MADRID, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Cristiano Ronaldo will again be the center of attention when Real Madrid take on Sporting Gijon in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium this Saturday night.
Ronaldo's hat-trick on Wednesday night almost single handedly saw his side to a 4-1 win away to neighbors Atletico Madrid. He scored a free kick, a shot from outside of the area and a penalty to take his league tally to the season to 40, one more than FC Barcelona's Leo Messi.
Ronaldo will be expecting to add to his total when Sporting visit the Bernabeu. The side coached by Javier Clemente are currently second from bottom of the table with just 28 points from 32 games and are seven points behind fourth from bottom Villarreal.
Clemente's side fought back from 2-1 down to defeat Levante 3-2 on Wednesday night, but the former Spain coach is unpopular with the club's fans after a public falling out with a local journalist.
Real Madrid will however, remember that last season a home defeat to Sporting, who were then coached by Manuel Preciado, cost them any chance of winning the title and will be at pains to avoid a repeat.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho will probably pick his side with one eye on Tuesday's Champions League semifinal away to Bayern Munich and could be tempted to start with Gonzalo Higuain in the starting 11 ahead of Karim Benzema. Javier Callejon, who scored the fourth goal on Wednesday, could also get a run out, while Esteban Granero is also in with a chance of starting.
A win for Madrid would momentarily put them seven points ahead of FC Barcelona, who kick off later in the evening, but with Madrid playing away to Barca next week, Ronaldo needs to sound a note of caution. He has been booked four times this season in the league, another booking on Saturday night would see him suspended for the most important game of the season.