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MADRID, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid had a huge let-off as they claimed a narrow 2-1 win at home to Sporting Gijon on Saturday afternoon.
Sporting went to the Santiago Bernabeu with no win in 9 games, but had Duje Cop not missed a penalty late in the second half, they would have come away with an unlikely point.
The game was barely three minutes old when Carlos Carmona' challenge on Lucas Vazquez gifted Real Madrid a penalty allowing Ronaldo to step up and continue where he left off by sending Sporting keeper Diego Marino the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Despite playing three central defenders Sporting were leaving big spaces all over the park and Ronaldo took advantage if some dreadful marking to get on the end of Nacho Fernandez's cross from the left and head Madrid 2-0 ahead in the 18th minute.
It looked as if Sporting were in for a long afternoon in a rainy Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, but Real Madrid again took their foot off the gas and after Ronaldo saw a long range shot parried by Marino, Carmona got the visitors back into the game with a sharp finish from an Ismael Lopez pass.
The start of the second half saw more of the same as Madrid failed to shake off the lethargy they ended the first period with and it was not until the 57th minute that they created a chance when Benzema's powerful header from Vazquez's cross saw Marino produce a good save.
Sporting had a wonderful chance to draw level in the 75th minute when Victor Rodriguez, who had just come on as a substitute, was brought down by Nacho in the Madrid penalty area.
Top scorer Duje Cop stepped up to the spot only to slice his shot high and wide of Kaylor Navas' goal to the clear delight of the Madrid players.
To their credit Sporting continued to pressure Real Madrid and saw how Navas saved from Nacho Cases and although Ronaldo wasted a chance to finish his hat-trick on the break it was Madrid who ended the game on the back foot.
