Sporting Gijon head coach Abelardo Fernandez has insisted that yesterday's 0-0 draw with Real Madrid was just as good as beating the 10-time European champions.

Despite having the home advantage, newly-promoted Sporting were widely regarded to be the underdogs against Rafael Benitez's men.

However, having held out against some late pressure, Rojiblancos claimed an "unexpected" share of the spoils in front of their own supporters at the Estadio Municipal El Molinon.

"This is an unexpected point and it means we have 41 to go to achieve our target [of staying up]. For a club like ours, drawing against Real Madrid tastes like victory, given the gulf in financial clout between us," Abelardo told reporters.

Sporting went into the encounter having lost 10 of their previous 12 encounters with Los Blancos.