This Thursday, Sporting begins one of the most important qualifiers of this season, hosting English Arsenal, in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16 in football.
With a home season almost to forget – they are still fighting for a Champions League spot next season, but are already 15 points behind leaders Benfica – Sporting have their only chance to win a Europa League trophy, but today He is up against one of the leading candidates.
While the ‘lions’ occupy only fourth place in the Portuguese First League, the ‘gunners’ are leaders in England and dream of recovering a title that has eluded them since 2003/2004, so Rúben Amorim’s team can still take advantage of some eventual salvation by the coach of the English, the Spanish Mikel Arteta.
If the ‘lions’ are deprived of Ugarte, punished, the Londoners will be able to show up with several absences, some of them due to illness, according to what the Spanish coach revealed before the game.
The match is scheduled for 5:45 p.m., at the Estádio José Alvalade, and will be directed by the German Tobias Stieler.
Also in the first leg of this tie, Roma, led by the Portuguese José Mourinho, will receive the Spanish from Real Sociedad, while Fenerbahçe, led by Jorge Jesus, will visit Sevilla, record holder of trophies in the competition, with six (two of which still in the UEFA Cup format).
Source: TSF
