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SPORTING in the Champions League 2014/15

7K views 236 replies 13 participants last post by  Filipe Reis 
#1 ·


After five seasons of absence Sporting is back in the Group Stage of the Champions League and today we will know who will be the teams we'll be facing. We'll be included in pot 3 and looking at what are the potential opponents I don't think we can aim much higher than the 3rd place in the group which will give access to the Europa League. It's not lack of ambition but simply the reality of Portuguese football. Our two rivals are in pot 1 not because of any glorious runs in the top competition of European club football but because of their good performances in the second UEFA competition. Our league is not better than the French, Italian or probably even the Russian but we are above them in the UEFA coefficient because our top clubs take the EL seriously.

So, here are the 4 different pots for today's draw:

Pot 1:
Real Madrid (ESP)
FC Barcelona (ESP)
Bayern Munich (GER)
Chelsea (ENG)
Benfica (POR)
Atlético Madrid (ESP)
Arsenal (ENG)
Porto (POR)

Pot 2:
Schalke 04 (GER)
Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Juventus (ITA)
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA)
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
FC Basel (SUI)
Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS)
Manchester City (ENG)

Pot 3:
Bayer Leverkusen (GER)
Olympiacos (GRE)
CSKA Moskva (RUS)
Ajax (NED)
Liverpool (ENG)
SPORTING (POR)
Galatasaray (TUR)
Athletic Bilbao (ESP)

Pot 4:
Anderlecht (BEL)
AS Roma (ITA)
APOEL Nicosia (CYP)
BATE Borisov (BLR)
Ludogorets (BUL)
Maribor (SVN)
AS Monaco (FRA)
Malmö FF (SWE)

In my opinion, the best group that we could get would be:
Arsenal, Basel and Malmö.

The worst would be:
Bayern, Manchester City and Roma.

The key for this draw to be favourable will be which team we'll get from Pot 2 as all those in Pot 1 are very tough (with the exception of the Portuguese which unfortunately we can't face) and all in Pot 4 are teams that we're capable of beating.

The draw will take place today at 17:45 CET in Monaco.


 
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#2 ·
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2014/15

Group stage draw results...


GROUP A
Atlético de Madrid (ESP)
Juventus (ITA)
Olympiacos (GRE)
Malmö FF (SWE)

GROUP B
Real Madrid (ESP)
FC Basel (SWI)
Liverpool (ENG)
Ludogorets (BUL)

GROUP C
Benfica (POR)
Zenit St Petersburg (RUS)
Bayer Leverkusen (GER)
AS Monaco (FRA)

GROUP D
Arsenal (ENG)
Borussia Dortmund (GER)
Galatasaray (TUR)
Anderlecht (BEL)

GROUP E
Bayern Munich (GER)
Manchester City (ENG)
CSKA Moscow (RUS)
AS Roma (ITA)

GROUP F
FC Barcelona (ESP)
Paris St Germain (FRA)
Ajax (HOL)
APOEL Nicosia (CYP)

GROUP G
Chelsea (ENG)
Schalke 04 (GER)
SPORTING (POR)
Maribor (SVN)

GROUP H
FC Porto (POR)
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
Athletic Bilbao (ESP)
BATE Borisov (BLR)



 
#3 ·
Well, let's say that it could have been much worse for us. A good Sporting could even finish ahead of Schalke but let's see how the season develops...and the rest of the transfer window until Monday too.
 
#5 ·
fair draw IMO considering we are a 3rd seed it could have been worse.

we may be able to push shalke for one of the top 2 spots, and should be expected to get more points than Maribor.
 
#6 ·
Rejuvenated Sporting look to the future
in uefa.com, Tuesday 2 September 2014

A resurgent Sporting Clube de Portugal are back among Europe's elite after a six-year absence and boast an exciting young team despite some key departures.

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2141144.html

Sporting Clube de Portugal return to the UEFA Champions League group stage after a six-year absence with Nani and a host of recruits reinforcing a talented young squad as the Lisbon giants continue their resurgence.

After arguably their worst-ever season in 2012/13, finishing seventh in the Portuguese Liga and missing out on qualification for UEFA competitions for just the second time in their history, Sporting came second last term – their highest placing in five years.

Leonardo Jardim's side surprised many by pushing for the title before ending up seven points behind rivals and eventual champions SL Benfica. Sporting did finish above perennial favourites FC Porto to seal a return to the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Highly regarded coach Jardim left for AS Monaco FC in the summer as Sporting, a club known for nurturing youth, hired another young manager. Marco Silva, who is in only his fourth campaign as a head coach, takes up a new challenge after guiding Estoril Praia to a club-record fourth spot in 2013/14 and two successive forays into Europe.

Sporting have recruited 11 players but, significantly, lost just two prominent players from last season as defenders Marcos Rojo and Eric Dier moved to Manchester United FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC respectively. Only two of their signings, including France's 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup winner Naby Sarr, are over 23 – a sign the Lions are looking to the future once again.

