Sporting Gijon are in the sights of Real Madrid tomorrow as they seek to bounce back from their European disappointment.

Real lost 3-2 to AC Milan in UEFA Champions League Group C on Wednesday night when Pato scored an 88th-minute winner.

Coach Manuel Pellegrini, however, insists recent criticism is unjustified - with his side in search of a fourth successive Primera Division win and one point behind arch rivals Barcelona at the top of the table.

He said: "We are the top-scorers in Europe. I think our overall work has been good so far, but people are free to think whatever they like.

"The ideal thing is to win all the time. We ended up losing a match we were on the track of winning.

"We played well most of the time, but things got complicated in the end.

"We can recover from the defeat because our main goal is to reach the next round - and we are currently group leaders.

"On the other hand, you don't recover points in La Liga; it is important to stay at the top of the table."

Pellegrini has also been forced to bat off speculation on his own future, denying he has received a vote of confidence from the board.

"I haven't received special support and I wasn't warned by the club either," he said.

"My relationship with the board has not changed one bit.

"I know criticism comes with the job. I try to ignore what's negative and keep what's positive. That's my way of thinking.

"I know the kind of pressure I'm subjected to, and it neither affects nor worries me."

Real narrowed the gap to Barcelona at the top of the Primera Division last weekend to a single point thanks to the Catalans club's goalless draw at Valencia.

Madrid enjoyed a 4-2 win over Valladolid but travel to Sporting Gijon still without Cristiano Ronaldo (ankle). Madrid have lost two of the three games played in his absence.

"He still needs more time to recover," added Pellegrini, of the world's most expensive player.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy is also out, while Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain will not be travelling with the squad because of injuries.

Fernando Gago, Christoph Metzelder and Guti could all return.

Sporting Gijon have made a fine start to the season and moved up to seventh following last weekend's excellent 2-1 win at Athletic Bilbao.

That result followed a superb 4-1 victory at home to in-form Mallorca, and the northerners will be delighted with their return of 11 points from seven matches.

Gerard and Sergio Matabuena are serious Sporting doubts tomorrow - while Ivan Cuellar, Tati Maldonado and Diego Camacho also struggling for fitness.

"We will go out to enjoy ourselves, but also to compete," said coach Manuel Preciado.