Sporting stamp their authority

Real Sporting de Gijón beat RCD Mallorca 1-3 in Sunday's first game on Liga Adelante matchday 24. With goals from Nacho Cases, Roberto Canella and Carlos Carmona, José Ramón Sandoval's side recorded an important victory that keeps it in second place in the table. Meanwhile, the Balearic outfit's plans suffer a setback and it could fall several positions at the end of the weekend.

In the first half it was hard to divide the teams, despite an early warning shot from Sporting through headed shot from Bernardo Espinosa that Rubén Miño thwarted with a great save. Both teams, two of the hot favourites for promotion, showed the other a great deal of respect, resulting in a half without many chances. However, just when it looked like the break would come before any goals, Nacho Cases tipped the balanced in the 44th minute by comfortably tucking away a cross from Carmona that took a deflection off a defender.

After the restart, Sporting practically wrapped the match up with a goal from Canella, after a great individual move from the rojiblancos' full-back. Despite the two-goal margin, Mallorcan heads did not drop and they kept fighting until the final whistle, resulting a glimmer of hope in the form of a fierce Generelo free-kick that found the back of the net. However, Carmona put the match to bed in added time with a subtle chip to seal the 1-3 result.