Sporting-Girona preview: testing the unbeaten, the Molinón curse and that Lugo goal we'll never forget

Alright lads, IT'S MOLINÓN TIME, and not just any Molinón: one of the category's bogeymen is coming to town. Girona, freshly relegated, with a bloody good squad and the current league top scorer, pitch up in Gijón at 16:15 for the toughest examination of our start. Here's the full preview in video — and below, the XI I'm running with, a look at the opposition and a bit of history between these two sides that Gijón will NEVER forget.

🔴⚪ How we're arriving: unbeaten, clean sheets, and the medical wing half-full

Sporting arrive unbeaten, with 7 out of 9 points and without conceding a single goal in three matchdays. After the opening 0-0 draw with Sabadell, two wins on the bounce and a quiet week... except for the injury sheet: on top of the already-known absences of Guillamón and Ferrari we've got Manu Rodríguez out of the squad — a real blow to the midfield that opens the door for Nacho Martín or Loum alongside Corredera. My starting XI as things stand: Yáñez; Guille Rosas, Duñabeitia, Pablo Vázquez and Cuenca — who came off with some discomfort at Heliodoro but I reckon he'll be fine —, Corredera with Nacho Martín or Loum, Gelabert up front, Konrad on the right, Rusu Nikita on the left and Otero as the striker. The wildcard I wouldn't rule out at home? Larcamón trying Antonio Casas from the start alongside Otero, dropping Konrad to give one of them more width. But you know my motto: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

🔵⚪ The opposition: a hell of a squad (with top scorer included)

Watch out for what's coming. A couple of years ago Girona were playing Champions League, and they've dropped to Segunda with names that command respect: Asprilla, the current league top scorer after his brace in that five-goal hammering of Las Palmas; the eternal Stuani, who'll have less of a starring role but is still a proper handful; a Premier League keeper like Gazzaniga; and behind them Van de Beek, Fran Beltrán or Bryan Gil. Their start has been so-so — 4 points from 9, with the Córdoba game already played — but precisely because of that they arrive with a knife between their teeth. Probably the best squad in the league, hurting and desperate: the most dangerous cocktail there is.

📜 The history: Girona's curse in Gijón

And here's the good bit, because the historical numbers deserve framing on the dressing room wall: 21 meetings, 11 Sporting victories, 5 draws and only 5 Girona wins. And at our place? Brace yourselves: Girona have lost 9 of their 11 visits to El Molinón and have NEVER — not once in their history — won at our house. Let that curse last at least one more afternoon, please.

🎥 Today, special vlog from the temple (and new shirt)

Today's surprise: there's no Kick — we keep the livestreams for away trips — because it's time to experience it INSIDE: I'm going to film a special vlog at El Molinón, with the warm-up at pitch level by the dugout area and the match right above them. Different coverage, as deep as possible — if you're in the stands and spot me, mention me in Instagram stories, I want to keep tabs on you lot. And new shirt debut: the red and white screen-printed with "ELOPI23" on the back — now at Siroko's physical shop in Gijón they'll put whichever player's name you want... or your own. Full catalogue, prices and discount code, in the Sporting Store.

Your predictions, in the comments below 👇 — result and goalscorers, and whoever gets it right takes the crown. Mind you: BEFORE kick-off, because we know each other. If we win that's 10 lovely points: a fifth of the 50 needed for safety — yeah, we're taking it easy this season (promised... attempting it), but getting ahead before the lean times come knocking never hurts. Post-match tonight or tomorrow morning without fail. See you at the temple. PUXA SPORTING. 🔴⚪