Sporting Lisbon vs Lille OSC

Sporting Lisbon and Lille OSC are set to trade tackles at the start of their 2024/25 UEFA Champions League journey at Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Despite their form wobble on the continental front, Sporting Lisbon’s domestic record suggests they’re in pole position to uphold their 100% win ratio against Lille (W2). Ruben Amorim’s title-defending charges have enjoyed a stellar Primeira Liga start, winning all five league games by an aggregate score of 19-2 to go clear at the top of the standings. However, the ultimate goal is to transfer that form to Europe, where they’ve blown hot and cold lately. Sporting’s evenly-balanced record across their last eight Champions League home outings (W4, D4) indicates this clash could go either way. But they’ll draw heart from starting two of their three most recent tournament appearances with a win (L1) despite losing their last two matches against French opposition via multi-goal margins.

On the other hand, a 1-0 away defeat to Ligue 1 newcomers Saint-Etienne was an ideal warm-up for this trip as Lille bid to defy their disturbing record of ten defeats from their last 15 Champions League travels (W4, D1). Les Dogues have experienced mixed fortunes across their opening four league games this season (W2, L2), casting further doubt on their hopes of beating Portuguese opposition after five defeats in their last six meetings with Primeira Liga sides (D1). However, Lille did excel in their most recent Champions League campaign, claiming two wins on their three travels (L1) in 2021/22 en route to qualifying for the knockout stages.