THE ‘storm’ is rumbling, but Sporting has no alternative but to look away and focus exclusively on Shakhtar Donetsk, the opponent they will face, late this Tuesday afternoon, in a match counting for the fourth round of the Champions League league phase.
The last few days have been marked by profound changes, with the dismissal of Rui Borges (who could not resist a start to the 2026/27 sports season below expectations) and the hiring of Paulo Fonseca (who left Olympique Lyon). In the middle, there was… Tiago Fernandes, the man responsible for holding, once again, the ‘boat’.
It will be the coach of team B guiding the ‘big boys’, at Stamford Bridge, in a scenario very similar to the one he went through, in 2018, when he led the lions towards a (surprising) goalless draw, at the Emirates Stadium, against Arsenal, between the departure of José Peseiro and the arrival of Marcel Keizer.
Now, the objective is to go further, and, preferably, ‘rescue’ the victory, at a time when the green and white emblem lives in 12th place in the table, with the same six points as Barcelona, ​​Como, Manchester City, Club Brugge and Borussia Dortmund, and continues to focus on qualifying for the next phase.
Ahead, they will have a team that, despite the constraints caused by Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, continues to do well in what is the biggest club competition in European football, in such a way that it is also in the qualifying zone.
At the moment, they are 17th, with four points, as many as AS Roma, Atlético de Madrid and PSV. This, after a season in which they reached the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League, where they ‘fell’ against Crystal Palace, who would go on to become champions, with a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano.
Shakhtar Donetsk-Sporting’s kick-off is scheduled for 5:45 pm (Mainland Portugal time), and will be officiated by Ivan Kruzliak, a Slovak referee who will have Branislav Hancko and Jan Pozor as assistants, Peter Kralovic as fourth referee, Marco di Bello as VAR and Daniele Chiffi as AVAR.
Coaches in direct speech
Arda Turan
Respect for Sporting: “Firstly, we have to respect Tiago Fernandes. I convey all my respect to the technical team who will take the field tomorrow (Tuesday). It is not an easy task.”
Approach to the game: “If we want to play in my preferred attacking style, we have to be present in every detail of the game and be ready to help each other. We like to play together, we like to play cooperatively and we won’t give up on that.”
Be careful with transitions: “They are excellent. When they meet Suárez or when Irankunda and their wingers launch counterattacks, they are really effective. They use their full-backs both inside and outside the wings. Teams like this can play all styles of football in the Champions League.”
Tiago Fernandes
Limited time to prepare the game: “The most important thing is for the players to feel comfortable, whether in terms of the system or idea. The technical team that remained gave a very important help, they gave me excellent information. We have to play with confidence and freedom. I believe the players want to play a good game and score nine points.”
Young people ‘knock on the door’: “Sporting has a squad full of quality players. Tomorrow there could be one or another player who could join. Sporting has a lot of talent in the academy, but what I feel is that they are prepared. They could arrive here at any moment. Here the demand is much greater, the funnel tightens a little. Tomorrow we could have one or another player, which is normal at this club, which is to launch young players.”
Conversation with Rui Borges: “We spoke as normal, as a colleague that I am. He thanked me for helping me and I did the same. He is a person who is grateful to Sporting. I have a good relationship with him. Nothing big.”
Latest results
Shakhtar Donetsk: VDEVV
Sporting: VDDVV
Last eleven
Shakhtar Donetsk: Dmytro Riznyk; Oleksandr Karavaev, Alaa Ghram, Valeriy Bondar, Irakli Azarovi; Dmytro Kryskiv, Isaque Silva, Oleg Ocheretko; Bruninho, Newerton and Lassina Traoré.
Sporting: Kaique Pereira; Iván Fresneda, Gonçalo Inácio, Eduardo Quaresma, Maxi Araújo; Sergi Altimira, Silas Andersen, Pedro Lima; LuÃs Guilherme, Nestory Irankunda and Luis Suárez.
Absences
Shakhtar Donetsk: Eguinaldo and Pedrinho (injured)
Sporting: Zeno Debast and Nuno Santos (injured).
