BARCELONA - Spanish league leaders Real Madrid extended their winning streak to 14 games in all competitions by beating Sporting Gijon 3-0 on Saturday.
The victory kept Madrid three points ahead of Barcelona, who have played an extra game after Cesc Fabregas scored a first-half brace to spark the defending champions' 5-0 rout of Levante.
The commanding showing by the two Spanish powerhouses only heightened the anticipation surrounding the first "Clasico" of the season set for next weekend when Barcelona visit Santiago Bernabeu.
Angel Di Maria scored Madrid's 34th-minute opener and then produced the throughball for Cristiano Ronaldo to put the game at El Molinon beyond doubt in the 64th before Marcelo capped the win in stoppage time.
With Xabi Alonso suspended, Lassana Diarra started in Madrid's midfield alongside the equally defensive-minded Sami Khedira.
The visitors missed Alonso's incisive passes early as they dominated possession but failed to seriously threaten Sporting's area. With their attack stalled outside the area, Madrid went ahead through a great individual effort by Di Maria.
Madrid get by without Alonso
BARCELONA - Spanish league leaders Real Madrid extended their winning streak to 14 games in all competitions by beating Sporting Gijon 3-0 on Saturday.
The victory kept Madrid three points ahead of Barcelona, who have played an extra game after Cesc Fabregas scored a first-half brace to spark the defending champions' 5-0 rout of Levante.
The commanding showing by the two Spanish powerhouses only heightened the anticipation surrounding the first "Clasico" of the season set for next weekend when Barcelona visit Santiago Bernabeu.
Angel Di Maria scored Madrid's 34th-minute opener and then produced the throughball for Cristiano Ronaldo to put the game at El Molinon beyond doubt in the 64th before Marcelo capped the win in stoppage time.
With Xabi Alonso suspended, Lassana Diarra started in Madrid's midfield alongside the equally defensive-minded Sami Khedira.
The visitors missed Alonso's incisive passes early as they dominated possession but failed to seriously threaten Sporting's area. With their attack stalled outside the area, Madrid went ahead through a great individual effort by Di Maria.
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