Real Madrid opened their 2015-16 La Liga campaign with a trip to newly-promoted Sporting Gijon on Sunday evening.
Both teams had chances in an end-to-end first period, but neither could make the breakthrough in the opening 45 minutes.
The visitors looked the more likely to win it in the second half, but it was a similar story as Sporting held on for what was a surprise point.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
7.22pmEvening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage on the opening weekend of the season continues from the Estadio Municipal El Molinon as newly-promoted Sporting Gijon welcome Real Madrid. The hosts are back in Spain's top flight for the first time since being relegated at the end of the 2011-12 season. They finished 10th and then fifth in the Segunda before posting second last term to book a return to the top level of professional football in Spain. Let's hope for an entertaining game tonight!
7.23pmFar from an inexperienced outfit at this level of football, Sporting Gijon actually finished second in La Liga back in 1979 during a period where they also reached two Copa del Rey finals. They spent four seasons in La Liga from 2008 before dropping into the Segunda, but there is no question that they are a team that feel they belong at this level. That is now the job of head coach Abelardo Fernandez, who has been in charge since last year. Quite a difficult one to start with tonight though!
7.24pmAs for Real Madrid, this will be Rafael Benitez's first league match in charge of the club. The Spaniard has been tasked with regaining the La Liga title, but Barcelona will have something to say about that. Last season, Los Blancos finished second in La Liga, just two points behind Barcelona, but that was not enough for Carlo Ancelotti to keep his job. The title just has to arrive this season.
7.25pmThe last time that these two sides met in La Liga was back in 2012, when Real Madrid were 3-1 winners at the Bernabeu. The same season, Real Madrid also won 3-0 in this stadium. Indeed, Sporting Gijon have only won one of their last 12 meetings with Real Madrid, while the capital outfit are unbeaten in seven La Liga trips to this stadium – keeping a clean sheet in every match.
7.26pmReal Madrid will enter the match off the back of a 2-1 win over Galatasaray in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday, while Sporting Gijon lost 1-0 to Villarreal last weekend. Scoring goals was not a problem for Real Madrid last season – hitting 118 in the league. However, they conceded more goals in Spain's top flight than Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Valencia and Villarreal. Right, let me confirm the team news...
7.28pmTEAMS
GIJON: Cuellar; Lora, Luis H., Bernardo, I. Lopez; Alvarez, Cases; Carmona, Sanabria, Jony; Guerrero
REAL: Navas; Danilo, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Kroos; Isco, Bale, Ronaldo; Jese
0 minKICK OFF! Here we go then - both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first 45 minutes of action. It is the home side that get things underway on this warm evening in Spain...
2 min... what a sensational atmosphere there is inside the stadium this evening! Sorry for the late build-up - Barcelona have just beaten Athletic Bilbao 1-0 to move onto three points for the season. Can Real Madrid join them? Rafael Benitez takes charge of his first league match for Los Blancos here.
4 minSporting's side carries 10 players that started their final game of last season. As for Real Madrid, there is a league debut at right-back for Danilo. The away side have a half-chance as Ronaldo delivers an interesting cross towards the far post, but Cuellar is on hand to claim for the hosts.
6 minIt is an incredibly open game at the moment, with Sporting committing numbers forward and Real Madrid attempting to threaten on the counter attack. Bale has indeed started in the number 10 position for Real Madrid, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Isco are wide of Jese Rodriguez here.
8 minReal Madrid have a free kick in a very dangerous area as Luis Hernandez fells Bale...
9 min... Ronaldo has a go, but the Portuguese's effort is straight into the wall.
11 minSporting are having some joy down the left at the moment as Sanabria manages to find a lot of space, but the on-loan midfielder had just moved into an offside position. Not an awful lot to report in terms of clear opportunities, but it is an incredibly open game of football at the moment.
11 minBale has a snapshot deflected wide of the post as the intensity remains high.
12 minCHANCE! Wonderful chance for Real Madrid to take the lead as Bale collects a super pass from Modric before rounding Cuellar, but the Welshman can only hit the side netting from a tight angle!
14 minReal Madrid are looking the more dangerous at the moment, but Sporting are not afraid to commit players forward, with four in their latest attack. It has been a cracking opening 14 minutes here.
16 minPossession football from Real Madrid as they continue to pass and probe in the final third, but Sporting are still breaking when possible, which is creating an open and entertaining game.
18 minBale has been Real Madrid's best player in the opening 18 minutes, with the Welshman causing all sorts of problems with his pace and power. Sporting again manage to break with Sanabria, but his cross is straight into the arms of Navas. End-to-end football, but still goalless this evening.
