Sporting CP vs Real Madrid, 2016 Champions League: Match Preview

Real Madrid visit Sporting Club de Portugal on Tuesday needing a win to keep the pressure on current Champions League Group F leaders Borussia Dortmund.

Los Merengues currently have eight points from four games in the group stage, starting with a 2-1 victory at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu against tomorrow’s hosts.

Real fought back after going behind that night, thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo free kick and a towering Alvaro Morata header in the dying stages of that clash in September.

Both sides won 3-0 in their respective domestic campaigns over the weekend. Sporting breezed past F.C. Arouca, whilst Real swept Atletico aside at Vicente Calderon.

Sporting have struggled in weeks leading up to the weekend. They had not won in the league since the end of September, and succumbed to 1-2 and 1-0 losses home and away respectively to Dortmund in Group F.

In the previous match day, Real tripped up away to Legia Warsaw- conceding a two goal lead and having to grab a late third goal to finish the game at 3-3. That game should serve as a wake up call ahead of tomorrow’s clash.

The visitors must be aware of Bas Dost, who has scored six of Sporting’s goals so far, as well as on-loan Joel Campbell.

Morata and Casemiro are missing from the squad that travelled to Lisbon, but you would imagine that Zinedine Zidane would continue with the same starting XI that started on Saturday.

Sporting are effective at attacking the wings, and will create chances with through balls. However, another resolute display a la Saturday’s trip to Atletico, and Real should maintain their pursuit to top Group F.