Isco saves the day for Madrid

In Zidane's first visit to 'El Molinon' he seemed to have his head on Tuesday's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich rather than on this La Liga fixture. He was forced to rest many first-team regulars, giving minutes to the likes of James, Isco or Morata.

When Madrid were on the ball they created danger, with Isco putting on a stellar performance. The visitors, however, were defensively lacking, and Sporting managed to get close to Casilla easily. In one of those attacks, the hosts surprised Madrid with Vesga providing a lovely ball behind the defence for Cop to finish past Casilla.

The Molinon stadium seemed to wake up after the goal, but Isco picked up the ball, skipped past two players and brilliantly found the top corner to level the game. From then on, the away team, mainly through the goalscorer, looked more lively in attack, while Nacho saved the team many times at the back.

After the break the 'Blancos' eagerly searched for the goal to give them the lead, but again it was Sporting who unexpectedly went up after a header from Vesga caught Casilla off his line. Zidane began to get uneasy after his side failed to get into the game, and was still not aleviated after Morata levelled in the fifty-eighth minute.

The visitors dominated, but found it hard to create real problems for Cuellar, who dealt well with the chances that came his way. Finally, in the 90th minute, as it looked like the leaders were going to reignite the race for La Liga, Isco picked up the ball and found the bottom corner to complete his double and seal the victory for the leaders.

The difference with Barcelona is now of six points, with Enrique's side playing later today, and 'El Clasico' next week, after their respective Champions League clashes.