Sporting 1-0 Burgos: five-man defence ditched and a proper team emerges — that's the way, Larcamón

What's up, lads? Post-match thoughts on Sporting 1-0 Burgos: first win of the year and first win at home. Yeah, it's coming on a Wednesday when the match was Sunday — been a mad week, loads of stories to tell, and the DMs were already smoking with the classic "you know how to graft". My bad. But hey, better late than never, and this time the delay comes with a bonus: there's LOADS to break down, and nearly all of it's good.

Larcamón listened (and that's pure gold)

We faced Burgos with Forés and Gragera — both got their boos as they should — and it was a double-edged affair. After Monday's mess against Sabadell, which nobody fancied (pretty sure we're all on the same page there), the big question was: Larcamón, are you going to adapt, learn, evolve… or are we stuck with a five-man defence till death do us part? And the answer was crystal clear: he changed everything. The lineup, the formation, how we transitioned, how we attacked, how we defended. The lot.

The XI: Yáñez in goal; Guille Rosas at right-back; centre-back pairing Duñabeitia and Pablo Vázquez; Cuenca at left-back (fresh loan renewal and straight into the team); double pivot Corredera-Manu Rodríguez; Konrad on the left, Nikita on the right, Gelabert in the hole and Otero up top. 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, call it what you want — the key point is one: he binned off that bloody five-man defence. And suddenly, order, recognisable positions and a team that knew what it was doing.

And he saw it quick: early on, Cuenca's pass over the top and Otero finishes it perfectly for the 1-0. Solitary goal, yeah. So what? I'd sign off on winning every game this year 1-0 without blinking. There was more after: a Konrad header (bit scruffy to be honest, gotta say), a Pablo Vázquez foul that their keeper had to punch clear in a panic, a one-on-one with Sarco late on and a through ball — think it was Gelabert — that ended in a worldie from their keeper. Could've easily been 2-0. Against us? One bouncy effort that hit the post in that weird way and that's your lot. Yáñez made zero meaningful saves. That's a stat too.

The ratings: Pablo Vázquez, Second Division Emperor

Both centre-backs were absolutely brilliant — defending and playing out from the back. Pablo Vázquez was a proper Emperor: there's this moment where he nicks it, plays it out and starts celebrating like he's scored. That's what I love. Duñabeitia, same level — the lads online already call him "Jesus", and I'm not arguing. Cuenca at left-back, solid and key in possession, more measured to balance a Guille Rosas who's flying up the flank — another cracking display from our local lad. And check the tactical detail: when we attacked, Duña, Pablo and Cuenca stayed deep while Guille flew forward with cover from Corredera, who worked his socks off all game, and Manu Rodríguez.

Up front, this week's lesson: if you put Gelabert in the hole and get him the ball, the hole player does hole player things. Shocking to absolutely nobody. Nothing earth-shattering, no mad dribbles, but he touched the ball and you felt it. Konrad solid enough. Nikita, I like when he takes people on in the one-v-one, but sometimes he gets a bit stuck: all that juggling ends in a turnover or crosses that Van Nistelrooy wouldn't finish. Baby steps, mate. And Otero, same old story: graft up top, graft down low, and when he gets a clear chance… he slots it. What more d'you want?

A bench with actual options (finally)

Another thing that's got me buzzing: when Larcamón looked at the bench, there were proper alternatives. Academy product Ferreres made his debut, Nacho Martín came on for midfield steel, Pablo García as a left-sided full-back and Gaspar Campos in the hole for Gelabert. And the sporting directors keep pushing: same Sunday came the announcement of Antonio Casas, striker on loan from Venezia with a buy option. With Sarco, Otero, Ferrari and Casas up front, there's proper choice now — and there's whispers of Nico Serrano to finish the window. Fair warning though, there was a Gaspi scare on the eve: I'll expand on that in the preview.

This is it, Larcamón: keep this tone going

My takeaway's simple: it was light years better than the Sabadell game, without being anywhere near perfect. But the important bit isn't the 1-0 — it's that the gaffer showed he's not a one-system stubborn mule: he saw what wasn't working, adapted to his squad and the team responded instantly. That, at this stage of the project, is worth more than three points. Now he's got to prove it Friday at the Heliodoro against a Tenerife side that plays nice football and comes in unbeaten: the first real test of this approach. Gotta let the boss work — all together — but he knows the path is this one. Come on Sporting.