1997–98 Sporting de Gijón season

The 1997–98 Sporting de Gijón season was the 36th season of the club in La Liga, the 22nd consecutive after its last promotion. The club ended the season as 20th qualified with only 13 points.

Real Sporting

1997–98 season
Chairman	Ángel García Flórez
Manager	José Antonio Redondo
Stadium	El Molinón
La Liga	20th
Copa del Rey	Second round
Top goalscorer	Dmitri Cheryshev (6)
Average home league attendance	15,382
← 1996–97 1998–99 →

Overview

After avoiding the relegation in the previous season, Miguel Montes continued at the helm of the team, but he was quickly sacked after the first four rounds, where Real Sporting did not win any point, scored only three goals and received 14 against.

Antonio Maceda replaced him, but he was sacked after the 15th round, earning only two points in nine games. Maceda was replaced by José Manuel Díaz Novoa. Novoa achieved the first win in the league, ending with 23 rounds without winning any game, the worst streak in the history of La Liga.^[1] He resigned after the 31st round, being substituted by José Antonio Redondo, who only could win another game in his first match as head coach.

Real Sporting was relegated in March and ended the season with the lowest points in the history of the La Liga.^[2]

After the end of the season, the Player of the Season award was given to the supporters.

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ESP Juan Carlos Ablanedo 2 DF  ARG Roberto Trotta 3 DF  RUS Yuri Nikiforov 4 DF  ESP Sergio 5 DF  ESP Rubén Darío Acebal 6 MF  ESP Ricardo Bango 8 MF  ESP Tomás 9 FW  POL Cezary Kucharski 9 FW  YUG Vladimir Popović 10 MF  RUS Igor Lediakhov 11 MF  ESP José Manuel 12 MF  RUS Alexei Kosolapov 13 GK  YUG Dragoje Leković

No. Pos. Nation Player 14 MF  ESP Fredi 14 MF  BRA Rodrigão 15 FW  RUS Dmitri Cheryshev 16 FW  ESP Kaiku 17 DF  ESP Pablo 19 FW  ESP Luna 20 DF  ESP Francisco Villarroya 21 DF  ESP Jesús Enrique Velasco 22 MF  ESP David Cano 23 MF  ESP Antonio Poyatos 24 MF  ESP Álex 25 GK  ESP Juanjo 28 DF  ESP Mingo

From the youth squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 27 MF  ESP Mario 29 DF  ESP Isma 30 MF  ESP Salvador Capín 31 MF  ESP Manolo

No. Pos. Nation Player 32 MF  ESP Óscar Fernández 34 DF  ESP Iván Otero 35 MF  ESP Alberto 36 FW  ESP Miguel

Competitions

La Liga

Main article: 1997–98 La Liga

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38
Ground	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H
Result	L	L	L	L	L	L	D	L	L	L	L	L	D	L	L	D	L	L	L	L	L	L	L	W	L	L	D	L	L	D	D	W	L	L	L	L	D	L
Position	19	19	20	19	19	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20

Source: BDFutbol
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
16	Tenerife	38	11	12	15	44	57	−13	45[a]
17	Compostela (R)	38	11	11	16	56	66	−10	44	Qualification for the relegation playoffs
18	Oviedo (O)	38	9	13	16	36	51	−15	40
19	Mérida (R)	38	9	12	17	33	53	−20	39	Relegation to the Segunda División
20	Sporting Gijón (R)	38	2	7	29	31	80	−49	13

Source: LFP
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored.
(O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:

1. RAC: 8 pts; SAL: 4 pts → SAL 2-0 TEN; TEN: 4 pts → TEN 2-0 SAL

Matches

Compostela v Real Sporting

31 August 1997 1	Compostela	2–0	Real Sporting	Santiago de Compostela
	Penev 68' Sion 84'	Summary		Stadium: San Lázaro Referee: López Nieto

Real Sporting v Tenerife

7 September 1997 2	Real Sporting	0–2	Tenerife	Gijón
		Summary	Pinilla 5' Chano 53'	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: Ansuategui Roca

