Real Madrids rise to the top of La Liga has owed much to Xabi Alonsos sparkling form but they will have to prove they can survive without the suspended midfield lynchpin when they travel to Sporting Gijon on Saturday (today). Real want all three points to keep the pressure on Barcelona, who are chasing their fourth consecutive league crown, and to maintain the psychological edge in the run up to next weekends clasico.The former Liverpool playmaker, a central figure in Spains World Cup triumph in South Africa last year, picked up his fifth yellow card last weekend, though it does clear him to return for the pivotal clash against Barcelona at the Bernabeu the following Saturday. Jose Mourinhos team have been in imperious form, racking up 13 consecutive victories in all competitions, and have pulled three points clear of their arch-rivals Barca, who have played agame more. In Gijon, however, they will miss Alonsos influence in a hostile and intimidating environment. Sporting, who are 18th, boast a noisy and colorful support that will not have forgotten last seasons barbed exchanges between their popular and pugnacious coach Manuel Preciado and Mourinho. Alonso brings composure and experience to Reals relatively young team and has been an important part of their resurgence. His ability to control the tempo of games has helped them mature from an essentially counter-attacking playing style, to one that can adapt to a more patient approach when required. They have only managed three wins in the seven games Alonso has missed since Mourinho took the helm, one of those being the last meeting between Real and Sporting in April last season, when the Asturians stunned them in a 1-0 victory at the Bernabeu. The player brought in over the summer to help cover for his absences, Turkeys Nuri Sahin, has only just made his debut after an injury-delayed start to his career in Spain and is still finding his feet. "We have taken a step forward this season. We are in a fantastic run of form and results, and we dont want it to stop," Alonso told reporters this week. "I dont know if I am in the best form of my career, well wait and see how things turn out. The season is very long and wewill have many high points and the odd setback, but hopefully not too many." Barcelona, in second place, suffered their first defeat of the season when they were surprise 1-0 losers at Getafe last Saturday, though they recovered with a 4-0 thumping of Rayo Vallecano on Tuesday. Pep Guardiolas team host fourth-placed Levante, who beat Real earlier in the campaign, on Saturday. While they may be struggling on the road, they have been formidable in front of their own fans and have scored 34 goals without reply in eight league clashes at the Nou Camp this season.
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