Tactics
Rúben Filipe Marques Amorim has a clear idea of how he wants his Sporting side to play, employing a 3-4-3 formation almost exclusively. Only rarely has the 37-year-old head coach deviated from that during his reign in charge of the 19-time Portuguese champions. His side finished as runners-up to FC Porto in the league last season but scored an average of 2.15 goals per game domestically, and 1.75 in the Champions League.
Amorim did opt for a more defensive 5-4-1 line-up against Borussia Dortmund and Manchester City in the Champions League in 2021/22, albeit with mixed results: they beat Borussia 3-1 but lost 5-0 to City in the first leg of their round of 16 tie. In the return fixture against Pep Guardiola’s team he reverted to his tried and trusted system, earning a respectable 0-0 away draw.
Absentees
Sebastian Rode suffered a thigh strain in the home match against Leipzig on Saturday and will be out of action for the time being. Luca Pellegrini is also rated doubtful.
Daniel Bragança misses out for the visitors due to a cruciate ligament injury.
One to watch: Pedro Gonçalves
Diminutive, agile and a major threat in the final third: Pedro Gonçalves is a cornerstone of Sporting’s attacks. Five facts about the winger:
- often better known by the nickname Pote.
- finished as top scorer in the 2020/21 Primeira Liga season with 23 goals in his maiden campaign for the Green-and-Whites.
- registered 34 goals and 13 assists in 63 league outings for Sporting so far.
- has four goals and two assists in five Champions League appearances.
- honours include the Portuguese league title, two Portuguese cups and one Portuguese Supercup.
Head-to-head
This will be the first ever meeting between these teams in European competition.
Key battle: Daichi Kamada vs. Hidemasa Morita
Last season Daichi Kamada was directly involved in 13 goals across the Bundesliga and UEFA Europa League; this term the midfielder already has five goals and one assist. “Daichi’s doing a sensational job,” teammate Mario Götze told EintrachtTV. “He’s scoring goals, is always there, is very composed on the ball and is technically gifted. It’s great to have someone like him in the team.”
Out on the pitch Kamada is set to go up against a familiar face from the Japan national team: Hidemasa Morita. The 27-year-old, who has 16 caps for his country to date, moved to Europe from his homeland in summer 2021. He laced his boots for Portuguese side Santa Clara for two years before joining Sporting in the most recent transfer window. The two-time Japanese league winner has featured in all five league games so far.
