Sporting CP will aim to continue their strong home form as they host reigning European champions PSG in Lisbon.
Rui Borges is eager to give the Sporting CP fans and the players a big boost with a stellar win on over PSG home soil to propel the team into the automatic qualification positions. Currently, the Lisbon giants are sitting two points adrift of a top-eight place, and they will aim to get closer to those positions this midweek.
Hosting the reigning champions is no easy task, but Sporting will rely on their solid record of late on home soil as well as that against French sides. They have already defeated Marseille here this season in the opening phase, which ensured they have a record of seven wins in their last nine home games against teams from France.
Meanwhile, Sporting are also angling to make it four consecutive home wins in the Champions League for the first time. Overall, the hosts promise a stellar game against PSG, and a win over the reigning European champions will ensure they are level on points heading into the final matchday of the opening phase.
PSG are yet to kick-start their season with a bang, something very similar to their form in the second part of the previous campaign. They have already exited the Coupe de France at the hands of neighbors Paris FC, with that defeat their only one in their last nine games across all competitions.
PSG are currently sitting second in Ligue 1, two points off leaders RC Lens, something Luis Enrique will want rectified. But before that, the Spanish tactician has a small task of consolidating a place in the top eight of the UEFA Champions League, where they currently sit in third spot after six games.
Les Parisiens have a tough task on hand to get that automatic spot closed down, as they travel to Lisbon to take on Portuguese champions Sporting CP. Whether the French giants will get the desired win or succumb to the pressure of that venue will be a question answered tomorrow.
Team News & Tactics
Sporting CP
In Rui Borges’s efforts to put out a strong team against PSG, several key players are missing from action ahead of the home clash in the Champions League. Among those are Nuno Santos, Pedro Goncalves, Ousmane Diomande, Geovany Quenda, and Fotis Ioannidis, with those stars already ruled out.
Skipper Morten Hjulmand is also missing due to a suspension incurred for picking up too many yellow cards. Another star in Maximilliano Araujo is one booking away from suspension, which will lead to him being cautious.
There are some positives, with Daniel Braganca making just his second appearance since returning from a lengthy layoff, marking the appearance with a goal. Whether he achieves a place in the starting spot against PSG remains to be seen, although the chances of him starting on the bench seem more like the probability.
Matheus Reis is expected to replace the injured Diomande at the heart of the defence and start alongside Goncalo Inacio. Ivan Fresneda and Araujo will compete in the full-back roles, while Joao Simoes and Hidemasa Morita are set to manage the midfield proceedings.
Luis Suarez will lead the line for Sporting CP against PSG on Tuesday, with Francisco Trincao set to operate behind him in the attacking midfield role with the support of Geny Catamo and Luis Guilherme from the wide areas.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Silva; Fresneda, reis, Inacio, Araujo; Simoes, Morita; Catamo, Trincao, Guilherme; Suarez
PSG
Meanwhile, PSG are also missing a few stars from their squad, with Lee Kang-in, Matvey Safonov, Joao Neves, and Quentin Ndjantou all out of contention with injury issues. Lucas Hernandez will serve a suspension for a second consecutive Champions League game for his dismissal against Tottenham earlier.
Meanwhile, AFCON stars Achraf Hakimi and Ibrahim Mbaye will not return in time for Tuesday’s game, with the latter part of the victorious Senegal side on Sunday. With both those African stars featuring only at the weekend, the chances of them making the trip to Portugal are slim, and they should be considered out of contention. Warren Zaire-Emery will continue in his right-back role for the time being, but Hakimi is expected to return very soon.
Willian Pacho and Marquinhos will stay in the central defensive roles, while Nuno Mendes prepares to face his former side, Sporting CP. With Neves missing out through an injury, Senny Mayulu could take his place in the midfield setup, while Desire Doue will be preferred to play in the front three with the other regular starters there.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Chevalier; Zaire-Emery, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Mayulu, Vitinha, Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Key Stats
- Sporting CP have recorded seven wins in their last nine home games across all competitions.
- Sporting CP have won all of their three UEFA Champions League group phase game this season on home soil.
- PSG have lost just once in their last nine games across all competitions.
- PSG have recorded just one win in their last eight trips to Portugal.
- Paris Saint-Germain have not lost a UEFA Champions League match against a team from outside one of Europe’s big-five leagues since December 2013 in a 2-1 loss at Benfica; they are unbeaten in 32 matches since then (W26 D6).
Player to Watch
Ousmane Dembele
Dembele has got back into his scoring habit of late, recording three goals in his last three outings in Ligue 1. First it was the strike against Paris FC and then at the weekend against LOSC Lille, he scored a brace.
Luis Enrique will now hope his Ballon d’Or winner gets back into his rhythm in the UEFA Champions League to help PSG consolidate a spot in the top eight, preferably as high as possible. Hence, for the Parisians, the France international will be key to their chances ahead of this tricky trip to Portugal.
Prediction
Sporting CP 1-2 PSG
Sporting CP have a good record to show for their form on home soil, but they face a unique test ahead with the reigning European champions PSG coming to town. While the Portuguese giants also have a fantastic record against French sides on home soil, their chances of beating Les Parisiens will depend on stellar performances across the board.
PSG, on the other hand, will come into this clash under slightly less pressure compared to Sporting CP, which could swing the tie in their favour. While they do not have a good record against Portuguese opponents, in their country, Luis Enrique might be able to change that with a slender win over Sporting CP.