Sporting booked their place in the semi-finals of the competition with a 3-2 win over AVS, but needed a 117th-minute winner from Geny Catamo in order to make it through to the next round. It was Sporting's sixth consecutive win in all competitions, putting them in a good place for their Classico clash with Porto in the Primeira Liga. Sporting have ground to make up on their rivals, sitting four points adrift of the leaders heading into Monday's game, but Borges expects a high-octane clash at Estadio Do Dragao.
Bayern lined up with Manuel Neuer in goal and Konrad Laimer, Dayot Upamecano, Tah and Josip Stanišić in defence. Aleksandar Pavlović and Kimmich anchored a midfield featuring Michael Olise, Karl and Gnabry, with Harry Kane up front. Raphaël Guerreiro, Hiroki Ito, Leon Goretzka, comeback kid Alphonso Davies and Nicolas Jackson took over from Karl, Stanišić, Pavlović, Gnabry and Kane late in the second half.
"Lucho has played every game for us and his national team. He has the longest journeys," Kompany said. "He played in England and never had Christmas off. It's fine for him to have a few days off and go away. He'll then return in a top mental state and pick up where he left off. "Lucho will be back against Heidenheim [on December 21]. He can switch off a bit before then."
There is always a debt. There is always a debt, especially when, at times, it may seem that the team's attitude is not consistent with the love of millions of Benfica fans.
Liverpool are interested in signing the Portuguese international defender, Goncalo Inacio. The 24-year-old central defender has done quite well for Sporting CP, and he could prove to be a useful acquisition for Liverpool as well. It is no secret that Liverpool need a quality defender. They have let in 10 goals in their last three matches in all competitions. Inacio has shown his quality with his national team and with the Portuguese outfit. He has the quality to do well in the Premier League,
Having failed to win any of their opening four Champions League matches, the pressure was on for the hosts, who fell behind 12 minutes in as Maxi Araujo drilled a pinpoint strike past Michele Di Gregorio. Luciano Spalletti's side grew into the contest, forcing Rui Silva into a pair of superb saves as Dusan Vlahovic first tested him with a close-range header, before bending a shot toward the far corner.
I've played in a few different places now and each one has brought different challenges for me, says Eaton-Collins, who also spent time in the US college system and had a short spell back in England with Leicester. Sporting in particular has been a big learning curve for me in terms of the technical side of the game because I'm surrounded by very smart, technical players every day and that's helped bring out a different side to my game.
Rasmus Højlund struck twice to give Napoli a 2-1 victory over Sporting in their Champions League clash at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Højlund, on loan from Manchester United, pounced in each half with Kevin De Bruyne the provider on both occasions as the former Premier League foes combined beautifully to dispatch spirited opponents. A Luis Suárez penalty catapulted Sporting back into contention and they also had chances to snatch a point in an action-packed climax to the game.
