Champions League Matchday 4 Preview: Sporting v. Шахтар Донецьк

By: Greg | November 4th, 2008

2008/09 Champions League Group C, Matchday 4
Sporting v. Шахтар Донецьк
November 4, 2008 @ 2:45 PM Eastern
José Alvalade, Lisboa, Portugal
TV: Delayed (5:45 PM Eastern) on Setanta Sports Canada and (7:30 PM Eastern) Setanta Sports USA.

Preview
Sporting have been playing so wildly inconsistent lately that they’ve driven me up the wall. Bento’s somewhat wacky tactics haven’t done much to help either. However, we’re off a narrow win this weekend against Rio Ave (big whoop) and hopefully (finally) we can get the good ship Sporty-pop back on track. A home win will be a massive three points and make the dream of reaching the knockout stages for the first time seem all the more tangible.

Possible Sporting Starting XI

Liedson – Hélder Postiga
Romagnoli – João Moutinho – Izmailov
Miguel Veloso
Grimi – Polga – Caneira – Abel
Rui Patrício

Tonel is out with an injury, so Marco Caneira should slide into his spot. I know I’m going to curse the TV later on tonight when I see Rochemback and Veloso on the field together and either both or one out of Postiga and Romagnoli on the bench. Yannick is way out of form right now and this match is way too large for him to go out there and do his usual cowering under the bright lights of European competition. All this probably means that Bento will start him in goal and have Veloso playing up front with Rochemback. Who the hell knows what this guy is going to throw out there at this point?

Key Player
Izmailov, Midfielder – He’s been bringing the wood of late and has to continue his usual high intensity play in order to cause havoc down the sides for Shaq D. Our best defense in the past has been an overwhelming, fast, short pass-based offense. He has the ability to be the main cog in getting us to the final (attacking) level of the field.

Tactics
See last sentence above re: Izmailov.

Prediction
Reverse jinx worked last time, so let’s do it again! Sporting 0 – 2 Shaq D

Viva O Sporting!!!