Football Season Guide

porting de Gijon’s 2015-16 season was a veritable success. Granted, they stayed up on the last day of the campaign with 39 points, just one better off than the three teams below them who descended, but the brief for Abelardo after gaining promotion to La Liga was simple, and he fulfilled it by keeping the Asturian club in the Primera Division. It gives them the opportunity to build and re-establish themselves as regulars in Spain’s top flight. They are an historic La Liga club with the oldest stadium in professional football in Spain so it is great to see them competing at the top level. After so narrowly avoiding the drop last year, their aim this season will be to further consolidate their position and try to confirm their safety early enough to avoid another nervous finale. However, in the current financial climate – and given their modest fiscal expenditure – staying by any means would be satisfactory. Abelardo will have to start from scratch in many ways when it comes to building a team. At least ten of last season’s regulars have left the club, among them the best and brightest of what was an exciting young squad in 2015-16. In many ways, avoiding relegation in their second season would be an even more impressive feat for the former Barcelona defender. For, as it stands, the starting striker at the Molinon at the start of the season could be a player who hardly got a look in last year, Carlos Castro. Antonio Sanabria is now on loan at Real Betis after a wildly successful season with the Rojiblancos and the key men in attacking midfield supporting him, Jony Rodriguez and Alen Halilovic, have also moved on. The first substitute for Sanabria, Miguel Guerrero has left, as well as supporting midfield stars Alex Barrera, Alberto Garcia, Alex Menendez and Omar Mascarell. Finally, the departures have included regular centre back pairing Luis Hernandez and Bernardo Espinosa, both of whom have switched to the Premier League this summer. Abelardo has tried to recruit players in all positions to cover the losses but, frankly, Sporting’s ability to compete at the same level as they did last term is in doubt. Goalkeepers Oscar Whalley and Diego Marino are set to compete for a place on the bench initially, with veteran stopper Pichu Cuellar likely to continue as the number one. Fernando Amorebieta could feature regularly if he revives his career; he Jean Sylvain Babin and Lillo Castellano represent the new defenders. Jorge Burgui, Moi Gomez and Victor Rodriguez are promising recruits who could all becoming starting regulars, but arguably none is as technically astute as either Alen Halilovic and Jony Rodriguez who have now left. Carlos Castro will have competition from Duje Cop, who joins from Malaga and young Qatari newcomer Akram Afif. Little is known of Afif, but that he is touted as the most promising young talent to emerge from Qatar, whereas Cop had a solid season at Malaga last year and could eventually establish himself as the main forward this year, if he settles in well.