FOCUS ON SPORTING LISBON

FORM

Sporting have been crowned champions of Portugal 18 times but last season trudged home in fourth place, 22 points behind winners Porto after winning just one of their final five fixtures. However, they have yet to get this season started after a coronavirus outbreak hit the club. Nine players and three staff members, including manager Ruben Amorim, have tested positive for Covid-19, leading to the cancellation of their opening league game.

MANAGER

Amorim will not be on the touchline tomorrow night as he continues to self-isolate but he does have recent experience of taking on Scottish opposition. He took over at Sporting back in March just a week after his former Braga side were dumped out of last year ’s competition by Rangers. He is now tasked with leading the Lions to a first league crown in 18 years, but as a player he was best known for his nine-year stint at city rivals Benfica, where he won three Portuguese league titles. He also made 14 appearances for Portugal.

PLAYERS

Aberdeen look set to face Brazilian midfield ace Wendel after Sporting were reported to have turned down an undisclosed bid from Monaco for the 23-year-old, who has also been linked with Manchester United.

EUROPEAN RECORD

Sporting’s only European triumph came in 1964 as they defeated Hungary’s MTK Budapest after a replay to claim the Cup Winner ’s Cup, although they came close to lifting the 2005 Uefa Cup before losing to CSKA Moscow in the final. They do not have the best record against against Scottish clubs, winning just five times from 14 fixtures against Rangers, Celtic, Dundee and Hibernian.