Mallorca v Real Sporting

15 September 1997 3	Mallorca	6–2	Real Sporting	Palma
	Mena 20' Moya 44' Amato 47' Monchu 79', 84' Villarroya 82' (o.g.)	Summary	Kosolapov 14' Kucharski 74'	Stadium: Lluís Sitjar Referee: Esquinas Torres

Real Sporting v Barcelona

27 September 1997 4	Real Sporting	1–4	Barcelona	Gijón
	Bango 30'	Summary	Luis Enrique 2', 73' Rivaldo 8', 82'	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: Rodríguez Martel

Racing Santander v Real Sporting

5 October 1997 5	Racing Santander	4–1	Real Sporting	Santander
	Correa 7', 25', 85' Schürrer  47' Beschastnykh 75'	Summary	Cheryshev 82'	Stadium: El Sardinero Referee: Puentes Leira

Real Sporting v Real Madrid

15 October 1997 6	Real Sporting	0–2	Real Madrid	Gijón
		Report	Morientes 18' Raúl 76'	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: López de la Fuente

Valladolid v Real Sporting

18 October 1997 7	Valladolid	1–1	Real Sporting	Valladolid
	Júlio César 89'	Summary	Lediakhov 77' (pen.)	Stadium: José Zorrilla Referee: Iturralde González

Real Sporting v Athletic Bilbao

26 October 1997 8	Real Sporting	1–2	Athletic Bilbao	Gijón
	Lediakhov 61' (pen.)	Summary	Larrazábal 41' (pen.) Carlos García 54'	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: Carmona Méndez

Celta v Real Sporting

2 November 1997 9	Celta	1–0	Real Sporting	Vigo
	Cadete 56'	Report		Stadium: Balaídos Referee: Pérez Lasa

Real Sporting v Oviedo

9 November 1997 10	Real Sporting	1–2	Oviedo	Gijón
	Bango 10'	Report	Juan González 18' Dely Valdés 53'	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: Andradas Asurmendi

Mérida v Real Sporting

12 November 1997 11	Mérida	1–0	Real Sporting	Mérida
	Sabas 83'	Report		Stadium: Romano José Fouto Referee: Japón Sevilla

Real Sporting v Zaragoza

16 November 1997 12	Real Sporting	2–3	Zaragoza	Gijón
	Isma   77' Luna 88' Tomás 89'	Summary	Aragón 20', 50' Yordi 22'	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: Losantos Omar

Espanyol v Real Sporting

24 November 1997 13	Espanyol	1–1	Real Sporting	Barcelona
	Quique Martín 16'	Report	Cheryshev 68' Mario  84'	Stadium: Montjuïc Referee: García Aranda

Real Sporting v Real Betis

29 November 1997 14	Real Sporting	2–3	Real Betis	Gijón
	Lediakhov 32' Trotta 40'	Report	Oli 12' Alfonso 35', 69'  86'	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: Pino Zamorano

Atlético Madrid v Real Sporting

6 December 1997 15	Atlético Madrid	2–1	Real Sporting	Madrid
	Bogdanović 56' Geli 72'	Summary	Luna 85'	Stadium: Vicente Calderón Referee: Ansuategui Roca

Real Sporting v Salamanca

14 December 1997 16	Real Sporting	1–1	Salamanca	Gijón
	Kucharski 44'	Summary	Pauleta 4'	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: Prados García

Real Sociedad v Real Sporting

17 December 1997 17	Real Sociedad	2–1	Real Sporting	San Sebastián
	Craioveanu 51' Kovačević 82' (pen.)	Summary	Luna 64' Ablanedo  89'	Stadium: Anoeta Referee: Fernández Marín

Real Sporting v Valencia

21 December 1997 18	Real Sporting	0–3	Valencia	Gijón
		Report	Farinós 9' Claudio López 42', 66'	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: López Nieto

