The Champions League clash between Maribor and Sporting Lisbon is goalless at the break as neither side has been able to force a breakthrough in the first half.
The home side started the game well as they raided forward through Agim Ibraimi and his shot from just outside the penalty area forced an impressive stop from Rui Patricio, who got down low to make the save.
Sporting tried to hit back and Adrien collected the ball outside the area, and with no support decided to fire an effort at goal, but his shot sailed well over the crossbar. Nani also fired wide minutes later with a similar strike from distance.
Andre Carrillo should have given his side the lead when he was played one on one with Jasmin Handanovic but the keeper denied with a good save, and he curled the rebound from a tight angle off the crossbar and over.
The home side pressed before the break and Marcos Tavares should have done better with a headed effort as he tamely nodded the ball at Patricio from close range, while the keeper was forced to deny Ibraimi's powerful low shot with a one-handed save.
Maribor should have taken the lead just before the break when Aleksander Rajcevic latched on to Dare Vrsic's cross into the box, but his header clipped the post and went wide.
Simon Sinclair
