Granada v Sporting Gijon preview

Abel Resino: Wary of Clemente impact

Granada manager Abel Resino believes Sporting Gijon will be a more difficult opponent under the tutelage of Javier Clemente than they were under previous managers Manuel Preciado and Inaki Tejada.

Clemente got his first win as Sporting coach over Sevilla last weekend and has only been beaten by Barcelona in his four matches in charge so far.

Resino told AS: "Sporting have more intensity and are harder to beat under Clemente. Not only are they more intense in recent games but they are playing quicker and more directly and they have some important players.

"We know how Sporting will play and we have to be faithful to what we believe in and try to take the game by imposing our own style."

However, despite Sporting's current position in the relegation zone and Granada sitting only four points above them, Resino does not think this game alone will be decisive.

"It is an important game against a direct rival, but we will be playing until the end of the season and after this match there are many more still to play," he warned.

Granada will be able to welcome back a host of key players as Dani Benitez, Franco Jara, Fran Rico and Guilherme Siqueira all return from suspension and Carlos Martins should be fit to take his place in midfield, but Brazilian Henrique serves his ban after being sent off against Atletico Madrid last weekend.

Sporting defender Alberto Botia meanwhile believes the next two games could define the Asturians' season.

After travelling to Granada, Sporting host another relegation candidate Mallorca in midweek and Botia knows that they must build on their success against Sevilla to have any chance of avoiding the drop.

He told a press conference broadcast on the club's website: "The games against Granada and Mallorca will mark our immediate future and we know that. Our first objective though is to win in Granada where we know we will have a difficult match.

"Coming off a victory at home over a difficult opponent, our intention is to keep this dynamic going. Before we beat Sevilla we hadn't picked up many points even though we had played well, but that win has allowed us to regain our confidence."

The visitors will again be missing Miguel De Las Cuevas through injury but Sebastian Eguren returns from suspension and could retake his place in central midfield.

Best bet: David Barral to score 1st - 7/1