Deportivo La Coruña v Real Sporting

4 January 1998 19	Deportivo La Coruña	2–1	Real Sporting	A Coruña
	Songo'o  2' Naybet 70' Abreu 85'	Summary	Álex 24'	Stadium: Riazor Referee: Daudén Ibáñez

Sporting de Gijón v Compostela

11 January 1998 20	Sporting de Gijón	0–2	Compostela	Gijón
		Summary	Popov 51' Ohen 55'	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: López Nieto

Tenerife v Real Sporting

18 January 1998 21	Tenerife	2–1	Real Sporting	Santa Cruz de Tenerife
	Paciência 62' Roy Makaay 82'	Report	Sergio   76' David Cano 87'	Stadium: Heliodoro Rodríguez López Referee: Carmona Méndez

Real Sporting v Mallorca

25 January 1998 22	Real Sporting	1–3	Mallorca	Gijón
	Lediakhov 6' (pen.)	Summary	Amato 2' Gálvez 26' Valerón 77'	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: Esquinas Torres

Barcelona v Real Sporting

1 February 1998 23	Barcelona	2–1	Real Sporting	Barcelona
	Rivaldo 18', 37'	Summary	Cheryshev 35'	Stadium: Camp Nou Referee: Pérez Lasa

Real Sporting v Racing Santander

8 February 1998 24	Real Sporting	2–1	Racing Santander	Gijón
	Rodrigão 22' Tomás 25'	Summary	Alberto 46'	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: Losantos Omar

Real Madrid v Real Sporting

15 February 1998 25	Real Madrid	3–0	Real Sporting	Madrid
	Sávio 51' Šuker 56', 61' (pen.)	Summary		Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu Referee: Prados García

Real Sporting v Valladolid

21 February 1998 26	Real Sporting	1–2	Valladolid	Gijón
	Trotta 89'	Summary	Chema 15' Peternac 25'	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: Rodríguez Martel

Athletic Bilbao v Real Sporting

1 March 1998 27	Athletic Bilbao	2–2	Real Sporting	Bilbao
	Urzaiz 62', 89'	Summary	Tomás 11' (pen.) Cheryshev 21'	Stadium: San Mamés Referee: López de la Fuente

Real Sporting v Celta

8 March 1998 28	Real Sporting	0–1	Celta	Gijón
		Summary	Moisés 72'	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: Pérez Burrull

Oviedo v Real Sporting

15 March 1998 29	Oviedo	2–1	Real Sporting	Oviedo
	Nikiforov 16' (o.g.) Dely Valdés 81'	Summary	Kaiku 8'	Stadium: Carlos Tartiere Referee: Andradas Asurmendi

Real Sporting v Mérida

22 March 1998 30	Real Sporting	0–0	Mérida	Gijón
		Summary		Stadium: El Molinón Referee: Puentes Leira

Zaragoza v Real Sporting

29 March 1998 31	Zaragoza	0–0	Real Sporting	Zaragoza
	Gilmar   34'	Summary		Stadium: La Romareda Referee: López Nieto

Real Sporting v Espanyol

5 April 1998 32	Real Sporting	1–0	Espanyol	Gijón
	Cheryshev 66'	Summary		Stadium: El Molinón Referee: García Aranda

Real Betis v Real Sporting

13 April 1998 33	Real Betis	2–1	Real Sporting	Seville
	Oli 10', 43'	Summary	Cheryshev 58'	Stadium: Benito Villamarín Referee: Esquinas Torres

Real Sporting v Atlético Madrid

19 April 1998 34	Real Sporting	2–3	Atlético Madrid	Gijón
	David Cano 42' Trotta 44'	Summary	Paunović 56', 70' Vieri 64'	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: Ansuategui Roca

Salamanca v Real Sporting

26 April 1998 35	Salamanca	4–0	Real Sporting	Salamanca
	Loren 55' Pauleta 60', 65' Manolo 83' (o.g.)	Summary		Stadium: Helmántico Referee: Iturralde González

Real Sporting v Real Sociedad

3 May 1998 36	Real Sporting	0–2	Real Sociedad	Gijón
		Summary	Cvitanović 19' Aldeondo 89'	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: Megía Dávila

