Lucas Vazquez is felled in the area. Definite penalty.

Sporting Gijon have a shot seconds in but Duje Cop's effort from distance is well wide.

We are under way at the Bernabeu. Can Real Madrid go seven points clear?

Image source, EPA

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane: “Wins are of paramount importance because this team lives for them.

"When we played badly, they criticised us. What spurs me on is winning. I'm involved in football because I want to win. 

"As a coach I want to win games and titles because we are lucky, we can inspire others with our wins. I know what I have to do with this team and I am very motivated. Criticism will not change my style of play nor my way or working."

Zinedine Zidane didn't do loads wrong in his playing career - well until the final moment of it anyway - and he's enjoying similar success as a top-level manager.

Since taking charge of Real Madrid's first team - after doing a mediocre job in charge of their B team - he has won the Champions League and only lost two of his 46 games in charge - taking them to four points clear at the top of La Liga. 

Real have scored 135 in that time, conceding 43.

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Sporting Gijon substitute goalkeeper Oscar Whalley told FourFourTwo, external in May that he would love to play for England.

The 22-year-old has played for Spain Under-21s, but his father is English and he holds a British passport. 

The summer signing from Real Zaragoza has played in Spain's second tier but is yet to make his La Liga debut.

Image source, Reuters

Sporting Gijon come into this game in the opposite of red hot form. Ice cold form?

The Asturian side, managed by ex-Barcelona defender Abelardo, have only picked up two points from their last nine La Liga games. They have been beaten 5-0 by both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona in that run.

They start today in the relegation zone, but only one point off 17th-placed Deportivo La Coruna.

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If Real captain Sergio Ramos is booked today, he misses next Saturday's El Clasico with Barcelona.

But coach Zinedine Zidane says he never considered resting him.

“Ramos will have to play against Sporting despite the fact that he is close to getting a ban," he said yesterday. 

"I know that we have an important game tomorrow and we must focus on that before the game against Barcelona. I have every faith that it will go well."

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Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale is expected to be out for three to four months, with the news he needs ankle surgery after being injured in their Champions League win at Sporting Lisbon.

Boss Zinedine Zidane said: “I hope Gareth has a speedy recovery. We asked all the best specialists for their opinions and they all said we have to operate. That is what we will do.

“I know that at times you think about us changing our system because of an injury but our dynamic on the pitch is the same. We have many players who can play in many different positions and that is the great thing about this team."

Real Madrid make five changes to the 2-1 win over Sporting Lisbon. Gareth Bale and Raphael Varane are both injured, so in come Karim Benzema and Pepe, who returns from an injury himself. James Rodriguez replaces Isco, while Nacho and Danilo also start at the back.

Sporting are without first-choice keeper Ivan Cuellar because of injury, so Diego Marino makes his first appearance of the season. Defender Jean-Sylvain Babin is on the bench after almost two months out. Right-back Douglas is on loan from Barcelona.

Real Madrid: Navas, Danilo, Pepe, Ramos, Nacho, Kovacic, Modric, Rodriguez, Vazquez, Benzema, Ronaldo. Subs: Casilla, Carvajal, Marcelo, Casemiro, Asensio, Isco, Mariano.  

Sporting Gijon: Marino, Douglas, Lillo, Mere, Amorebieta, Isma Lopez, Carmona, Sergio, Rachid, Moi Gomez, Cop. Subs: Whalley, Babin, Victor Rodriguez, Cases, Canella, Xavi Torres, Viguera.

Image source, Getty Images

Real Madrid have not won La Liga since 2012. 

Since they last won it, their city neighbours have won their first title in 18 years, and their huge rivals have won three crowns.

Real - who have won two Champions Leagues in that time - are looking in good shape to end that wait this season.

Unbeaten in the league so far, Madrid can go seven points clear of Barcelona for about 24 hours with a win today.