Nani, one of the most noteworthy products of the famous academy which has rolled out the likes of Simão Sabrosa, Luís Figo, Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo, rejoined the Lisbon outfit on loan from Manchester United to the delight of fans.

The strategy that led to the club's revival, though, has not changed and seems to keep paying dividends. Sporting claimed a 1-1 draw at Benfica on Sunday, having lost on their previous six Liga trips to their neighbours without scoring a goal.

Despite the raft of newcomers boss Silva, 37, has not made too many adjustments. Signings such as Ryan Gauld are still settling into their new home and, in the Scotsman's case, progressing with the B team.

"These youngsters have to be worked. When they are ready, they will have a chance," said Silva, who last week welcomed 20-year-old French forward Hadi Sacko from FC Girondins de Bordeaux. So far just two new faces have featured regularly in the starting XI: Nani and centre-back Sarr, landed from Olympique Lyonnais, who is cementing himself as a pillar of the defence.

The lineup continues to comprise mainly home-grown talents, with at least five academy graduates usually trusted. Three of them – William Carvalho, André Martins and Adrien Silva – remain the engine of the team in midfield, just as last season.

Silva has faith in his young side: "We are at a club that has one of the best player development structures in the world. When we have such quality in our youth system these players are a sure bet."

Sporting will face Chelsea FC, NK Maribor and FC Schalke 04 in Group G on their long-awaited UEFA Champions League comeback. "We are proud to be in that competition," added Silva. "We lack experience but we have our weapons. It would be fantastic to finish in the top two, even though we know it will be very difficult."

The Lions certainly appear well-placed to continue their renaissance with several gifted young recruits, established home-grown stars and a renowned talent in Nani.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Sporting sent today to UEFA the list of players available for the Champions League. Here it is:

LIST A

Goalkeepers:
1 – Rui Patrício
12 – Marcelo Boeck
96 – Luís Ribeiro

Defenders:
2 – Ramy Rabia
3 – Maurício
4 – Jefferson
26 – Paulo Oliveira
29 – Naby Sarr
33 – Jonathan Silva
81 – André Geraldes

Midfielders:
8 – André Martins
11 – Diego Capel
14 – William Carvalho
23 – Adrien
24 – Oriol Rosell
27 – Ryan Gauld
32 – Slavchev
41 – Cédric

Forwards:
9 – Islam Slimani
10 – Fredy Montero
18 – Carrillo
19 – Tanaka
20 – Heldon
25 – Sacko
77 – Nani


LIST B

Goalkeepers:
59 – Guilherme Oliveira
82 – Pedro Silva
88 – Vladimir Stojkovic

Defenders:
55 – Tobias Figueiredo
57 – Domingos Duarte
58 – Mauro Riquicho
67 – Wilson Manafá
72 – Bruno Wilson
74 – Bernardo Carlos
75 – Hugo Meira
76 – Mica Pinto

Midfielders:
17 – João Mário
39 – Edelino Ié
42 – Wallyson Mallmann
43 – Filipe Chaby
49 – Francisco Geraldes
65 – Fábio Martins
79 – João Serrano
80 – Rafael Barbosa

Forwards:
36 – Carlos Mané
38 – Cristian Ponde
45 – Iuri Medeiros
47 – Ricardo Esgaio
56 – Daniel Podence
60 – Gelson Martins
62 – José Postiga
73 – Matheus Pereira
 
#9 · (Edited)
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2014/15
Group Stage

GROUP G - Matchday 1

Tuesday, 17 September 2014
Stadion Ljudski vrt, Maribor (SVN)
Ref: Clément Turpin (FRA)
12,211 att.


vs


NK Maribor 1-1 SPORTING CP
(Zahovic 90'+2'; Nani 80')


***************


WE'RE BACK!!! :wee:

Sporting is back in the top European club tournament after 5 long seasons of absence. It's a debut in this competition for our coach and for most of our players but I hope we have a good showing, honouring the club and also our country.

The first match is always important and in this case we're facing also the debutants of Maribor. Let's hope that our players take inspiration from the imposing way in which our U19 squad played and won this afternoon in the UEFA Youth League.

Our line-up should be out at any moment.​
 
#10 ·
Line-up:

1 RUI PATRÍCIO (c)

41 CÉDRIC - 3 MAURÍCIO - 29 NABY SARR - 4 JEFFERSON

14 WILLIAM CARVALHO

8 ANDRÉ MARTINS - 23 ADRIEN

18 CARRILLO - 9 SLIMANI - 77 NANI



 
#16 ·
Sporting on top in the first 30' creating danger through several free-kicks and above all thanks to a fantastic individual effort by Carrillo that should have opened the score.

Maribor reacted and ended the first half on top also creating danger thanks to a couple of long range shots by Ibraimi and one free kick.

Individually Carrillo was our best player with Nani also looking good at times. Cédric looks a bit nervous and our CBs are having a hard time to deal with the electric Ibraimi.

We're showing the same type of anxiety and lack of clarity in front of goal that we've suffered from in this start of season but we do look a much better team than this Maribor. One pinch of calm upfront and we can get the 3 points from here.
 
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