Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's Champions League Group F clash between Sporting Lisbon and Real Madrid! It is a pivotal game for both sides in terms of their hopes of reaching the knockout stages, with Sporting needing a win at least and Madrid just a point away from booking their spot in the last 16. It also marks a homecoming for Cristiano Ronaldo, who is on the verge of an unprecedented achievement in Europe. Before we look at that, though, let's check on the team news...

REAL MADRID STARTING XI: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Kovacic, Isco; Vazquez, Bale, Ronaldo

REAL MADRID SUBS: Casilla, Nacho, Benzema, James, Coentrao, Asensio, Danilo

As we wait for the Sporting team news to filter through, let's start with a look at that Madrid team and the most notable inclusion is that of captain Sergio Ramos. The Spaniard returns from injury to line up alongside Varane at the heart of the Madrid defence having been an unused sub in the Madrid derby against Atletico last time out. He is the only change to the defensive unit for the visitors as Carvajal, Varane and Marcelo all keep their places, with Navas behind.

Indeed, Ramos's inclusion is the only change throughout the starting XI from Zinedine Zidane this evening, which you can understand considering how well they played at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday. It does. however, mean that Karim Benzema, who had an 11-minute cameo off the bench in the derby, once again starts as a sub this evening as he continues his own recovery from injury. Lucas Vazquez continues to fill in for the Frenchman alongside Gareth Bale and Ronaldo.

Madrid's midfield trio remains unchanged from the weekend, which means another start for Kovacic. Zidane's side have been weakened in that area of the field by injuries to Toni Kroos and Casemiro, which is giving Kovacic and Isco more chance to prove themselves in the first team, and they coped pretty well at the Vicente Calderon it must be said. Modric is, of course, a mainstay of that midfield area for Madrid and he will look to run the show once again tonight.

In truth, though, all of the Madrid players - even Gareth Bale - will be playing second fiddle to Ronaldo tonight. That could be said most weeks, but especially tonight as the three-time Ballon d'Or winner returns to face his first club. Ronaldo made 25 appearances for Sporting in the 2002-03 campaign, scoring three goals before sealing his career-changing move to Manchester United. He has since gone on to score an incredible 352 goals in the Premier League and La Liga combined, becoming only the third player in history to reach the milestone in Europe's top five leagues, after Jimmy Greaves and Gerd Muller.

Ronaldo's name is already written into the history books, but he could create a new chapter of his own tonight as he bids to become the first ever player to score 100 European goals at club level. He is currently on 98, with 95 of those coming in the Champions League proper, one in Champions League qualifying and two in the European Super Cup. Despite claims that his powers may be on the wane there is no doubt that he comes into the game in good form too, with his hat-trick against Atletico making it 17 goals in 16 appearances for club and country this season.

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SPORTING STARTING XI: Patricio; Pereira, Coates, Semedo, Marvin; Gelson, Adrien, William, Ruiz; Cesar, Dost

SPORTING SUBS: Beto, Schelotto, Oliveira, Elias, Campbell, Markovic, Andre

The Sporting team is finally in, then, and it is a side that shows four changes from their most recent Champions League outing against Borussia Dortmund. One of those changes sees Bas Dost return to the starting XI, and the striker has begun to make a name for himself already in Lisbon. He has scored six goals in seven league games since his summer move, including two in their most recent Primeira Liga outing. He also has one to his name in the Champions League this term too.

There are plenty of players in the squad who will be recognisable to fans of the Premier League, including two on the bench who are still on the books of Arsenal and Liverpool respectively. Joel Campbell and Lazar Markovic don't make the starting XI this evening, but both have shown that they can be game-changers on their day in the past. The main problem, however, has been their ability to do it consistently on the big stage. In the starting lineup, Coates is a former Liverpool and Sunderland player, while Bryan Ruiz had a spell at Fulham.

The team sheet given out by Sporting suggests that they will opt for a traditional 4-4-2 formation, although against Dortmund in their last European game they had three at the back so it remains to be seen what Jorge Jesus will go for. Arguably the strongest area of their team is in the middle of the park - where Madrid are a little light right now - with the highly-regarded William Carvalho and Adrien Silva patrolling central midfield.

It is a team blessed with a lot of ability then, and Madrid need only look at the reverse fixture between the two sides as evidence that this will not be easy for them tonight. However, there is no doubt that the hosts head into this one as heavy underdogs against the 11-time and reigning champions of Europe. Sporting have only ever made it out of the group stages once, while Madrid are bidding to do it for the 20th year in a row, which gives some idea of the disparity between the two sides' pedigree.

