Real suffer shock defeat

Real Madrid 0 Sporting Gijon 1

Jose Mourinho lost his first home league match in more than nine years as Real Madrid’s title hopes suffered a huge blow with a shock defeat against Sporting Gijon at the Bernabeu.

Miguel de las Cuevas, the former Atletico Madrid player, netted the only goal of the game in the 79th minute to end not only Mourinho’s remarkable personal run but also Madrid’s 100% record at home this season.

The defeat means Madrid could find themselves eight points adrift of Barcelona if the league leaders beat Villarreal later this evening, and is a blow to morale ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Tottenham.

Even the return of Gonzalo Higuain after more than four months out through injury could not help Madrid, who badly missed key players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso.