[Filipe Reis]

The rollercoaster season of Sporting goes on. After playing great football in the UEFA Cup we went back to the usual mix of uninspired performances and bad luck in the League.

Now it's time to defend the Cup against a team that we have beaten already twice this season. Estrela is a tough team to beat at home but they are quite fragile away. That and the fact that we have the Cup as one of our main aims this season, leaves to think that we will beat them a 3rd time.

It's difficult to guess which will be the starting XI for this game as Paulo Bento has to juggle with many injuries and with the fact that we are playing a very important match on Sunday against Benfica. Still, here's my prediction:

Rui Patrício
Abel - Tonel - Polga - Ronny
Miguel Veloso
Pereirinha - Izmailov
João Moutinho
Liedson - Tiuí​

The game starts at 21h45 CET.

 

[kleber]

This is the game chosen for broadcast by Sic.

 

[cecebravia]

I won't be able to watch this game, but that's probably for the better seeing as the majority of the games I watch end in a loss :undecide:

 

[Filipe Reis]

The official line-up ends up having only one change from what I expected:

Rui Patrício
Abel - Tonel - Anderson Polga - Ronny
Miguel Veloso
Pereirinha - João Moutinho
Romagnoli
Liedson - Tiuí​

 

[Filipe Reis]

0-0 HT

Poor first half from Sporting. No speed and no energy. Lots of doubts on a situation where the ball was saved over the line by a Estrela defender but it's almost impossible to know if it was in or not.

No substitutions at half time.

 

[Filipe Reis]

Izmailov in for Abel. Pereirinha will go back to RB.

 

[Filipe Reis]

Purovic in for Liedson. O Levezinho is injured. Great...that's just what we need now. :scream:

 

[Filipe Reis]

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Milan "O Tosco" Purovic saves our :ass: at the 91st minute!

 

[Filipe Reis]

1-0 FT

Probably our most undeserved win so far in this season but it was about time for us to have some bloody luck.

 

[Dmitriy]

I know Marat got an assist, how did he do besides that?

 

[Filipe Reis]

I know Marat got an assist, how did he do besides that?

He was one of our best players yesterday. Apart from "constructing" the goal he also had a great assist to Romagnoli and a crossed shot that hit the crossbar. I hope he keeps his tendency to play well in big games as we need someone like that for Sunday.

 

[Pretty Boy]

I cant believe how Sporting play so well in the Uefa but are only scraping victories in the league