All of that will make Sporting's objective for the game even more daunting as only a win will do for the home side tonight. They currently sit third in Group F with only three points from their opening four games, leaving them five points adrift of Real. Their only victory so far has come against Legia Warsaw, who sit two points further behind Sporting, and even a draw tonight - which would not be a bad result in isolation - would see their slim hopes of reaching the knockout stages ended.

In truth, many Sporting fans may have suspected that would be the case when they were drawn in a group alongside Madrid and Dortmund, the latter of whom have already secured qualification from the group. The club may, then, have had one eye on securing a Europa League spot by finishing third in the group, and a draw could all but seal that should Legia Warsaw lose against Dortmund in Germany tonight too. Two defeats from their last two games, though, will condemn Sporting to a second half of the season without European football.

Domestically Sporting still have some work to do too. They currently sit third in the Primeira Liga, level on points with Porto but five adrift of leaders Benfica after 10 games. Just one point separates second from fifth too, so they are only just clinging on to a Champions League spot as things stand. It is, of course, still early days, but already Sporting have conceded double the amount of goals that Benfica and Porto have conceded, while only two teams in the top half have let in more.

There is better news at the other end of the pitch, where Sporting have scored 20 goals in their 10 outings, a tally only leaders Benfica can beat. They have only failed to score in one of their last 19 league outings, and incidentally have only lost one of those last 19 league games too. Including cup competitions that run extends to just one loss in their last 21 domestic outings, stretching all the way back to March. However, in all competitions they have won two, drawn two and lost two of their last six.

Both of those defeats have come in the Champions League, where Sporting have now lost four of their last five outings including qualifiers. Looking even further back they have won just four of their last 18 outings in this competition, while a defeat this evening would see them fall to three in a row in the Champions League for the first time since 2007 - and the first time all in the same season since 2000.

Jorge Jesus will be hoping that his side's home advantage plays a big part this evening, and there is no doubt that Sporting are stronger in front of their own fans. They have lost just one of their last 13 matches here at the Jose Alvalade Stadium since March, and what's more they have scored in each one, netting 38 goals in all. That solitary defeat did come in the Champions League, but their 2-1 reverse against Dortmund earlier this season is the only Champions League home game they have failed to win in their last five attempts.

Sporting haven't drawn a game here in the Champions League in their last 10 outings, but a point is all Real Madrid need from this one to guarantee their place in the knockout rounds yet again. Of course, being Real Madrid it is highly unlikely that they will play for a draw, but they probably would take one if it was offered to them now. Los Blancos have not quite been firing on all cylinders in the Champions League this season, drawing two of their four group games so far including a 3-3 draw against Legia Warsaw last time out that saw them surrender a two-goal lead.

Indeed, the general consensus is that Real Madrid have rarely found their best form across all competitions this season, but their current positions should remind us that such a statement needs to be kept in context. Madrid sit top of La Liga, a full four points clear of Barcelona, and are just a point away from reaching the last 16 of the Champions League. Just imagine what they will be capable of if they do start playing at their best!

You have to go back to the quarter-finals of last season's Champions League for Madrid's last defeat in any competition - a 29-match run that includes 17 outings already this term. It is fair to say that Zinedine Zidane's reign so far has gone a little under the radar when you look at just how impressive his statistics are. Since succeeding Rafael Benitez at the Bernabeu, Zidane has lost just two of his 44 games in charge of Madrid, winning 34 of those and steering the club to the Champions League title in May.

Zidane's future was even questioned earlier this season following a run of four consecutive draws, but there is no doubt that they remain one of the teams to beat in this year's competition. They may only sit second in Group F, two points behind Dortmund, but only Barcelona have scored more goals in the group stages. Indeed, Madrid have only failed to score in one of their last 48 Champions League group games, with that coming in a goalless draw with PSG last season.

There have been a few more cracks at the other end of the field so far this season, with Madrid having already conceded seven goals in four European outings this term - more than they let in from 13 games throughout their successful campaign last season. They have failed to keep a clean sheet in this year's competition too, but the firepower at their disposal has ensured that they are still on the brink of the knockout stages.

Madrid are now unbeaten in eight Champions League games since that loss to Wolfsburg and have only been beaten once in their last 18 European outings since May 2015. Away from home, however, things have not been quite as successful of late. Real are without a win in their last four Champions League games on the road - their longest run since a six-match streak between December 2006 and February 2008. They have only lost one of their last eight, it should also be noted, but a four-game winless run is not what you would expect from a team of Madrid's calibre.

