home team is unbeaten in three straight games between these clubs.
Cartagena manager Luis Carrion has one player on the injury list ahead of the match. Defender Kiko Olivas has a thigh injury and could miss the match.
The Zebras are led in goals by Armando Sadiku with seven goals. Sadiku has scored 30% of Cartagena’s goals this season.
Sporting manager Abelardo Fernandez will be without Pablo Insua due to a red card suspension. Pol Valentin Sancho will join Fernandez on the sidelines due to an injury. Defender Alex Bamba is ruled out with a tendon injury.
Cristo Gonzalez leads Sporting Gijon in goals with five scores. He has accounted for 23% of Los Rojiblancos’ goals.
Sunday’s match between Sporting Gijon and FC Cartagena is set for a draw. The teams should struggle for goals as the match ends nil-nil. The Segunda saw 15.79% of its games end nil-nil in the opening 19 rounds. It is the league’s second-most common score.