Welcome to LIVE coverage of Real Madrid v Sporting Gijon from the Santiago Bernabeu!

Ozil is fouled by De las Cuevas on the right. Free-kick sent in long and cleared.

Cool defending by Carvalho as he takes one on the chest and lofts it clear.

Madrid knocking it about nicely but the outlet of Adebayor isn't really what they want right now.

Good ball from Di Maria but well defended by the visitors.

All gone a bit quiet now as neither side really tries to risk anything.

Good defending by Jose Angel as Arbeloa almost got in on the right.

Good news for fans of really good footballers - Gonzalo Higuain is grinning on the bench after completing his recovery from his extended injury lay-off.

Good defending by Arbeloa then Diarra as Madrid clear and launch a counter, Adebayor unable to keep it in though.

GREAT SAVE JUAN PABLO! Di Maria with a scintilating run down the left and a vicious low drive that the Sporting keeper does well to keep out!

Madrid are bombing forward at every opportunity, how long can Sporting hold out?

SPORTING SUB: Jose Angel is on for the stricken Canella.

Canella is stretchered off. Not sure what the injury is, but his head is in his hands.

The Sporting player, not sure who it is as he's surrounded, Canella possibly, is still down. He is hurt. It seems the whistle was not actually blown for a foul, but because the ball went out before it was booked back.

Free-kick Madrid. GOAL MADRID! NO! Carvalho was cheating. Great ball in by Di Maria that was hooked back across goal but Carvalho maimed a Sporting defender while flying in.

The first half is underway!

Golly Ronaldo is big these days. I mean he was never little but he's a royal porker now.

They give him an award. It looks like chocolate. Hmmm. Don't eat it!

Recently-retired Brazil legend Ronaldo comes out to greet the Bernabeu. He scored 104 goals in four-and-a-half years here. Not a bad player...

SPORTING GIJON: Juan Pablo; Lora, Botia, Ivan Hernandez, Canella; Rivera, Nacho Cases; De las Cuevas, Andre Castro, Nacho Novo; Barral.

REAL MADRID: Casillas; Ramos, Albiol, Carvalho, Arbeloa; Lassana Diarra, Granero, Khedira; Ozil, Adebayor, Di Maria.