A Madrid away trip does at least seem to guarantee goals, though. In the Champions League this season alone their two outings have produced 10, with a 2-2 draw against Dortmund being followed by that incredible 3-3 draw with Legia. Madrid are usually responsible for the bulk of the goals on their travels, though, and over the last five away games in all competitions they have scored no fewer than 23 goals - an average of 4.6 per game. They have scored at least two goals in all of their nine away games this season, which has helped them to extend their unbeaten run on the road to 14 matches.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff in Lisbon, which means that it is time for a prediction! Sporting made things difficult for Madrid last time the two sides met, but it is hard to look past the visitors when they have such quality in their side. Once again I expect a relatively close match, but I am backing Madrid to run out 2-1 winners to book their place in the last 16.

Sporting were just minutes away from a famous victory at the Bernabeu in the reverse fixture between these two sides, with Bruno Cesar giving them a 47th-minute lead in September. However, Madrid managed to rescue victory from the jaws of defeat as Ronaldo levelled things up in the 89th minute before Morata clinched a dramatic late winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

That result maintained Sporting's 0% record against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, but here in Lisbon it has been a different story. Sporting are unbeaten in their two previous home games against Los Blancos, winning 2-1 in the first round of the 1994-95 UEFA Cup and drawing 2-2 in the 2000-01 Champions League group stages. In fact, Sporting have only ever lost two of their 10 previous home matches against Spanish opposition, winning six of those. They most recently welcomed a La Liga team here in the semi-finals of the 2011-12 Europa League, beating Athletic Bilbao 2-1 only to lose 4-3 on aggregate. The last visitors here in the Champions League were Barcelona, and they came away with a 5-2 win in 2008-09.

Real are making their first trip to Lisbon since beating city rivals Atletico Madrid here in the 2014 Champions League final to secure the fabled La Decima. However, they have had mixed fortunes against Portuguese teams in Portugal, winning four, drawing one and losing four of their nine trips. Their most recent once was way back in the 2003-04 Champions League group stages, while Zidane was actually on the scoresheet in a 3-1 win over Porto. Madrid have, incidentally, scored in all 20 of their previous games against Portuguese opposition.

Right, the players are out and the anthem has been blared around the stadium, which signifies that we're just about ready to go for this crucial Group F clash!

KICKOFF: Here we go then! Sporting get us underway in Lisbon for this must-win match.

Very nearly an early chance for the hosts as Adrien Silva brilliantly wriggles through a couple of challenges and looks set to break into the box, but Ramos makes a fine last-ditch challenge to close the door.

Ronaldo has his first shot of the night, but it is easy for Patricio. The striker turns on the edge of the box before having a snapshot which is going wide before Patricio collects it.

Almost a chance again for Sporting as Cesar whips a free kick into the box which is just an inch or so too high for Ruiz before hitting Varane. Had Ruiz managed to get his head to that one then it would have been interesting.

UPDATE: There have been a couple of early Champions League goals already, including one for Leicester City against Club Brugge. Shinji Okazaki got the goal to take Leicester one step closer to the last 16. Sevilla, meanwhile, have taken the lead against Juventus.

Brilliant break from Bale as he turns defence into attack in the blink of an eye. He bursts down the left flank before trying to slip the ball through to Isco, but the final ball just didn't come off.

UPDATE: Some good - and unexpected - news for Real Madrid as Legia Warsaw have taken the lead against Borussia Dortmund in Germany. Big boost for Madrid's hopes of winning the group!

Madrid think they have their first chance of the night as Marcelo lifts a cross into the middle that finds an unmarked Ronaldo. The striker gets his header all wrong, but his blushes are spared by the linesman's flag.

Sporting have started this match well, but Madrid look to be getting into their groove a bit now. They are seeing more of the ball and the likes of Bale and Ronaldo are becoming more involved.

Crucial interception from Semedo at the near post. It is a slick passing move from the visitors that sends Bale into the box and the Welshman plays a low ball in towards Ronaldo. Semedo is there to turn it behind, though.

UPDATE: It hasn't taken long for Dortmund to respond against Legia Warsaw, with Shinji Kagawa levelling things up in Germany. As things stand, then, it is as you were at the start of the night - Dortmund leading Madrid by two points.

Back in Lisbon Sporting make a really good break forward, with Gelson leading the charge. He tries to feed what looks like an impossible ball to Dost in the area and very nearly manages it too, but it is just a yard too far in front of Dost.

UPDATE: ...and the comeback is already complete in Germany. Shinji Kagawa doubles his personal tally to put Dortmund in front against Legia. As things stand, then, Dortmund will wrap up top spot in Group F tonight.

UPDATE: Legia seem to have upset Dortmund with their early goal. The Germans make it two in as many minutes, with Nuri Sahin getting the goal this time to make it 3-1. Over to you, Real.

