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

What's up, pal? Let's be straight about this from the off, no messing around: Sporting has never won in Andorra. And not just that: they've never scored a goal there either. Three visits, two 1-0 defeats and a 0-0 that left a bitter taste. Zero goals, mate. Not even a scrappy one. And this Saturday, at 16:15, we're heading back up to the Pyrenees with two losses on the bounce and the Tartiere derby looming around the corner. I'll tell you how I see it: this isn't just another match. It's one of those that sets the tone for an entire month. Here's the full preview in video, and below, everything in writing.

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

If you'd told me this after beating Tenerife, I wouldn't have believed you. Draw with Sabadell, 1-0 against Burgos and 0-1 at Heliodoro: seven points in three matches and everyone buzzing, me first. And then suddenly, two home gut-punches: 0-2 against Girona and 0-1 against Eldense. Result: 15th with 7 points, but just two points off the playoffs, because this league's so crazy everything flips in two matchdays.

The problem? You don't need to be a manager to see it: we're not creating chances. We've only got 2 goals in five matchdays, the worst attack in the division alongside Valladolid. Against Eldense, the first half with the ball was forgettable and Larcamón himself admitted that's what worried him most. I like that he doesn't lose his head (he says you need 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 needs adjusting.

🚑 Injuries and team news at Sporting

Hugo Guillamón, Andrés Ferrari and Gaspar Campos stay behind in Gijón, all injured. Guillamón's concerning: the manager mentioned a sensitive area and that he doesn't want to risk a relapse. The good news is Manu Rodríguez returns after three matchdays out with tendinitis, and Antonio Casas is pushing for involvement: Larcamón says he's ready to compete, even as a starter. I'd give him minutes for sure, because we need some bite up front. Bruno Rubio is also hungry for action. One note: Andrés Cuenca was left out of the Under-21 squad. Bad news for him, good for us: we've got him for Andorra and the derby.

🔵🟡 The opposition: from bashing Ceuta to four defeats in a row

Don't get complacent, because Carles Manso's Andorra (Gerard Piqué's project) started the season hammering Ceuta 5-0. But since then, four consecutive defeats: Celta Fortuna, Eibar, Real Valladolid and Real Sociedad B. They're 18th with 3 points, in the danger zone.

It's a team with character, you've got to give them that: lots of possession, high pressing and brave. But at the back they're porous: 8 goals for and 10 against in five matches. Their manager admitted they need to improve defensively without ditching their philosophy, and reckoned Sporting arrive with doubts they can exploit. Well, let's see if Saturday changes his tune. Their scorers: Hugo López and Nacho Quintana, with two each. Absentees: centre-back Gael Alonso and midfielder Théo Le Normand. And winger Enes Sali could make his debut after finally sorting his registration issues.

🟨 The referee: fresh face

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

🔑 The key points, as I see them

1. Survive their pressure. Larcamón summed it up perfectly: you've got to know how to live with discomfort. If we come out clean at the back, there's a whole pitch in behind their line.
2. Punish them down the flanks. A team that concedes two goals a game is exactly what Otero and Gelabert need to find their feet. If we're not scoring today, when are we?
3. The first goal's worth double. Both teams arrive battered. Whoever scores first will play with a much easier mind.
4. The derby. Sunday 27th (21:00) it's Tartiere. Arriving with three straight losses would be a nightmare. Arriving with our first-ever win in Andorra changes the whole week's vibe.

📜 The head-to-head record

The last meeting was 8 March 2026 in Andorra: 1-0 to them. In recent years the record's pretty level, and our best performance was the 5-2 win in May 2024 at El Molinón. But away from home the story's always the same: zero wins, zero goals. Time to write a different one.

🔮 My prediction

Open match, chances at both ends. I reckon today we break the curse: 1-2 to Sporting, with a goal from Otero. And if I'm wrong, you can remind me in the comments or on the Kick livestream, that's what we're here for. The betting pool for this matchday closed Friday with the first game, but check the pool for the season standings, and as soon as this matchday's done the derby pool opens. Can't afford to mess that one up, lad.