Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, right, and team mate Karim Benzema arrive for a training session prior to the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
Rubi knows they face a tall order against Real but is not discounting their hopes.
Fabio Coentrao and Danilo were handed rare starts in the fullback positions, while forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema were rested, with Wales worldwide Gareth Bale out injured. "He has some swelling to his soleus".
Bale underwent surgery on his right ankle at the end of November, sidelining him until he made a return as a substitute against Espanyol on February 18.
Zinedine Zidane's side took a giant stride towards the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday after coming from behind to see off 10-man Bayern Munich 2-1 at the Allianz Arena.
- Isco has had a hand in nine goals (seven scored, two assisted) in his last eight LaLiga starts for Real Madrid. The 21-year-old made a huge impact by setting up Cristiano Ronaldo's victor against Bayern Munich on Wednesday after replacing Gareth Bale for the final half hour.
"I'm anxious about it because I don't like to see players out injured and all the more so during the run-in", Zidane said.
North Korea Rolls Out Missiles at Annual Parade
He diverted the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its strike group toward the Korean peninsula last weekend in a show of force. Satellite imagery suggests North Korea could conduct another underground nuclear test at any time.
"We'll be monitoring his progress every day".
Sporting opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Mikel Vesga scooped a pass over Madrid's defence which Duje Cop slammed home, before Isco equalised three minutes later with a brilliant individual goal.
Even playing away and without Bale, Sporting looks like easy pickings for the Liga front-runners. It has won just five times in 31 rounds this season, and has scored one goal in its last three games. That said, the forward line will look unrecognisable, and players such as Lucas Vazquez or Alvaro Morata must step up, similarly to what they have done in previous instances this year.
Earlier on Saturday Deportivo La Coruna beat Malaga 2-0 to move nine points clear of the relegation zone, with Sporting Gijon still 18th, on 22 points. Kiko Casilla will be in goal, and little-used midfielder James Rodriguez could also get a rare start.
Real will be aiming to at least maintain their three-point lead at the top of the LaLiga table but, despite the teams' differing fortunes this season, Zidane is taking nothing for granted.
Atletico Madrid warmed up for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Leicester City with a comfortable 3-0 win over rock bottom Osasuna despite missing two penalties in the same game for the second time this season.
Ronaldo is on four yellow cards, and another booking would mean a suspension and he'd miss the big game against Barcelona next Sunday.
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