Real Madrid make the trip to Portugal as they face Sporting CP where even a draw will see them through. But they will be looking at much more than that and their confidence will be sky high after a thumping 3-0 victory over arch-rivals Atletico Madrid. On top of the surprising scoreline, the confidence of hat-trick hero Cristiano Ronaldo will be a big plus for Los Blancos. He has managed to shush his critics and will look to impress on his emotional return to his boyhood club.
Real have been given a hard time in the group stages by Borussia Dortmund who drew against them and have bettered their other results leaving the Spanish side with a very real possibility of finishing 2nd in the group. In the likely scenario that Dortmund win their match against Legia Warsaw and Real also win their fixture, the German side will still be ahead by 2 points which will help them dictate the match when the two sides meet in the last match of the group stage.
TEAM NEWS
SPORTING CP
Jorge Jesus’s side isn’t troubled with injuries going towards this match and he will be having the luxury of choosing his strongest side for this difficult fixture.
Marvin Zeegelaar will have to be cautious as he is just a booking away from suspension.
REAL MADRID
Although the injuries are slowly easing out, there are still enough absentees to prevent Zidane from rotating too much. Kroos, Casemiro and Lucas Silva are still injured which makes the midfield pretty light for Real. Isco’s display would have been a welcome sight for manager Zinedine Zidane. Pepe is nearing a comeback but this match is too soon for him. Sergio Ramos, Benzema might feature after being named on the bench.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS
SPORTING CP (4-4-2)
Beto; Douglas, Jefferson, Oliviera, Esgasio; Silva, Elias, Cesar, Ruiz; Castaignos, Andre
REAL MADRID (4-3-3)
Navas; Carvajal, Nacho, Varane, Marcelo; Kovacic, Modric, Isco; Vasquez, Ronaldo, Bale
KEY MEN
SPORTING CP
BAS DOST & GELSON MARTINS
Real might be without a couple of their key defenders which will instil some self-confidence in Sporting CP’s attackers. Bas Dost has been in his usual good nick this season with 6 goals in 7 games and will be hopeful of adding to his tally. He might be brought on from the bench. In addition to the striker, winger Gelson Martins has been at his creative best laying on 7 assists for his teammates. He has also scored 2 goals in addition.
REAL MADRID
CRISTIANO RONALDO
The Portuguese scored his 39th career hat-trick as Los Blancos reclaimed the bragging rights in the city. Ronaldo will be making an emotional return to Sporting but it will not come in the way of his performance and he would love to keep on scoring goals, now that he has found his mojo back.
BETTING ODDS
SPORTING CP- 5/1
DRAW- 7/2
REAL MADRID- 4/7
