Sporting Gijon midfielder Sergio Alvarez (R) competes for the ball against Rayo Vallecano's Lassane Bangoura as teammate Roberto Canella looks on. (Photo : Getty Images)
Bottom three squad Sporting de Gijon (9-19-9, 36 points) will look to rise from the relegation zone as they host reeling contenders Villarreal CF (18-9-10, 64 points) at their home ground of Estadio El Molinón on Sunday, May 15th in the final matchday of the 2015-2016 La Liga season.
Sporting Gijon is at the top of the bottom three relegation area, only a point above Rayo Vallecano and four points adrift of officially relegated club Levante UD. They are tied on points with Getafe CF, but the latter has a superior goal difference which makes them safe.
A win by Sporting and a loss by Getafe in this season's last matchday will save them from going back to the Segunda Division next season.
Manager Abelardo Fernández's boys are coming off a 1-1 draw with Getafe in their previous match last Sunday held on the road at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, as reported by ESPN.
After a goalless first half, midfielder Sergio Alvarez opened the scoring at the 50th minute before teammate Nacho Cases was sent off six minutes later after getting booked for a second yellow card.
A 10-man Rojiblancos side then valiantly fought against El Geta to try and preserve their lead, but the hosts were able to find the equalizer at the 80th, courtesy of Serbian forward Stefan Scepovic to salvage the draw.
Meanwhile, Villarreal suffered its fourth winless match in their last five games to remain at the fourth spot of the current league table.
Despite their recent lackluster performances and even if they lose this season finale, head coach Marcelino's squad is already assured of a spot in the playoff round of next season's UEFA Champions League competitions, although it is highly unlikely that the team will give away this last game to Sporting.
The Yellow Submarine was blanked by middling team Deportivo La Coruna, 0-2, at their own home field of Estadio El Madrigal also last Sunday, as per Soccerway.
Midfielders Faycal Fajr and Lucas Perez netted one goal apiece for Deportivo at the 32nd and 57th minutes to hand El Submarino Amarillo their third loss in five outings.
The predicted result is a 1-0 win for Sporting Gijon.
Sporting Gijon starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Cuellar; Lora, Hernandez, Mere, Lopez; Alvarez, Barrera; Carmona, Halilovic, Jony; Sanabria
Villarreal starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Barbosa; Mario, Bonera, Ruiz, Rukavina; Samu, Bruno, Trigueros, Castillejo; Lopez, Baptistao
