Composure crucial to Sporting chances

Paulo Bento has promised that his Sporting Clube de Portugal side will keep their composure when they attempt to kick-start their Group C campaign at home to FC Basel 1893.

'We need to win'
Bento was disappointed by Sporting's display in losing at FC Barcelona on Matchday 1, but is adamant that his team's need to gain their first points of the UEFA Champions League season should not unduly affect their approach. "We need to win but it's not an eliminator at this stage," he said. With the Swiss champions also being beaten two weeks ago, Bento believes Sporting will not fall into the trap of over-committing themselves, adding: "Basel need the points too."

Weekend setback
Sporting have had far from ideal preparations, losing their 100 per cent league record with a weekend derby defeat at SL Benfica and missing the opportunity to reclaim the Portuguese Liga leadership. While conceding that the result hurt, the coach said his charges will enter the game full of confidence: "We will be at a good level." The Lisbon outfit's 5-0 aggregate success against the same opponents in last season's UEFA Cup Round of 32 should increase Sporting optimism, although Bento will ensure that his side show plenty of respect. "Those games won't have any influence at all on this one."

Recent meetings
After fourth and third-placed finishes in the last two UEFA Champions League group stages, Sporting are bidding to reach the knockout rounds for the first time, yet Bento is keen to calm expectations raised by a more favourable draw this term. "The lineup in this group doesn't make it any easier to qualify," the 39-year-old said. "Barcelona are big favourites now, whereas in previous seasons we have had two other teams who have been favourites. But all three sides will be battling and trying their hardest to get second place [behind Barça] and qualify."

'Intelligent and courageous'
Basel's first campaign in this competition for six years got off to a dismal start with their home subsidence against FC Shakhtar Donetsk, although Christian Gross is staying positive. "After the result against Shakhtar we are determined to get the right reaction," said the coach, who is without injured Swiss internationals Eren Derdiyok and Valentin Stocker. "Sporting are obliged to go for the win too, but to have any chance of going through we need the three points. That means we need to be intelligent and courageous. We're not going to get ten chances, but we may get four and hopefully we can score two of those."

'Right spirit'
Gross, who recently celebrated a decade in charge at St. Jakob-Park, has overseen a run of unprecedented success with last season's Super League championship being his fourth at the club. His team did, however, taste defeat on Saturday, falling 2-1 at home to BSC Young Boys. Of those more distant losses suffered at the hands of Sporting in the UEFA Cup, the Basel boss agreed with Bento that they should have no bearing on this fixture, saying: "It's a new season and a different team. We know their strengths and it will be a tough game, but we are coming here with the right spirit."