This Tuesday, January 20th, Paris Saint-Germain (3rd) faces Sporting Lisbon (14th) at the Estádio José Alvalade (kick-off at 9 pm, CET) for Matchday 7 of the 2025-2026 Champions League. And as before every match, here is a preview of PSG’s opponent.
Sporting Lisbon’s current situation –
Founded in 1906, Sporting Lisbon is one of the country’s biggest clubs, in fierce competition with FC Porto and Benfica. The 2000s were largely dominated by these two clubs for a time, but this hasn’t prevented Sporting from boasting an impressive record: 21 Portuguese league titles, 18 Portuguese Cups, 4 League Cups, 9 Portuguese Super Cups, and 1 European Cup Winners’ Cup (1964). The Lions have also managed to return to the forefront of the national scene in recent years: winning the league titles in 2021, 2024, and 2025, as well as the 2024 World Cup in Portugal.
This came after a very active summer transfer window in 2023 following a disappointing season. Since then, they have maintained a certain consistency at the top of the table, despite some significant departures. Sporting is currently 2nd in the Portuguese league and 14th in the Champions League.
Summer transfer window 2025 –
Source: Transfermarkt.
Departures:
Arrivals:
The 2025-2026 winter transfer window –
Source: Transfermarkt
Departures:
None.
Arrivals:
Key statistics –
This season, Sporting Lisbon has one of the 12 best attacks in the Champions League with 12 goals scored (the leaders, PSG and Dortmund, have 19, and the last, Ajax Amsterdam, has 1), and one of the 9 best defenses with 8 goals conceded (Arsenal has the best defense with 1 goal conceded, the last, Ajax Amsterdam, has 18).
Sporting’s top scorer is Trincão (29 years old), with 3 goals, placing him among the 13th best in the Champions League (the leader is Kylian Mbappé with 9 goals). Geovany Quenda (27 years old left-back) is the Portuguese club’s top assist provider with 2 assists and is among the 9th best in the Champions League (the top assist provider is Aubameyang with 5 assists).
Sporting’s last 5 Champions League matches –
Only Portuguese possession is shown, and Sporting’s shots are listed first (when data is available).
October 1, 2025 (Serie A) – Napoli/Sporting Portugal: 2-1. Playing a 4-2-3-1 formation. 48% possession. 8 shots, 4 on target, compared to 12 shots (3 on target).
October 22, 2025 (Champions League) – Sporting Portugal/OM (playing with 10 men at 45+2, 0-1): 2-1. Playing a 4-2-3-1 formation. 51% possession. 14 shots, 6 on target, compared to 8 shots (3 on target).
November 4, 2025 (Serie A) – Juventus/Sporting Portugal: 1-1. Playing a 4-2-3-1 formation. 55% possession. 5 shots including 2 on target against 19 shots (10 on target).
11/26/2025 (Serie A) – Sporting Portugal/Club Bruges: 3-0. In 4-2-3-1. 46% possession. 18 shots including 9 on target versus 6 shots (1 on target).
09/12/2025 (Serie A) – Bayern Munich/Sporting Portugal: 3-1. In 4-2-3-1. 45% possession. 4 shots including 2 on target against 25 shots (10 on target). To update
The likely lineup in 4-2-3-1.
Suarez
M. Araujo – Trincao – Catamo
Simoes – Morita
Mangas – Inacio – Reis – Fresneda
Rui Silva
Unavailable : Hjulmand (suspension), Blopa, Diomande, Quaresma, Gonçalves, Quenda, Nuno Santos et Ioannidis (injury).
Sporting’s style of play.
Sporting always displays a certain attacking intent, with a philosophy that doesn’t particularly change depending on the opponent. We saw this desire to play attacking football against Bayern Munich, with mixed results.
There’s potential, particularly in attack, within this dynamic team. We’ll need to be wary of their very quick transitions after an aggressive defense, which also has some weaknesses. We can expect a very fast-paced match; PSG will need to be fully focused.
