Sporting blow Group G open with Schalke win

• Sporting move to within a point of second-placed Schalke in Group G
• The hosts' Islam Slimani scores at both ends, including Schalke's opener
• Naby Sarr makes it 1-1 with his first goal for Sporting
• Jefferson ends his seven-month wait for a goal with a fine strike
• Next games: Sporting v Maribor, Schalke v Chelsea (25 November)

Sporting Clube de Portugal got themselves back in the hunt in UEFA Champions League Group G as they came from behind to beat FC Schalke 04 by 4-2.

Schalke, 4-3 victors when the sides met in Germany a fortnight ago, forged ahead when Islam Slimani put through his own net but Sporting's reaction was exceptional. They quickly levelled through Naby Sarr and from then on Marco Silva's men's defensive purpose and attacking verve saw them through. A lovely Jefferson strike soon after the restart put them ahead and Nani effectively sealed it midway through the half before a late goal apiece.

The win moves Sporting off the foot of the section and right into contention for a place in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages. They had to show their character, though, after Slimani, under pressure from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, headed in Dennis Aogo's excellent free-kick on 17 minutes.

Sporting replied with a set piece of their own, Jefferson swinging the ball in from the right and Sarr pipping team-mate Slimani to the ball, glancing a header past Ralf Fährmann. If Jefferson had shown technique with the assist, he surpassed himself seven minutes after the interval with a marvellous low, swerving shot that went in off the post following Nani's pass.

Sporting clinched the points 18 minutes from time when substitute André Carrillo used his fresh legs to good effect, knocking the ball past Christian Fuchs and delivering a low centre for the outstanding Nani to turn in. Aogo caused a few jitters among the hosts when he made it 3-2 late on with only Schalke's second shot on target, but as the Bundesliga team committed men forward, Sporting capitalised. Slimani raced clear and coolly kept his nerve to beat Fährmann.