Valencia v Real Sporting

9 May 1998 37	Valencia	2–2	Real Sporting	Valencia
	Ilie 26' Claudio López 70'  86'	Summary	Miguel 39' David Cano 41'	Stadium: Mestalla Referee: Gracia Redondo

Real Sporting v Deportivo La Coruña

16 May 1998 38	Real Sporting	0–3	Deportivo La Coruña	Gijón
		Summary	Bassir 5', 55' Naybet  61' Flávio Conceição 89'	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: Carmona Méndez

Copa del Rey

Main article: 1997–98 Copa del Rey

Matches

Osasuna v Real Sporting

8 October 1997 Second round First leg	Osasuna	1–1	Real Sporting	Pamplona
	Mateo 47'	Report	Cheryshev 39'	Stadium: El Sadar Referee: Japón Sevilla

Real Sporting v Osasuna

29 October 1997 Second round Second leg	Real Sporting	0–1 (1–2 agg.)	Osasuna	Gijón
		Report	Cruchaga 63'	Stadium: El Molinón Referee: Brito Arceo

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		La Liga		Copa del Rey
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	ESP	Juan Carlos Ablanedo	23	0	21+0	0	2+0	0
2	DF	ARG	Roberto Trotta	18	3	17+1	3	0+0	0
3	DF	RUS	Yuri Nikiforov	27	0	27+0	0	0+0	0
4	DF	ESP	Sergio	27	0	23+2	0	2+0	0
5	DF	ESP	Rubén Darío Acebal	12	0	9+1	0	2+0	0
6	MF	ESP	Ricardo Bango	19	2	9+8	2	2+0	0
8	MF	ESP	Tomás	33	3	23+8	3	0+2	0
9	FW	POL	Cezary Kucharski	13	2	3+9	2	1+0	0
9	MF	YUG	Vladimir Popović	11	0	2+9	0	0+0	0
10	MF	RUS	Igor Lediakhov	19	4	15+2	4	2+0	0
11	MF	ESP	José Manuel	29	0	23+4	0	1+1	0
12	MF	RUS	Alexei Kosolapov	6	1	4+2	1	0+0	0
13	GK	YUG	Dragoje Leković	5	0	5+0	0	0+0	0
14	MF	ESP	Fredi	1	0	0+1	0	0+0	0
14	MF	BRA	Rodrigão	8	1	6+2	1	0+0	0
15	FW	RUS	Dmitri Cheryshev	29	7	21+6	6	2+0	1
16	FW	ESP	Kaiku	22	1	14+7	1	0+1	0
17	DF	ESP	Pablo	19	0	16+2	0	1+0	0
19	FW	ESP	Luna	12	3	5+7	3	0+0	0
20	DF	ESP	Francisco Villarroya	14	0	10+3	0	1+0	0
21	DF	ESP	Jesús Enrique Velasco	14	0	10+3	0	0+1	0
22	MF	ESP	David Cano	23	3	16+6	3	1+0	0
23	MF	ESP	Antonio Poyatos	26	0	22+3	0	1+0	0
24	MF	ESP	Álex	27	1	18+8	1	0+1	0
25	GK	ESP	Juanjo	12	0	12+0	0	0+0	0
27	MF	ESP	Mario	33	0	24+7	0	2+0	0
28	DF	ESP	Mingo	25	0	23+0	0	2+0	0
29	DF	ESP	Isma	3	0	3+0	0	0+0	0
30	FW	ESP	Salvador Capín	6	0	5+1	0	0+0	0
31	MF	ESP	Manolo	21	0	19+2	0	0+0	0
32	DF	ESP	Óscar Fernández	2	0	1+1	0	0+0	0
34	DF	ESP	Iván Otero	17	0	15+2	0	0+0	0
35	FW	ESP	Alberto	4	0	2+2	0	0+0	0
36	FW	ESP	Miguel	5	1	4+1	1	0+0	0