Mourinho's nine-year unbeaten run finally ends

Real Madrid 0 Sporting Gijon 1

(afp/getty images)

Real Madrid warmed up for Tuesday's visit of Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions' League quarter-final in the worst possible way last night when they were surprisingly beaten 1-0 at home in La Liga by Sporting Gijon. The defeat marked the end of Jose Mourinho's nine-year, 150-match unbeaten home record in league matches, and also ruined Real's perfect home record in La Liga this season.

Real had been victorious in all 14 of their previous matches at the Bernabeu but the only goal yesterday came after 79 minutes, scored by the visitors' Miguel de las Cuevas against a side lacking Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

Emmanuel Adebayor struggled up front, missing several chances, and Real's desperation was summed up when even goalkeeper Iker Casillas went forward for late corners.

Mourinho last experienced a league defeat in front of his own fans when Porto lost 3-2 to Beira Mar on 23 February 2002.