Sporting’s recent four-game winning run in their domestic league was ended at the weekend by a 1-1 draw away at arch-rivals Benfica. It leaves the Lions second in the table, five points behind leaders Porto but three ahead of Benfica. Borges’ team usually play in a 4-2-3-1 formation, including a centre-back duo of Gonçalo Inácio and Ousmane Diomande that was praised by Eric Dier this week ahead of goalkeeper Rui Silva. Danish captain Morten Hjulmand is the beating heart of the team in central midfield. There is plenty of flexibility and goals up front as well.
Team news
Luis Díaz serves the second and final game of his Champions League suspension after his ban for a red card against PSG was reduced by one match on appeal. Jamal Musiala is also still sidelined as he recovers from his broken leg and ankle.
However, Alphonso Davies is on the verge of his return from a cruciate ligament injury. “There’s a chance he’ll be in the squad tomorrow. I don’t think he’ll get any minutes, though. Anything before Christmas is a bonus for him, but there’s still a chance he plays this week,” Kompany said of the Canadian.
Sporting arrive in Munich without three key players, with Pedro Gonçalves, Francisco Trincão and Geovany Quenda all missing out. Coach Borges has also said that Inácio and Geny Catamo are doubts. Daniel Bragança is back in training after his own cruciate ligament injury, but neither he nor Zeno Debast (knee) will feature.
Read up on the pre-match facts:
