Champions League Matchday 3 Preview: Шахтар Донецьк v. Sporting
By: Greg | October 22nd, 2008
2008/09 Champions League Group C, Matchday 3
Шахтар Донецьк v. Sporting
October 22nd, 2008 @ 2:45 PM Eastern
RSC Olympiyskiy Stadium, Донецьк, Україна
TV: Live on Sky Sports Interactive. Delayed (6 PM Eastern) on Setanta Sports Canada and (8 PM Eastern) Setanta Sports USA.
Preview
In what will probably shape up to be a battle for second place in the group, Sporting head to the Ukraine to face off with Shakhtar Donetsk. Sporting earned a full three points last year in the Ukraine against Dynamo Kyiv so the environment won’t be necessarily an overwhelming one for them. It’s also going to be a relatively mild kickoff temperature (6 deg. C / 43ish F predicted) so their surroundings and the weather shouldn’t provide the Lions with any excuses. Unfortunately for us, Paulo Bento’s gotten way too good at giving excuses for the team’s recent run of shit performances (Beating Leiria 1-0 in the Cup tournament may have been a dominating display, but it’s Leiria and it’s like the bazillionth round of the Cup tourney, so it doesn’t count in my book).
Possible Sporting Starting XI
Liedson РH̩lder Postiga
Romagnoli РJọo Moutinho РIzmailov
Miguel Veloso
Grimi – Polga – Tonel – Abel
Rui PatrÃcio
Yannick has been virtually useless in European competitions so he’ll probably have his ass planted firmly on the bench at the beginning of this one. I hope Paulie B. doesn’t go back to having both Rochemback and Veloso on the field at the same time as two holding midfielders on the pitch simultaneously does bunk for this group. Izmailov is the much better choice over Rochemback here, in my correct opinion, since “Iz My Love” is fantastic box to box and Rochemback just plain sucks of late.
Key Player
The Forward Line, Attack – They wasted no fewer than 137 chances against Leiria in the Cup tie, and that was against a team that probably couldn’t put one past my U-6 recreational squad that I coach. If they have paltry finishing again here, expect a 2-0 loss because you know the Ukranians are going to put at least one, if not two set pieces past a flailing Patricio and a confused looking defense.
Tactics
Score. Defend set pieces effectively. Repeat. Take home three points.
Prediction
Reverse jinx time! Shaq D 2 – 0 Sporting
Viva O Sporting!!!
Category: Sporting Team News
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