Andorra-Sporting preview: the Principality curse, two wounded teams and a newly promoted referee

Alright lads, let's be straight from the off, because we don't beat around the bush here: Sporting have never won in Andorra. And not just that: they've never scored a goal there. Three visits, two 1-0 defeats and a 0-0 that left a sour taste. Zero goals, mate. Not even a lucky bounce. And this Saturday, at 16:15, we're heading back up to the Pyrenees carrying two straight losses and the El Molinón derby looming around the corner. I'll tell you straight: this isn't just any match. It's one of those that sets the tone for a whole month. You've got the full preview in video, and below, everything in writing.

🔴⚪ How we got here: from the high to the "what's going on?" in two weeks

If you'd told me this after we won in Tenerife, I wouldn't have believed it. Draw with Sabadell, 1-0 against Burgos and 0-1 at Heliodoro: seven points in three games and everyone excited, me included. Then suddenly, two slaps at El Molinón: 0-2 against Girona and 0-1 against Eldense. Result: 15th with 7 points, fair to say, just two points off the playoff, because this league's mental and everything flips in two matchdays.

The problem? You don't need to be a manager to see it: we're not creating anything. We've got just 2 goals in five matchdays, the worst attack in the division alongside Valladolid. Against Eldense, the first half with possession was forgettable and Larcamón himself admitted that's what worried him most. I like that he doesn't panic (says you've got to keep your principles whether you're winning or losing), but he also hinted that if the system needs tweaking, we'll tweak it. And I reckon something's gotta give.

🚑 Injuries and Sporting news

Hugo Guillamón, Andrés Ferrari and Gaspar Campos stay behind in Gijón, all injured. Guillamón's the worry: the boss spoke about a sensitive area and not wanting to risk a relapse. The good news is Manu Rodríguez returns after three matchdays out with tendinitis, and Antonio Casas is knocking on the door: Larcamón says he's ready to compete, even start. I'd give him minutes for sure, because we need bite up front. Bruno Rubio's also itching for a fight. And a note: Andrés Cuenca was left out of the Under-21 squad. Bad news for him, good news for us: we've got him for Andorra and for the derby.

🔵🟡 The opposition: from hammering Ceuta to reeling off four defeats

Don't get comfortable, because Andorra under Carles Manso (Gerard Piqué's project) started the season by putting five past Ceuta. But from there, four straight losses: Celta Fortuna, Eibar, Real Valladolid and Real Sociedad B. They're 18th with 3 points, right in the dogfight.

They're a team with character, you've got to give them that: lots of possession, high press and brave. But the defence is a sieve: 8 goals for and 10 against in five games. Their manager admitted they need to tighten up defensively without dropping their idea, and reckoned Sporting arrive with doubts they can exploit. Well, let's see if we change his mind on Saturday. Their scorers: Hugo López and Nacho Quintana, two goals each. Absentees: centre-back Gael Alonso and midfielder Théo Le Normand. And winger Enes Sali could make his debut, finally sorted his registration issues.

🟨 The referee: a new face

Pablo Morales Moreno, an Almería ref from Vera, is one of the officials who just got promoted to Segunda this summer. I haven't found any record of him refereeing Sporting's first team in an official match, so for us he's a complete unknown. López Toca from Cantabria will be on VAR.

🔑 The keys, the way I see it

1. Survive their pressure. Larcamón summed it up well: you've got to know how to live with the discomfort. If we come out clean at the back, there's a whole field behind their line.
2. Punish them on the break. A team that concedes two goals a game is exactly what Otero and Gelabert need to rediscover themselves. If we don't score today, when will we?
3. The first goal's worth double. Both teams arrive bruised. Whoever scores first will play with a much clearer head.
4. The derby. Sunday the 27th (21:00) it's El Molinón time. Arriving with three straight losses would be a disaster. Arriving with our first-ever win in Andorra changes the mood for the whole week.

📜 The history

Last time was 8 March 2026 in Andorra: 1-0 to them. In recent years the head-to-head's been pretty even, and our nicest match was the 5-2 in May 2024 at El Molinón. But away from home the story is what it is: zero wins, zero goals. Time to write a different one.

🔮 My prediction

Open match, chances at both ends. I reckon today the curse breaks: 1-2 to Sporting, with Otero getting the goal. And if I'm wrong, remind me in the comments or on the Kick stream, that's what we're here for. This matchday's pool closed Friday with the first game, but in the pool you've got the season standings, and as soon as the matchday's done the derby pool opens. Can't get that one wrong, pal.