Real Madrid suffers disappointing draw
Last Updated: Saturday, October 24, 2009 | 6:57 PM ET
The Associated Press
Real Madrid's Raul Gonzalez, left, vies for the ball with Sporting de Gijon Luis Moran during their Spanish La Liga soccer match on Saturday. (Juan Manuel Serrano/Associated Press) (Juan Manuel Serrano/Associated Press)Real Madrid failed to bounce back from its midweek loss against AC Milan, drawing 0-0 against Sporting Gijon, while nine-man Mallorca held Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw Saturday in Spain.
Sevilla also drew 0-0 against Espanyol, which played most of the second half with 10 men.
In the first half, Gijon worked hard to stifle Madrid, whose forward line was depleted going into the game. Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema and Ruud Van Nistelrooy were all unavailable and in the first half Madrid's lack of attacking options was evident.
Madrid's movement improved in the second half although it struggled to create more than a handful of chances in wet conditions.
"Wednesday was a big blow to us," said Jose Maria (Guti) Gutierrez after the game, in reference to the 3-2 defeat at home to Milan. "We're without some big players at the moment who score goals."
On the hour, Guti replaced Royston Drenthe. The midfield change nearly paid off in the 68th, when Kaka sent a free kick into the bottom right-hand corner, past goalkeeper Juan Pablo Colinas.
A neat passing move in the 78th gave Xabi Alonso a long-range shot, but the Spain midfielder blasted over the bar. He was replaced a minute later by Rafael Van der Vaart.
The Netherlands midfielder nearly put Real ahead shortly before the final whistle, Colinas just getting a hand to his lobbed shot.
Borja Valero scored an injury-time equalizer to give nine-man Mallorca a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid, which was playing its first game since coach Abel Resino was fired.
Diego Forlan scored a 52nd-minute penalty to give Atletico a 1-0 lead after Mallorca's Ivan Ramis was sent off for a second yellow card for handball in the area.
Mallorca also had Josemi Gonzalez dismissed for a handball in the area in the 27th, but Forlan blasted that spot kick wide.
Despite its numerical disadvantage, Mallorca managed to pressure Atletico throughout the second half.
One minute into injury time, De Gea tried to clear Valero's shot but instead let the ball slip into his net.
Madrid goes level with Barcelona at the top of the standings on 19 points. Barcelona, however, can pull clear on Sunday when it plays Zaragoza. Gijon goes sixth with 12 points.
Sevilla, which played at Espanyol later, and Deportivo La Coruna have 15. Mallorca stays fifth on 14 points and Atletico moves up to 14th with seven points.
Caretaker coach Santi Denia was in the dugout for Atletico. The club fired Resino on Friday after winning only one of the past 10 games to be last in its Champions League group and struggling in the Spanish league.
Atletico has hired Quique Sanchez Flores as Resino's replacement and he is expected to be officially presented next week.
"Atletico has a great squad and I swear on my children that (Sanchez Flores) will find the right way to make sure that it performs to its potential," Denia said after the game.
Sevilla went into the game against Espanyol on the back of a 3-1 win at Stuttgart midweek in the Champions League, and was hoping to keep in touch with leaders Real Madrid and Barcelona.
In an open first half, both teams had chances although Sevilla enjoyed more possession and looked a constant threat.
Diego Perotti and Jesus Navas in particular hurt Espanyol with their runs down the wings. Carlos Kameni had to pull off a spectacular save in the 23rd minute from a Perotti free kick and the winger tested Espanyol's 'keeper again shortly before halftime with a stinging shot.
After Espanyol's Nicolas Pareja was sent off for a brutal challenge on Diego Capel on the hour Sevilla looked even more dominant but could not find the net as Kameni pulled off several more crucial saves.
