Spanish league: Real fire blanks in Gijon

MADRID: After losing to AC Milan in the Champions League midweek, Real Madrid dropped two points in the title race with a 0-0 draw at Sporting Gijon on Saturday as they failed to score for the first time this season.

Real go top above Barcelona on goal difference but the champions, also beaten at home in Europe by Russians Rubin Kazan, can open up a three-point lead with a home win over Real Zaragoza on Sunday.

Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini was shorn of striking options with Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuain and Ruud van Nistelrooy injured so the onus was on Raul and Kaka.