20 minAnother half-chance for Real Madrid as Jese finds space down the right before drilling a low cross towards the bottom corner, but there is no touch and the home side have a goal kick.
22 minCLOSE! Isco lets fly for Real Madrid after finding some space outside the Sporting box, but his effort was always bending away from the goal. Plenty happening at the moment here!
23 minHalf-chance for Sporting this time as a long throw causes problems inside the Real Madrid box, but Lora can only hook over the crossbar from close range. This really is a super game!
26 minThe final pass for Sporting has been lacking in the opening 26 minutes, but they are not short of energy, which is going down well with the home supporters. Real Madrid continue to enjoy more of the possession in wide areas, but we have seen little from Ronaldo thus far this evening.
27 minCLOSE! Again Isco lets fly from outside the box after finding more space, but his effort was once again always rising over the crossbar. So far, so good for the home side.
29 minDanilo and Marcelo are almost playing as wingers at the moment and it is the former that delivers another excellent cross towards Bale, but Luis Hernandez is on hand to clear. In keeping with the pattern of the game, the home side break with Lora, but his cross lacks genuine quality.
31 minPlenty of enterprise from Sporting this evening, but their lack of quality in the final third has been a problem. You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital.
33 minSporting boss Abelardo will surely be delighted with what he has seen from his side in the opening 33 minutes. They have not exactly had a whole host of chances, but Real Madrid are finding it difficult to break through the newly-promoted outfit. Little over 10 minutes of the half to play.
33 minSAVE! Cuellar gets down well to save a stinging drive from Ronaldo!
34 minJese spins and tries his luck for the visitors, but again Cuellar is on hand to save.
36 minCROSSBAR! Oh my word! The home side come close to opening the scoring as Guerrero's header seems to be heading for the top corner, but it smashes the crossbar and bounces down onto the line! Some of the ball was over the line, but it looked just to have stayed out! What a moment!
36 minDown the other end, Ronaldo has a strong penalty shout after going down under a challenge from Sergio Alvarez, but the referee is not interested. It looked a clear spot kick to me!
38 minThis cracking game continues to flow from end-to-end, but we are still waiting for the first goal of the match. Little over five minutes of the first period remaining - what a contest!
40 minBOOKING! Cases (Sporting) is booked for dissent.
42 minMore smart goalkeeping from Cuellar as the Sporting stopper comes to claim a header from Ronaldo, who had attempted to find Bale. Still goalless with 42 minutes on the clock here.
44 minSporting continue to play their part as Espinosa finds space in a wide area before delivering, but the cross is too high and Real Madrid have a goal kick. Not long left to play in this first period.
45 min+1HALF-TIME: Sporting 0-0 Real Madrid
8.15pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close, with the two teams level at 0-0. Both have had opportunities to make the breakthrough, but clear out-and-out chances have been at a premium here. It is definitely a case of so far, so good for the home side this evening.
8.20pmSTATS! Real Madrid had 60% of the possession in the first period, while they had 10 attempts - two of which were on target. Sporting Gijon have actually failed to officially hit the target thus far, but Gurrero came mightily close with a super header, which rebounded off the crossbar before bouncing onto the line. Just the one yellow card to report - Cases for the home side.
8.25pmBENCH WATCH! Sporting Gijon boss Abelardo will surely be pleased with what he has seen thus far tonight, but the Spaniard has options on his bench in the shape of Mere, Muniz and Ait-Atmane. Real Madrid, meanwhile, have new signing from Inter Milan Mateo Kovacic on their bench, in addition to the likes of James Rodriguez, Casemiro and Dani Carvajal. Plenty of quality in reserve!
46 minRESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the field for the second 45 minutes. Will there be a breakthrough? Let's hope so! The away side resume the action...
47 min... no changes from either manager at the break, which is not too surprising. However, I suspect that alterations will occur if the score remains level for the next 15 or 20 minutes here.
47 minKroos swings a wild effort over the crossbar for the visitors.
48 minCHANCE! Wonderful chance for the home side to take the lead as Carmona rises above Marcelo inside the Real Madrid box, but his header is just wide of the post. What an opportunity!
50 minIt would not be a surprise if Real Madrid boss Benitez was already considering changes at this stage. Sporting do seem to be finding space between the away side's defence and midfield.
52 minMany predicted Real Madrid to come here and walk over Sporting, but that has been far from the case. The home team have had two stunning chances and are restarting Real Madrid to few clear opportunities as the second period continues to develop. It is just so delicately poised.
