Real Madrid started the new La Liga season with a disappointing goalless draw at newly-promoted Sporting Gijon on Sunday.
Keylor Navas got the nod in goal following the departure of Iker Casillas to Porto and amid continued speculation regarding Manchester United’s David De Gea. Kiko Casilla, signed from Espanyol over the summer, was among the substitutes, as was fellow new arrival Mateo Kovacic.
Danilo, another of Madrid’s summer purchases, started at right-back, displacing Dani Carvajal, while Sergio Ramos partnered Raphael Varane in the centre of defence. Carvajal and Pepe were among the reserves. Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Isco all started in midfield, as did Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and cantera product Jese up top.
Newly-promoted Sporting were without Alen Halilovic, loaned from Barcelona but not in time for the first round of Primera fixtures. Ivan Cuellar kept goal for the home side, with a defence of Alberto Lora, Luis Hernandez, Bernardo Espinosa and Isma Lopez, while Sergio Alvarez and Nacho Cases were teamed in midfield and Miguel Guerrero was supported in attack by Jony, Carlos Carmona and Antonio Sanabria, signed from Roma.
Sporting were expected to adopt a conservative approach in light of Madrid's unlimited attacking potential, but they were in no mood to back down as they made for an even first half.
In fact, they were presented with the game's best chance, when Sanabria sent a header towards Navas' crossbar, only for the ball to bounce off the line instead of crossing it.
Madrid, meanwhile, forced Cuellar into a string of saves, the goalkeeper most notably keeping out a vicious strike from Ronaldo as he tipped the No 7's effort wide of his near post.
Los Blancos threw on James Rodriguez and Mateo Kovacic, the latter making his debut, on in a bid to salvage the three points, but the Asturians were not fazed as Carlos Carmona saw his header float inches wide of Navas' net, with the custodian in no-man's land.
Nonetheless, Madrid eventually enjoyed the best of the chances on offer, mainly through Ronaldo, who first missed an open goal via a header from James' cross, despite the Portuguese being offside, before Cuellar tipped over a vicious effort in the final stages.
With that, Sporting had achieved a famous point against the capital giants, a performance which was greeted with widespread celebrations from home supporters after the final whistle.
Sporting Gijon 0-0 Real Madrid
Sporting Gijon: Cuellar; Lora, Luis Hernandez, Bernardo, Isma; Sergio, Cases; Carmona (Atmane 86), Sanabria, Jony (Menendez 77); Guerrero (Muniz 72)
Real Madrid: Navas; Danilo (Carvajal 84), Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Modric, Kroos; Bale, Isco (Kovacic 71), Ronaldo; Jese (James 56)
Referee: Estrada Fernandez
