(CNN) -- Jose Mourinho's remarkable nine-year unbeaten home league record came to an end on Saturday as Real Madrid suffered a shock 1-0 defeat by Sporting Gijon which allowed Barcelona to take an eight-point lead in Spain's La Liga. The Portuguese coach had not lost a home match since February 2002, a 150-match streak taking in his trophy-laden stints with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and now Real. His injury-hit team took to the field without top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, in-form striker Karim Benzema, defender Marcelo and suspended key midfielder Xabi Alonso, though Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain made a welcome return as a second-half substitute after back surgery.
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Barcelona's lead grows to eight points after Real Madrid's defeat by Sporting Gijon
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Real coach Jose Mourinho suffers his first home league reverse in nine years
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Barca, also hit by injuries, edge a 1-0 victory at fourth-placed Villarreal
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Valencia reclaim third as Roberto Soldado scores four goals against former club Getafe
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It wouldn't be dramatic to draw against them at home," Mourinho told @placeholder's website.