54 minAnother smart save from Cuellar as the Sporting stopper holds onto a low strike from Ronaldo, who had cut in from the left. James Rodriguez is preparing to enter the field for the away side...
56 min... REAL SUB: James Rodriguez replaces Jese.
58 minSporting have a shout for a penalty as Guerrero goes down inside the box under a challenge from Ramos, but the referee is not interested. Little over 30 minutes of this second period remaining and the home side are not exactly playing for the point - the home supporters want a goal here.
60 minHalf-chance for the away side as James delivers a sensational cross towards the far post, but there are no takers and once again the danger is cleared. Still we wait patiently for the first goal.
60 minReal Madrid have a free kick just outside the Sporting box as Bernardo fells Bale...
61 min... Bale has a go, but his effort was always rising over the crossbar.
63 minReal Madrid have just turned up the pressure in the last couple of minutes as they force two corners in quick succession, but Sporting continue to defend their lines. Bale makes contact with Real Madrid's second corner, but once again Cuellar is on hand to make a really smart save.
64 minLuis Hernandez has a problem for the hosts as he hits the deck and stays there.
65 minLuis Hernandez is back on his feet and will continue. Little over 25 minutes of this second period remaining and still Real Madrid search for the first goal. What a result this would be for the hosts.
66 minBOOKING! Carmona (Sporting) is booked for a late challenge on Marcelo.
68 minCHANCE! Wonderful chance for Ronaldo as the Portuguese meets a super cross from James, but his header is wide of the post. It just will not go in for Los Blancos at the moment here!
70 minSporting continue to show their attacking intent as Lora delivers a super cross from the right, but Varane makes first contact and eventually the danger is cleared. Still goalless here.
71 minCuellar gets down low once again to save from James.
71 minREAL SUB: Mateo Kovacic comes on for his debut in place of Isco.
72 minSPORTING SUB: Guerrero is replaced by Juan Muniz.
74 minLittle over 15 minutes of the second period remaining and Rafael Benitez is becoming increasingly concerned on the sidelines. A point away from home would not be the end of the world, but there is no question that Real Madrid would have expected to comfortably win this game this evening.
74 minBOOKING! Alvarez (Sporting) is booked for fouling Bale.
76 minRonaldo misses another sitter at the far post for Real Madrid, but the attacker was just offside when he made contact on Danilo's low strike. It just will not find the back of the net for Los Blancos!
77 minSPORTING SUB: Menendez replaces Jony for the hosts.
78 minCHANCE! Ronaldo once again finds space in a wide area after smart work from Bale, but Cuellar makes another save before Marcelo heads over the crossbar. Sporting living dangerously!
80 minSporting are dropping extremely deep at the moment, which is not too much of a surprise, but it is inviting pressure from Real Madrid, who continue to dominate possession of the ball here.
82 minRafael Benitez continues to cut a frustrated figure on the Real Madrid bench as his side continue to struggle to find the back of the net. All of the attacking is coming from the visitors, but Sporting are defending so well - as has been the case all game. Less than 10 minutes of normal time to play.
84 minThere are some very tired legs out there at the moment, but Sporting are digging deep as they continue to defend the edge of their own penalty area. Is there to be a late sting in the tail?
84 minSAVE! Sensational stop from Cuellar as the Sporting goalkeeper once again tips a Ronaldo effort over the crossbar. The man between the sticks has been stunning this evening!
85 minSPORTING SUB: Carmona is replaced by Ait-Atmane.
86 minREAL SUB: Dani Carvajal replaces Danilo.
88 minIt is a case of 'anywhere will do' for the home side at the moment as they continue to clear their lines. I think it is safe to say that a goal at this stage would be enough to claim all the points.
90 minSanabria manages to take the pressure off the home team with a bright run down the left, but Sporting just cannot keep the ball and Real Madrid are straight back on the attack here...
90 min+1... another attack comes to an and and Sporting have a goal kick.
90 min+2FOUR MINUTES ADDED! FOUR!
90 min+2Bale is not best pleased that Cases took so long to return to his feet after taking a late challenge, but it is all part and parcel of the game. The home side are so close to a wonderful point!
90 min+3Now then - free kick Real Madrid just outside the Sporting box. Ronaldo...
90 min+4... Ronaldo fires straight into the wall!
90 min+5FULL-TIME: Sporting 0-0 Real Madrid
9.18pmStunning performance from Sporting as they hold Real Madrid to a goalless draw - what a display from the newly-promoted outfit! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Good evening!
