Sporting search for consistency

With the UEFA Cup set to resume after its winter break, uefa.com looks at the form of the 32 clubs involved in first-leg ties this week.

Sporting Clube de Portugal v Feyenoord
Having scraped into the UEFA Cup last 32 courtesy of finishing third in Group D, Sporting have subsequently experienced mixed fortunes. They ended 2004 on a high with a 4-2 win against Vitória SC, but the new year started badly when star striker Liedson returned late from his Christmas vacation. That misdemeanour was soon forgotten, though, when the Brazilian scored both goals in the 2-1 win against SL Benfica in the Lisbon derby. Although a last-gasp winner gave CD Nacional a 3-2 victory in Sporting's next game, the Lisbon side returned to winning ways with a 3-0 success at Gil Vicente FC.

Sporting's Portuguese Cup hopes were ended in the last 16 by Benfica, who finally emerged triumphant 7-6 on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw. A remarkable goal from near the halfway line from Vitória FC's Jorginho then restricted Sporting to a 1-1 draw, and worst was to follow as CS Marítimo inflicted a 3-0 defeat. Nevertheless, Sporting responded impressively on Sunday, putting five past Rio Ave FC to move on to 38 points, level at the top with FC Porto, Benfica and Boavista FC.

Registered players: João Soares Mota Neto.
Players out: Danny Miguel Alves Gomes, Paulo Sérgio Moreira Gonçalves.

Coach Ruud Gullit spent the winter break rebuilding at Feyenoord after a disappointing 2004 ended with a 2-0 defeat at ADO Den Haag which left the Rotterdam side more than ten points off the pace in the Eredivisie. American defender Cory Gibbs plus midfield pair Nicky Hofs and Edwin De Graaf have all been added to the Group A winners' UEFA Cup list, although defenders Alexander Östlund and Ivan Bandalovski are cup-tied and Brazilian centre-back André Bahia has not been included. Feyenoord made room by loaning out Ramon van Haaren and Ebi Smolarek, while Thomas Buffel and Chong-gug Song departed permanently.

Feyenoord could only manage one point from their first two games after the winter break, despite winning through to the Dutch Cup quarter-finals. However, they have hit a purple patch of late and have scored seven in each of their last two games, against De Graafschap and Willem II. The latter match marked the return of Brazilian striker Leonardo after 15 months out with knee ligament damage, although Hossam Ghaly will be sidelined for four weeks with a less serious knee ligament injury. Goalkeeper Gábor Babos (eye) and Shinji Ono, still recovering from ankle surgery, are doubtful for the first leg.

Registered players: Edwin De Graaf, Nick Hofs, Cory Gibbs.
Players out: Chong-gug Song, Thomas Buffel, Euzebiusz Smolarek, Ramon van Haaren.