First Division - Day 29

Sevilla 0 - Sporting Gijón 0

Sevilla: Sergio Rico; Mariano, Nico Pareja, Lenglet, Sarabia; Kranevitter (Iborra 60’), N’Zonzi; Nasri, Joaquín Correa (Vietto 81’), Vitolo; Ben Yedder (Jovetic 60‘). 4-2-3-1.
Sporting: Cuéllar; Lillo, Babín, Amorebieta (Juan Rodríguez 67‘), Canella; Xavi Torres, Mikel Vesga, Sergio Alvarez; Carmona, Carlos Castro (Traoré 72‘), Burgui (Isma López 81’). 4-3-3.

Goals: None.

Yellow cards: Mikel Vesga 34’, Lillo 58’, Nico Pareja 59’, Amorebieta 61’, Nasri 75’, Xavi Torres 78’, Mariano 83’.

Third placed Sevilla dropped eight points adrift of the leaders after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Sporting Gijón in the Sunday mid-day game. Nasri brought an early save out of Cuéllar, but with half an hour on the clock referee Bikandi Garrido at first gave a penalty to the visitors after Carmona was brought down in the area, only to overturn the decision and award a free kick the other way for offside after consulting with his linesman. Cuéllar kept out Vitolo again after the break, and Carmona tested Sergio Rico at the other end after the restart, and Amorebieta was lucky to be let off another penalty appeal when he blocked Vitolo’s cross with his hand, injuring himself in the process. Iborra and N’Zonzi went close after that as the Andalusians pushed forward desperately for the win, but in the end they had to settle for a point which leaves them below Atlético on goal difference. The two sides will be battling it out from now on for third place, which gives automatic access to the Champions League group stage. Sporting meanwhile are now only five points away from safety, with three teams just above them tied on 27 points.