Champions League football returns after a six-week pause on Tuesday, with Sporting Lisbon facing a tough test as they welcome current holders Paris Saint-Germain for matchday seven of the league phase.
The Portuguese giants are aiming to avoid back-to-back defeats in the competition after losing away at Bayern Munich in December, a result that left them 14th in the 36-team table, two points adrift of the top eight.
Sporting enter this encounter on the back of an emphatic league victory over Casa Pia, a response that helped steady the ship following their Taca da Liga semi-final exit at the hands of Vitoria de Guimaraes in the previous game.
PSG also arrive in confident mood after delivering a ruthless response to their domestic cup disappointment. Following their Coupe de France elimination against local rivals Paris FC, Luis Enrique’s side thrashed Lille in the league at the weekend.
Les Parisiens are now looking to avoid consecutive Champions League matches without a win after being held to a goalless draw by Athletic Bilbao last time out, a result that leaves the reigning champions third in the league-phase standings.
How the bookies view it: PSG favourites by some margin
The bookmakers strongly fancy PSG to take maximum points, reflected in their 4/5 odds on Ladbrokes. Sporting are priced at 3/1, while the draw is available at 29/10.
Head-to-head: First competitive meeting
This will be the first competitive encounter between Sporting and PSG, although Les Parisiens ran out 4-2 winners when the sides met in a friendly back in 2010.
Players to watch: Luis Suarez or Ousmane Dembele to shine?
Luis Suarez has been in fine scoring touch for Sporting, netting eight goals across his last seven appearances, although he had to settle for an assist at the weekend.
Meanwhile, Ousmane Dembele has found the net in four of his last five games for PSG, recording six direct goal contributions during that spell. The 1/2 on Bet365 for either player to score looks appealing.
Also worth noting is Nuno Mendes, who faces his former club after making 47 appearances for Sporting before moving to Paris. The left-back has either scored or assisted in three of his last three Champions League away games, making him another potential difference-maker.
Probable lineups
Sporting have several absentees, with captain Morten Hjulmand suspended due to an accumulation of bookings. Pedro Goncalves, Nuno Santos, Ousmane Diomande, Geovany Quenda and Fotis Ioannidis are all sidelined through injury.
PSG will be without Lucas Hernandez, who serves the second game of his suspension following his red card on matchday five. Kang-In Lee, Matvey Safonov, Joao Neves and Quentin Ndjantou are also injured, while Achraf Hakimi’s possible return from the Africa Cup of Nations is expected to come too late for him to feature.
Sporting (4-2-3-1): Silva; Araujo, Inacio, Reis, Fresneda; Morita, Simoes; Guilherme, Trincao, Catamo; Suarez
PSG (4-3-3): Chevalier; Mendes, Marquinhos, Pacho, Araujo; Zaire-Emery, Ruiz, Vitinha; Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Doue
Anything else that catches the eye?
PSG have won 26 of their last 32 Champions League matches against sides from outside Europe’s top five leagues (D6), a trend that could continue here, especially given they have also won seven of their last nine away games in the competition.
Five of PSG’s six league-phase matches have produced at least two goals, while the same has occurred in five of Sporting’s six Champions League outings this season, making the 8/13 on Betano for over 2.5 goals a solid option.
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