Sporting Lisbon will need a result when they welcome already-eliminated Bologna to the Estadio Jose Alvalade in the Champions League on Wednesday.
After a superb start, Sporting's European campaign has derailed following the departure of Ruben Amorim, and that continued last midweek, with the hosts now in danger of slipping out of the top 24.
Match preview
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At the end of matchday four, Sporting sat in a tie for second place in the 36-team standings, after taking 10 points from a possible 12.
Fast forward just three matches later, and the Portuguese champions are now fighting just to make the playoffs, after falling to defeat in those three.
The third of those came last Wednesday, when an RB Leipzig side who still did not have a single point on the board beat them 2-1 in Eastern Germany.
A humbling 5-1 home loss to Arsenal, and a defeat at Club Brugge towards the end of 2024 did them little favours either, but losing in Rui Borges's first continental game last week could be very costly.
Sporting start the week in 23rd, with Stuttgart, Manchester City, Dinamo Zagreb and Shakhtar Donetsk all capable of overtaking them on Wednesday.
A draw should be enough, as that would wipe both Dinamo and Shakhtar out of the running to go above them, while Stuttgart and Man City both play sides who would drop below Sporting if they lose, but for peace of mind, Borges and his player will want all three points.
With 13 wins in 15 home games this season, a favourable outcome for the hosts is likely, and morale will be higher after a 2-0 win over Nacional moved them six points clear in the Primeira Liga at the weekend, with Benfica and Porto dropping more points.
Bologna have the upper hand in this particular matchup though, winning 4-1 on aggregate in their only previous meeting back in the 1998-99 UEFA Cup, winning 2-0 at the old Jose Alvalade.
After beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 last midweek, Bologna also have the opportunity to win back-to-back games in Europe for the first time since that season in the UEFA Cup at the end of the last century.
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It will all be for pride though, as Vincenzo Italiano saw his side eliminated following Wednesday's results, despite their famous win on Tuesday, having taken just five points from their opening seven games.
Bologna will look back to a matchday one draw with Shakhtar Donetsk as a big disappointment, considering they dominated proceedings and missed a penalty, as well as home defeats to both Monaco and Lille.
Italiano's side can now only be a spoiler to Sporting's hopes of reaching the playoffs, but they are winless on the road in this competition, taking just one point from their three away games so far.
The visitors have already frustrated a Portuguese club on the road in the competition this season though, as that solitary away point came against Benfica in a 0-0 draw on matchday six.
A draw is all the Rossoblu could manage away from home at the weekend too, being held 1-1 by Empoli in Tuscany, but that has moved them slightly closer to Lazio in the top four, and they remain unbeaten in 2025, after also drawing away to Inter Milan, and at home to in-form Roma.
Team News
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Sporting's top scorer Viktor Gyokeres was bizarrely left on the bench in Leipzig last midweek, before coming on and scoring despite still falling to defeat, so Borges is unlikely to make that mistake again.
Another of their key players is set to miss out though, with Pedro Goncalves still recovering from a muscle issue, joining Jerry St Juste, Eduardo Quaresma and Nuno Santos on the sidelines.
The solitary January signing Sporting have made will not be eligible, as Rui Silva is not registered to play in Europe, so Franco Israel is set to deputise in this one.
After claiming two assists in two Serie A matches, Bologna left-back Charalampos Lykogiannis is a doubt for this one after he was forced off in the latter stages of their draw at Empoli over the weekend.
Italian international Riccardo Orsolini will also miss out after a hamstring pull saw him withdrawn in the first half of their win over Dortmund last Tuesday.
Remo Freuler's yellow card in that win means he is suspended, while fellow Swiss midfielder Michel Aebischer is doubtful with a hamstring injury of his own here.
Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Israel; Fresneda, Diomande, Goncalo Inacio, Quenda; Catamo, Morita, Hjulmand, Araujo; Trincao, Gyokeres
Bologna possible starting lineup:
Skorupski; Holm, Beukema, Lucumi, Juan Miranda; Odgaard, Pobega; Castro, Ferguson, Ndoye; Dallinga
We say: Sporting Lisbon 2-0 Bologna
Only one of Sporting's last 24 Champions League home games has ended level, and that was over seven years ago, but they are very hot and cold, with 12 wins and 11 defeats.
Against a Bologna side playing just for pride though, the home team should fancy their chances of getting the point they need to advance, even though the Rossoblu stunned Dortmund last week.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
