Sporting CP v Real Madrid: line-ups, where to watch, form guide
Monday, November 21, 2016
Article summary
Cristiano Ronaldo goes back to where it all began as the holders seek the point needed to book a place in the knockouts, but they know better than to underestimate Sporting.
Article top media content
Article body
- Madrid will qualify for last 16 and eliminate Sporting with a draw
- Spanish side struck two late goals to beat Sporting 2-1 on matchday one
- Ronaldo, back where he began his career, needs two for 100 goals in UEFA club competition
- Madrid are unbeaten in 29 games in all competitions
Possible line-ups
Sporting: Rui Patrício; João Pereira, Coates, Ruben Semedo, Zeegelaar; William Carvalho, Adrien Silva, Gelson, Bryan Ruiz, Bruno César; Dost.
Out: Bruno Paz (suspended)
Misses next match if booked: Zeegelaar
Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Modrić, Kovačić, Isco; Bale, Ronaldo, Benzema.
Out: Casemiro (leg), Kroos (foot), Morata (hamstring), Pepe (hamstring)
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here
Jorge Jesus, Sporting coach
We are up against the best team in the world; they are second to none. But we are confident in our abilities. We have a dream, and that is to play as we did in Madrid and win.
We knew all about Madrid going into the first game, but they didn't know us that well. Here they won't be as surprised by our capabilities. They are strong when they have the ball. When they don't have the ball, they have weaknesses, like all teams, and we will try to capitalise.
[In Cristiano Ronaldo] they have the best player in the world, the best goalscorer in the world. I would love to be his coach.
Zinédine Zidane, Madrid coach
[In the first game] they didn't surprise us at all. We won with difficulty and tomorrow will be just as hard. In front of their passionate fans, Sporting will want to put us in trouble and the most important thing is that we must be ready as a team to face that threat.
Winning as we did at the weekend [against Atlético Madrid] doesn't guarantee anything in the next game. If we go in strong, we know we can get something out of it. I won't be doing any calculations as to how each group might finish and nor will my players.
Weekend results
Sporting CP 5-1 Praiense (Paulo Oliveira 21, Adrien Silva 47, Bruno César 63, André 79 88; Almeida Arruda 2)
On Thursday, Paulo Oliveira opened the scoring with his first goal since January 2015 as Sporting cruised past their third-tier opponents and into the last 16 of the Portuguese Cup.
Atlético 0-3 Real Madrid (Ronaldo 23 71p 77)
Cristiano Ronaldo bagged his 39th Madrid hat-trick – and now has 17 goals in 16 appearances for club and country this term – as Zidane's Liga leaders extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 29 matches.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Sporting: WWLDDL
Real Madrid: WWDWWW
Reporter's view: Paul Bryan (@UEFAcomPaulB)
Sporting's chances of progress are slim, but Jorge Jesus's men cannot be discounted just yet. Victory against the holders – who need only draw to advance – is imperative for a Leões side that will be wary of affording too warm a welcome to the returning Ronaldo. The hosts must reproduce their heroic performance – albeit not the result – of the corresponding fixture in Madrid, when two last-gasp goals denied them a famous scalp. Anything less, and Sporting's UEFA Champions League dream will be over with a game to spare.
Did you know?
Ronaldo began his career in Sporting's academy and spent the 2002/03 campaign in the first team, making 25 league outings and scoring three goals. Read more in our extensive match background.