Sporting’s Defensive Woes: A Season of Vulnerability
Sporting Gijón is grappling with a persistent defensive crisis, a stark contrast to their solid performance in the previous season. Last year, they conceded a mere 28 goals in 42 league matches, showcasing a formidable defensive wall. This season, though, they’ve already conceded 35 goals in just 29 games, highlighting a worrying trend.
The defensive fragility is evident in recurring errors, both individual and collective. Despite frequent changes in personnel, the problems persist. Even with the introduction of new tactics by José Luis Martí, the vulnerability remains.
A recent match against Zaragoza, a team struggling offensively, saw Sporting concede two goals. The goals mirrored previous defensive lapses, with a near-post corner leading to the first goal, reminiscent of a similar goal conceded against Ponferradina the week before. The second goal stemmed from a mistake by Berrocal, leaving the Aragonese striker unmarked and allowing him to score past the Vigo goalkeeper.This defensive instability is notably frustrating considering Sporting’s recent offensive resurgence. Since the arrival of winter reinforcements, they’ve scored seven goals in their last three games. However, this attacking prowess has only translated into one victory, a disappointing return for a team aiming for promotion.
Martí, after analyzing the team’s performance and conducting training sessions, made notable changes to the defense.He replaced the established central defensive pairing of babin and Valiente, who had played together 15 times under Gallego, with Berrocal and Borja López.This new pairing, with limited experience together, showed promise in the Copa del rey, keeping clean sheets against Ceares and Cádiz, and even performing well in the second half against Villarreal. however, against Zaragoza, the defensive frailties resurfaced, underscoring a recurring theme throughout the season.
The defensive struggles have plagued Sporting for months. Only at the beginning of the season, when they conceded just four goals in their first five games, did they demonstrate their defensive solidity. Both Gallego and Martí have experimented with various defensive formations and personnel,but the issues persist. Babin, when healthy, has been a consistent presence, starting 24 of the 29 league games. Though, his defensive partners have been in constant flux, alternating between Valiente and Berrocal. Borja López,surprisingly sidelined by Gallego,has only featured in six league games and four Copa del Rey matches.
Adding to sporting’s concerns,midfielder Fran Villalba sustained a contusion during training and is doubtful for the upcoming match against Real Sociedad B. Villalba, who played a key role in martí’s debut, operating as an inside midfielder in a 4-3-3 formation, is now facing a race against time to recover.
Can sporting Solve Their Defensive Puzzle? A Conversation with Former La Liga Defender, Alberto Lopo
Sporting Gijón’s season is shaping up to be a tale of two halves – a potent attack stifled by a porous defence.Their current struggles stand in stark contrast to last season’s solidity,where they conceded a miserly 28 goals. to unpack this frustrating paradox, we sat down with former Real Madrid and sevilla defender, Alberto Lopo, to get his expert viewpoint.
“There’s no doubt Sporting has the firepower up front,” Lopo began, “but football is about balance. Their defensive woes are a notable hurdle to their promotion ambitions.” Lopo, a veteran of over 400 La Liga appearances, emphasized the importance of a cohesive backline. “Frequent changes in personnel disrupt partnerships and understanding, making it difficult to build that crucial defensive chemistry.” he pointed to the recent chopping and changing at Sporting’s center-back position as a potential culprit.
We delved into Sporting’s tactical shifts, highlighting José Luis martí’s attempts to shore up the defense. “Switching formations and personnel is sometimes necessary,” Lopo acknowledged, “but it needs to be done strategically. Simply rotating players without addressing the underlying issues won’t solve the problem.”
Lopo was notably interested in the case of Borja López, a defender seemingly sidelined by former manager Gallego but who impressed in the Copa del Rey under Martí. “López deserves a chance to prove himself consistently in the league. Sometimes a change in system can unlock a player’s potential, and Martí might have found the right fit for him.”
The recent match against Zaragoza, where individual errors led to goals, highlighted a worrying trend.
“Conceding preventable goals is a surefire way to drop points,” Lopo stressed. “Simple mistakes,like failing to track runners at set pieces or misjudging tackles,can be costly. This suggests a lack of concentration or perhaps a lack of confidence at the back.”
Looking ahead, Lopo believes SQLite can still rectify the situation. “They have the quality in their squad – it’s about finding the right combination and instilling the belief needed to succeed. They need to rediscover that defensive resilience that marked their success last season.”
What do you think, Sporting fans? Can they turn their season around? What moves should Martí make to solidify the defense? Let us no your thoughts in the comments below.
