Gross hoping for a belated high note

Christian Gross admits the learning curve of a first group-stage campaign in five years has been too steep for his FC Basel 1893 side as they prepare to bring down the curtain on Group C against Sporting Clube de Portugal.

'Still learning'
In the UEFA Champions League proper for the first time since 2002/03, the Swiss champions have picked up a solitary point from their first five games and even if they triumph on Matchday 6, they cannot avoid coming bottom of the section. Gross concedes his squad have been unable to keep pace with football's evolution. "We have been away from the Champions League for a long time and the game has changed," he said. "It's moved on very quickly and we're still learning. If we finish with a win it would be great. We'll try our best – we owe it to our fans."

Zanni doubt
Those supporters have had little to celebrate so far. Basel have lost both previous home matches, including a 5-0 reverse against FC Barcelona on Matchday 3, and no other team in the competition has registered fewer points or goals. Gross's side do top one unwanted list, however – they have the worst defensive record of all 32 clubs, with their hopes of stemming the flow against Sporting being undermined by a thigh injury to centre-half David Abraham. Shin and back problems mean right-back Reto Zanni will likely lose his ever-present tag in the tournament too.

'Positive result'
Beg Ferati is in line to deputise for Abraham, while 19-year-old Michel Morganella stands by to replace Zanni and make his UEFA Champions League debut. Gross is yet to decide who should slot in behind lone striker Marco Streller, with Marko Perović expected to get the nod ahead of Eduardo Rubio after netting in Basel's last outing, Thursday's 3-1 victory at home to FC Aarau. "A draw would be a positive result," said Gross. "If we have the opportunity to win then we'll try and take it. To do that though, we have to create chances."

History lesson
Sporting have already beaten Basel three times this year, yet while their place in the first knockout round is already secure, coach Paulo Bento has warned his charges not to rest on their laurels. "We can't rely on past results," said the 39-year-old, who led Sporting to a 5-0 aggregate success over Basel in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 last season before masterminding a 2-0 victory on Matchday 2. "There's a lot at stake. We want to end the group phase on a positive note."

Liedson absent
Sporting's all-time leading scorer in European competition, Liedson, is sidelined by a twisted left knee so Derlei, a UEFA Champions League winner with FC Porto in 2004, steps up. Veteran keeper Tiago comes in for the suspended Rui Patrício, while Daniel Carriço should be retained at centre-back. "I have a lot of respect for our opponents, because they caused us problems when we played them at home," said Bento, whose side triumphed 3-1 at CF Estrela da Amadora on Friday. "But we want to give a better image of ourselves than we did against Barcelona [a 5-2 home defeat on 26 November]."