Sporting Lisbon enter their clash with Sturm Graz in the Europa League on Thursday safe in the knowledge of their progression from the group, but only in second place below Atalanta BC.

It is Sturm who still have it all to play for, as they are battling with Rakow Czestochowa for a spot in the Europa Conference League.

Match preview

The Primeira Liga leaders have nothing to play for here, even though they are only three points behind Atalanta heading into the final matchday.

A draw in Bergamo on matchday five means Sporting cannot leapfrog La Dea, as their defeat in Lisbon against the same opponents means they trail on head-to-head.

However, Sturm's defeat at home to Rakow on the same evening sealed their place in the knockouts of the Europa League, but they will have to go through the preliminary round.

It could have been so much different though as Sporting had opportunities in the second half after equalising through Marcus Edwards, most notably with Pedro Goncalves, who was mightily unlucky to hit the inside of both posts with a late effort.

After dropping into the competition from the Champions League themselves last season, Sporting will now be one of the sides who will face a third-placed team from that competition for a spot in the last 16 in February.

With nothing riding on this game for Ruben Amorim's side, they are expected to focus most attention on their huge encounter with Porto at the weekend.

In a wild weekend in the Portuguese top flight, the top four are now separated by two points after Sporting and Benfica dropped points.

Sporting were undone by the three Silvas in defeat to Vitoria Guimaraes, as Tiago Silva, Andre Silva and Daniel Silva all struck as Amorim's men were beaten 3-2.

Sturm will look to take inspiration from that performance, and from that of compatriots LASK Linz, who won 4-1 here in 2020.

After winning all six of their previous home encounters against Austrian opponents, that was a mighty shock at the time, but Sporting will take confidence from the fact their matchday one win over Sturm was their first ever on Austrian soil.

The odds are stacked against Sturm, even though they are the side with something resting on this fixture, as they have won just two of their last 15 away games in Europe.

A surprise 1-0 defeat at home to European debutants Rakow two weeks ago blew the race for third place wide open, and it will now go down to goal difference after matching results in their two encounters in the section.

Sturm's goal difference is currently one better, so all they must do to ensure a spot in the UECL is to match Rakow's result at home to Atalanta.

It was a late point against Atalanta which is currently proving crucial in Sturm's fight for third, doing so while with 10 men and heavily under the cosh.

This will also be the Austrian side's last match until February, so manager Christian Ilzer will hope his side can go out on a high before their lengthy winter break, with European football to look forward to in the new year.

Team News

Huge rotation is expected from Amorim to his Sporting team here, given the magnitude of the game they have at the weekend.

The influential Goncalves and top scorer Viktor Gyokeres are among those expected to be rested, as the manager could even be tempted to give a run out for some players from their 'B' side.

On the injury front, Ivan Fresneda is out with a shoulder injury, and Jeremiah St Juste is still recovering from an ankle injury picked up against Gil Vicente earlier this month.

Daniel Braganca is also sidelined for the hosts, with a return not expected until 2024 for the winger, who has a thigh injury.

Sturm meanwhile, will be going full strength for this one in their last game for two months, with a lot still riding on it for them.

The one injury concern is a big one, though, as defender Gregory Wuthrich is absent with a knee injury that will keep him out until the end of the winter break.

That will likely see Dimitri Lavalee drop back from midfield into defence again, but the toll that has on the midfield has been lightened by the recent return of Otar Kiteishvili, who made his first start since October at the weekend.

Seedy Jatta also made a welcome return to the side, scoring the only goal in their win over Altach following six games out with a muscular problem.

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Israel; Eduardo Quaresma, Luis Neto, Matheus Reis; Ricardo Esgaio, Essugo, Hjulmand, Nuno Santos; Geny Catamo, Paulinho, Trincao

Sturm Graz possible starting lineup:
Scherpen; Gazibegovic, Affengruber, Lavalee, Schnegg; Prass, Gorenc-Stankovic, Kiteishvili, Horvat; Sarkaria, Jatta

We say: Sporting Lisbon 0-1 Sturm Graz

As Sporting are unlikely to field the strongest team at Amorim's disposal, an array of changes could provide an opportunity for the visitors.

With Sturm motivated to get a result to extend their European season, they could exploit a potentially much-changed Sporting side who may have one eye on their upcoming clash with Porto instead.


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