The 1997-98 campaign delivered ultimate heartbreak for Sporting Gijón as the Rojiblancos finished a crushing 20th in La Liga, resulting in relegation after a 21-year stay in the top flight. The season was historically disastrous, setting the then-record for the lowest points tally in La Liga history with just 13, and the club became the first team ever to be mathematically relegated as early as March. Amidst the chaos of a 23-match winless streak and four different head coaches, the Russian forward Dmitri Cheryshev, nicknamed the 'Bullet from Gorki', led the scoring with 6 goals, but his efforts were not enough to prevent the club from sinking into a turbulent new chapter.