Sporting aim to end their slump at Andorra and reshape the XI

Sporting Gijón play this afternoon at Encamp (16:15) with a clear objective: shake off the “height problem” and, at the same time, stop the skid that has marred their start to the season. According to Sport, the team arrive after two consecutive losses, sitting on seven points from five matchdays and scoring just two goals, a context that is starting to weigh on Nicolás Larcamón’s project. With the Asturian derby looming, Larcamón needs a statement performance.

A turning point at Encamp

The pressure will land on what the players can deliver right away. Sport notes that Larcamón kept tight control all week in Mareo, avoiding revealing the squad, and he is considering changes that could affect multiple lines. In attack, Bruno Rubio or Casas have appeared during training as possible options to enter the starting XI. The staff is also not ruling out a tactical shift: while Sporting have been using a 3-5-2, there has been talk of switching towards a 4-2-3-1.

That potential change revolves around improving the output and finding support for Otero. Sport says Larcamón is considering giving Gelabert a role closer to the attacking midfield spot—where he could fit if the side makes the system change—potentially playing behind the striker. Until yesterday, training in Andorra in the afternoon and away from the spotlight left things up in the air.

There is also uncertainty on defensive roles. Sport highlights the case of Andrés Cuenca: he was not called up for the Under-21s and will be available for the derby. Internally, he is seen more as a centre-back than as a left-back, even though Larcamón has been using him on that side.

Andorra are struggling too

On the other side, Andorra are far from comfortable. After beating Ceuta in the opening match, they have suffered four straight defeats and arrive with only three points, stuck near the bottom. Sport frames it as the first real test in Gerard Piqué’s project, with both sides needing a lift—so Sporting’s chance is to turn the week’s work into points.