Sporting have stemmed the Madrid tide a little in the last five minutes or so after the visitors looked like they were getting on top. Still no major chances at either end of the pitch, though.

UPDATE: It is turning into quite a game in Dortmund. Less than 25 minutes in and there have already been five, with Legia pulling one back to make it 3-2. Could they be on course for another memorable comeback?

I'm sure the fans wouldn't mind Dortmund and Legia sharing some of those Group F goals here. Even a chance would do, although with Bale and Ronaldo on the field they can come up with something at any point.

The deadlock is finally broken here is Lisbon as Madrid take a big step towards the last 16! It is a scrappy goal as a relatively poor free kick is not dealt with by Sporting. It looks like it is Ramos who gets the touch which sees the ball squirm through to Varane, who sweeps it home from close range. All eyes turn to the linesman, but he keeps his flag down.

The linesman deserves a lot of credit for that. It looked like it had to be offside in normal time and the Sporting players were adamant, but the replays show that Bas Dost was playing Varane on.

CHANCE! Big chance for Sporting to level things up immediately, but it is magnificent defending from Ramos! The hosts come sweeping forward down the right flank before a low ball is cut back into the area. A dummy sees the ball arrive at the feet of Cesar, who pokes it goalwards, but Ramos reacts brilliantly to dive and nod the ball wide of his own goal.

UPDATE: While I was updating you on that goal and chance there have been two more goals in Dortmund! Both have gone the way of the hosts, who now lead 5-2. There have been seven goals in just 32 minutes in what is shaping up to be an incredible game.

UPDATE: Leicester, meanwhile, have doubled their lead against Club Brugge through a Riyad Mahrez penalty and look on course to reach the last 16. What an incredible achievement that would be.

Bale is looking like a real threat down the left flank tonight. He has the pace advantage on Pereira every day of the week and on a few occasions now he has just pushed the ball beyond the full-back and coasted past him.

SHOT! Bale wins a corner for the visitors which is played short to Marcelo. The full-back easily takes it past one defender but then drags a poor effort well wide on his weaker right foot.

YELLOW CARD! Marcelo is the first player in the book for a rash challenge on Gelson right on the edge of the area. Initially it looks like a penalty, but the referee takes his time before awarding a free kick - the correct decision.

CLOSE! The angle isn't the best, but that doesn't prevent Cesar from looking to whip his free kick into the top corner. Navas is worried and is at full stretch as it flies narrowly past the near post. I'm not sure the keeper would have got there!

Coates bundles into Bale from behind to gift Madrid a free kick out wide left. This time the angle is really against the shot, but do you really think Ronaldo would turn it down? He goes for goal, but Dost gets up to put it over for a corner.

The resulting corner is met by Ramos, but he can't get enough power on his header to test the keeper.

At the other end Ramos gifts the ball away in a very dangerous position, but he is bailed out by the linesman's flag!

The first half comes to an end in Lisbon, then, and it is Real Madrid who have the lead at the halfway stage. It hasn't exactly been an action-packed match, with chances few and far between for both sides, but at the same time it has not been a boring game either. As things stand Madrid will book their place in the last 16 this evening, while Sporting will be out of the Champions League.

It seems written in the stars that Ronaldo will eventually make the headlines tonight, but for now it is the unlikely figure of Raphael Varane who is the difference between the two teams. Ronaldo will claim an assist, although it was an inadvertent one from the striker against his former club. His mis-hit attempted first-time effort from a corner rolled into the path of Varane, who swept it home from close range.

Sporting's only real chance of the opening 45 minutes arrived moments after they fell behind, but a fine piece of defending from Ramos kept them at bay. The returning Madrid skipper reacted brilliantly to divert a Bruno Cesar toe-poke past the post after a good move down the right from the hosts. The ball looked destined for the back of the net before Ramos managed to steer it behind.

Cesar has also come close with a free kick from a tight angle that had Navas worried as it sailed narrowly past the far post, while at the other end Marcelo dragged one shot wide and saw a Ronaldo free kick diverted over the top of the bar. Really good chances have been at a premium so far, though, with Sporting doing a pretty good job of keeping Bale and Ronaldo quiet so far.

KICKOFF: Real Madrid get us back underway for the second half as they look to seal their place in the last 16.

CHANCE! Chance for Sporting straight away as a pass inside Marcelo finds Gelson down the right flank. The Madrid full-back goes down injured with no-one around him when looking to cut it out, but Gelson's low pass into the box is cut out and the ball is then put out for a throw so Marcelo can receive treatment.

Well, that did not look good at all for Marcelo, but now he is back on his feet and even jogging on the touchline. It looked certain that his game would be over when he went down, but he may be able to continue after all here.

