Real Madrid beats Sporting Gijon 2-1, to reach 31 unbeaten games this season

Mirror-UK – Cristiano Ronaldo’s double and a late Duje Cop missed penalty contrived to edge Real Madrid past Sporting Gijon in the driving Madrid rain to stay top of La Liga and extend their unbeaten run to 31 games.

Ronaldo slammed home from the penalty spot after Lucas Vazquez was stupidly chopped down by Sergio Alvarez just five minutes in.

A thrashing seemed on the cards when Ronaldo rose to power home Nacho’s cross for a second before 20 minutes had elapsed.

Sporting are now 10 without a win, but struck back just before half-time when a rare misplaced Luka Modric pass teed up a counter-attack finished off by Carlos Carmona.

Madrid were wearing kits made from recycled ocean plastic for the day as part of an environmental campaign, but risked being bogged down by the rapidly deteriorating conditions as chances were harder to come by after half-time.

Sporting had a glorious opportunity to take an unexpected point 12 minutes from time, but Cop blasted over from the spot much to relief of the Bernabeu.