Injuries for Real Madrid, but Zidane's men can pile pressure on Barca

Real Madrid's coach Zinedine Zidane reacts during the match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium, Madrid, Spain, Nov 6, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

MADRID -- Real Madrid's continuing injury worries should not be a problem for them when they take on struggling Sporting Gijon on Saturday, knowing a win will pressure FC Barcelona who visit one of their least favorite grounds on matchday 13 of the Spanish season.

Wednesday saw Real Madrid confirm that Gareth Bale will be sidelined for at least a month with an ankle ligament injury. The Welshman joins Alvaro Morata and Tony Kroos on the sidelines with Marcelo and Casemiro also doubts for Saturday's match in the Santiago Bernabeu.

However, Real Madrid should still be confident of beating a Sporting Gijon side mired in the relegation zone with no win in their last nine matches and with coach Aberlado Fernandez in danger of the sack after seeing his side totally outplayed in a 3-1 home defeat to Real Sociedad last weekend.

That was Real Sociedad's fourth consecutive win and it lifted the side from San Sebastian up to fifth in the league table ahead of Sunday's visit from FC Barcelona.

If Real Madrid beat Sporting they would open up a seven-point lead over Barca just a week ahead of their trip to the Camp Nou making it vital for Barca to end 10-years without a win at Real Sociedad's Anoeta Stadium.

Leo Messi again showed his importance to the side with two goals in Wednesday's 2-0 win over Glasgow Celtic, while Luis Suarez was also back in the side. Luis Enrique's doubt is whether to play Neymar in San Sebastian knowing a booking would see him suspended for the Classico.

Atletico Madrid also returned to form in the Champions League and defeated PSV Eindhoven 2-0 with a side that put more emphasis on steel than style than the 11 which has lost its last two domestic matches.