Marcelo doesn't look like he is feeling any ill effects from that injury, which makes the way he went down even stranger. The Brazilian is on a yellow card and Fabio Coentrao is on the bench so there is no need to take a risk if Marcelo is any less than 100%.

CHANCE! Another good attacking platform goes begging for Sporting! William goes charging through the middle before the ball is worked out to Gelson, who pulls a low ball into the box. However, it is just a yard too far in front of Cesar and rolls through to safety.

UPDATE: There has been an eighth goal in Dortmund as the hosts take a 6-2 lead, while there have also been three quickfire goals in Monaco, with the hosts taking the lead against Tottenham before Kane levelled things up from the spot, only for Monaco to restore their lead straight after.

Sporting again threaten for an equaliser as Dost nods the ball down to Ruiz in the box and he controls it before going for a bicycle kick that Varane blocks. The pressure is still on for the hosts, but the referee awards Real a free kick for a high foot against Ruiz when he went for a bicycle kick. Ludicrous rule.

UPDATE: There has been a NINTH goal in the other Group F match this evening, with Legia pulling another goal back to make it 6-3 against Borussia Dortmund.

YELLOW CARD! Bryan Ruiz goes into the book for a blatant tug on Kovacic. You don't get many more clear-cut bookings than that.

REAL MADRID SUB: Bale has taken a couple of knocks in the last few minutes, and the Welshman will not be able to continue now. He limps off to be replaced by Marco Asensio.

Lovely footwork from Isco as he beats a defender before sliding a through-ball to Marcelo down the left channel. The full-back's cross is put behind for a corner, but that comes to nothing.

SPORTING SUB: The hosts makes their first change of the evening as Arsenal loanee Joel Campbell replaces Cesar.

What has happened here?! Out of absolutely nothing, William Collum shows Joao Pereira a red card! Sporting had just won a free kick on the right flank, but off the ball there is an altercation between Pereira and Kovacic. The linesman gets involved to try to separate the two, but Pereira then goes down as if punched in the stomach. The initial replay is inconclusive as to what exactly happened through!

REAL MADRID SUB: Change for the visitors here as Isco makes way to be replaced by Karim Benzema.

SPORTING SUB: Sporting make a change of their own, with Ruiz departing and being replaced by Ezequiel Schelotto.

Sporting were very much still in this game before that red card, but it has made things so much more difficult for the hosts now. Real, meanwhile, will feel as though there are more goals in this for them now.

REAL MADRID SUB: A third and final change for Real Madrid as Marcelo is replaced by Fabio Coentrao, who greeted with a hostile reception due to his Benfica connection.

SHOT! Shooting chance for the hosts as a loose ball drops to William around 25 yards from goal, but he blazes it a long, long way over the top.

Just 15 minutes remain in this match now, and while the deficit remains at one Sporting will feel that they still have a chance. In fairness to the hosts, they have not really been affected by that red card.

SPORTING SUB: Sporting make their final change of the evening as Dost is replaced by Andre Felipe.

Now then! It is game on in Lisbon as Sporting level things up! It is a bizarre penalty as Coentrao looks to be appealing for a handball against Campbell, but then sees the ball catch his arm after a flick from Campbell in the box. Rather than getting a free kick, he instead gives a spot kick away and Silva puts it straight down the middle.

UPDATE: Meanwhile, there have been two more goals in Dortmund! It is 7-4 to Dortmund against Legia now - madness!

SAVE! Sporting are going in search of the second goal they need to remain in contention for the knockout rounds here! A ball from Schelotto goes all the way through without a touch, but Campbell picks it up on the left flank, cuts inside and then scuffs a tame finish into the arms of the keeper.

CHANCE! Chance for Madrid to regain their lead as Lucas Vazquez collects a corner at the back post, but then horribly slices his half-volley wide of the near post.

That is surely the final nail in Sporting's coffin! Madrid regain the lead as Benzema glances a really good header past Rui Patricio. Sergio Ramos delivered the ball, and Benzema timed his run to perfection and made no mistake with his finish.

YELLOW CARD! Campbell goes into the book for a sliding challenge on Carvajal.

There will be five minutes of added time at the end of this match.

Real Madrid book their place in the last 16 of the Champions League, then, but once again they didn't have things all their own way against Sporting. The visitors needed a late goal from Benzema to get all three points after Adrien Silva had cancelled out Raphael Varane's opener, while Sporting also ended the game with 10 men. The Portuguese outfit can no longer reach the knockout rounds, and their attention must turn to the Europa League.

That is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as Real Madrid book their place in the last 16 of the Champions League courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!