Sporting Lisbon warm up for Reds with win

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1240 votes: 2

16.10.2006

Sporting Lisbon go into Wednesday's Champions League encounter with Bayern on the back of a win after last term's Portuguese runners-up defeated bottom club Estrela Amadora 1-0 on Sunday evening. The derby victory sees Sporting move up to second in the domestic standings behind champions Porto on goal difference.

Defender Tonel turned match-winner with the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time for the team coached by Paulo Bento (pictured). The former Portugal international is the youngest head coach ever to feature in the Champions League at just 37 years of age.

Vulnerable at set plays

Bento has his young team playing sparkling attacking football most of the time, as Bayern chief scout Wolfgang Dremmler witnessed for himself in a final spying mission on Sunday evening. Sporting favour a precise passing game and have the potential to threaten on the break, although reports suggest the men from Lisbon are vulnerable at set pieces.

Portugal keeper Ricardo and Brazilian striker Liedson rate as the stars of the team, with a glorious future predicted for 19-year-old midfielder Nani, Sporting's leading scorer so far this season. The talented youngster, who scored his side's equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Spartak in Moscow, has been linked with a host of elite European clubs including Barcelona, AC Milan, Arsenal and Manchester United.

Sporting Lisbon line-up against Amadora

Ricardo - Abel, Tonel, Polga, Ronny (Caneira 75) - Paredes, João Moutinho, Nani, Romagnoli (Carlos Martins 45) - Liedson, Carlos Bueno (Custódio 75)

MUTU

It's a good thing that they're vulnerable from set pieces, because we're good at set pieces ourselves... so maybe if we could unnerve their players, we'd be able to get a few freekicks and corners.