Spanish La Liga (Photo : Getty Images)
Bottom-three club Sporting de Gijon (6-17-6, 24 points) and top contender Atletico Madrid (21-4-4, 67 points) are at opposite ends of the 2015-2016 La Liga season table as the former tries to battle out of relegation while the latter shoots for the Spanish domestic top flight title.
The two clubs are set to meet at the Estadio El Molinón on March 19th, Saturday in a matchday 30 game that will help determine their eventual finishes this season.
Sporting dropped their fourth consecutive game via a close 0-1 decision to middling team Malaga CF last Friday at the La Rosaleda Stadium to remain in the second to the last spot of the league table, as per ESPN.
Los Boquerones' Venezuelan midfielder Juanpi scored the only goal of the match at the 25th minute as the visitors were unable to respond with their own in the whole game.
The defeat was also Los Rojiblancos' eighth straight winless match as they are dangerously close of becoming relegated to the Segunda Division next season. As of the moment, they are only three points away from the safe zone.
Meanwhile, Atleti is currently on a four-game winning run and a seven-game undefeated streak as they attempt to overtake reigning champions FC Barcelona on top of the Spanish top flight leaderboard before the current season winds down to a close.
In their most recent game, Los Colchoneros routed lowly team Deportivo La Coruna, 3-0, last Saturday at their home field of Vicente Calderon Stadium, as reported by SkySports.
Spanish midfielder Saul Niguez scored the opening goal at the 18th minute for the hosts as Diego Simeone's club gained the early advantage.
Scoring has stopped for both sides since then until French striker Antoine Griezmann managed to net one in right at the hour mark to double the lead. Substitute striker Angel Correa completed Atleti's three-goal haul seven minutes before time expired.
Even with the win, the capital city team is still eight points behind Barça in the overall standings.
The predicted result is a 4-1 romp for Atletico Madrid.
Sporting Gijon starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Cuellar; Lora, Hernandez, Mere, Lopez; Picon, Mascarell; Carmona, Ndi, Rodriguez; Sanabria
Atletico Madrid starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Oblak; Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Luis; Niguez, Fernandez, Koke, Carrasco; Vietto, Griezmann
