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.
In Alvalade, Héctor Bellerin was left out of the starting eleven after suffering an injury in training yesterday afternoon, having appeared in Ricardo Esgaio’s team. At Arsenal, the presence of two Portuguese stands out: Fábio Vieira is the starter and Mauro Bandeira, 19, is called up to the substitute bench for the first time gunners.
Sporting’s eleven: Adam; Street. Juste, Coates and Gonçalo Inácio; Esgaio, Morita, Pedro Gonçalves and Matheus Reis; Edwards, Paulinho and Trincao.
Arsenal’s eleven: Turner; Blanco, Kiwior, Saliba and Zinchenko; Xhaka and Jorginho; Saka, Fábio Vieira and Reiss Nelson; Martinelli.
Sports substitutes: Israel, Nuno Santos, Luís Neto, Diomande, Tanlongo, Mateus Fernandes, Essugo, Rochinha, Fatawu, Arthur Gomes, Jovane and Chermiti
Arsenal substitutes: Ramsdale, Hillson, Thomas Partey, Gabriel, Smith Rowe, Holding, Tomiyasu, Bandeira, Sagoe Jr., Smith and Walters.
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 “leões” 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.
Source: TSF
