Overview
Sporting Lisbon started Primeira Liga with a 2-2 draw against Estrela Amadora, but then quickly regained momentum with 4 consecutive wins. Rui Borges' team scored 2 or more goals in all 4 of these matches, including a 4-0 victory over Rio Ave.
Sporting also clearly improved their defense. After keeping a clean sheet against Rio Ave, they continued to defeat Nacional 2-0 in the last weekend round. Thus, they have not conceded a goal in the last 180 minutes, while maintaining a stable scoring streak before the Champions League opening match.
This form brings optimism to Sporting before welcoming Galatasaray at Alvalade. The Portuguese team has won 3 consecutive matches against Turkish opponents and has 4 wins in the last 5 encounters with representatives of this country.
Sporting also had good results in the Champions League last season when they won 4 matches in the group stage. These statistics further help coach Rui Borges and his team have more confidence before facing the reigning Super Lig champions.
In the opposite direction, Galatasaray has reason to worry. Although they have won 3 out of 4 previous encounters with Portuguese clubs, they are currently experiencing 5 consecutive winless matches against opponents from this country, including 4 defeats.
Away form in the European arena is also a big problem for Galatasaray. They have only won 1 of their last 15 away games in continental club-level tournaments, and have suffered 13 defeats.
Okan Buruk will have to carefully calculate how to approach the match at Alvalade. Galatasaray wants to return to the winning streak in the Champions League after 3 defeats and 1 draw in the last 4 matches in the tournament.
However, history is also not on the side of the Turkish representative. Galatasaray has only won 1 in the last 10 matches in the Champions League group stage, besides 5 draws and 4 defeats. These statistics make the task of getting points at Sporting Stadium more difficult.
Personnel situation
Sporting Lisbon will be without Nuno Santos and Joao Simoes due to injury. Ibrahima Ba's ability to play is also uncertain due to a minor injury.
In attack, Luis Suarez has 4 goals in Primeira Liga this season. The Colombian striker scored 5 goals in European competitions last season and is expected to continue to play an important role for Sporting in the Champions League.
Galatasaray is likely to be without Victor Osimhen in the away match in Lisbon due to injury. The Nigerian striker has scored 6 goals after only 4 rounds in the Super Lig this season, accounting for half of the total 12 goals of the reigning Turkish champions.
Expected lineup:
Sporting Lisbon: Silva, Fresneda, Debast, Inacio, Araujo, Altimira, Doumbia, Catamo, Zalazar, Goncalves, Suarez.
Galatasaray: Cakir, Sallai, Sanchez, Bardakci, Jakobs, Sara, Torreira, Sane, Batrakov, Akgun, Yilmaz.
The match between Sporting and Galatasaray takes place at 2:00 a.m. on September 10 (Vietnam time).
