Benítez back to square one

Real Madrid were held to a goalless draw in El Molinón by a valiant Sporting side and the heroics of Iván Cuéllar.

Between the genres of action and adventure a game of football was played that caught the eye and resulted in the first slip-up for Rafa Benítez's Real Madrid. The fantastic hustle and bustle incredibly ended in a goalless draw, which leaves Madrid chasing Barcelona after the opening act. Cristiano Ronaldo emptied his magazine without hitting the target.

In any case, Sporting's courage warrants praise, the home side's disposition for the fight serving up a game of furious energy, open, with a cup tie atmosphere, end to end and with plenty of chances and action replays. There was more movement than Benítez would have liked but at times it was useful to his side.

Gareth Bale was a constant threat on the left and it seems he has found his place in the world, carving out three chances in the opening exchanges that he couldn't exploit. In part, because two fell to his right foot and in the third he lost his angle when knocked off course by Ivan Cuéllar. After his initial burst he rummaged around in the centre and gradually faded from the game. Ronaldo has not yet returned but in the last minutes of the first half and in the second he found his range again. Cuéllar stopped a shot from distance and he was denied a penalty by the referee when hauled back by Sergio Álvarez in the first half. Later he glanced a header wide at point blank range from James' delivery and failed to turn in a Danilo cross. Cuéllar did the rest to ensure that Ronaldo left Gijón empty-handed. Jesé expended a lot of energy in moving his marker around and pressing but he didn't have many chances to shoot.

Madrid, though, were erratic. Luka Modric was fantastic and Toni Kross half-missing, the German seemingly in the same quarter-decline he found himself in June. At times he looked like lost property. It was odd he was not taken off for Mateo Kovacic, whose debut was an uphill struggle. Isco was involved and twice went close from distance. Marcelo looks like he has been muzzled and Danilo ran and ran but without effect. The central defenders fared better, although Antonio Sanabria beat them to a header that was ruled out as having gone in by a whisker (the television replays suggest it grazed the line after coming off the crossbar).

In any case, Real improved with the introduction of James, who started on the bench, although it is the case that the Colombian benefited from the fatigue starting to spread through Sporting's ranks. Madrid then played without a number nine and re-ignited the debate as to whether Benítez needs a next-generation Chicharito.

Sporting's adrenaline frustrated Madrid. Abelardo Fernández's side showed admirable enthusiasm for the task and announced their return to Primera with guts and application. The home side had full backs with good delivery, well-organized central defenders, wingers with depth, two target men and the expertise to keep Real at arm's length from their area until the final exchanges of the match. Pretty much everything Cuéllar stopped or that whistled over his head came from distance. Benítez needs to take note.