Sporting CP vs. Real Madrid: UCL Match Preview, Live Stream, TV Info, Team News
Real Madrid are unbeaten in 29 matches in all competitions but remain in a precarious position in their UEFA Champions League group in 2016-17.
Victory over Sporting CP in Tuesday's clash at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, though, will secure their passage through to the last 16 and give them the best possible chance of qualifying as Group E winners, with current standings leaders Borussia Dortmund to play in the final pool game.
In the reverse fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu back in September, Real needed late goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Alvaro Morata to claim a 2-1 victory, so they will not be complacent against Sporting, especially as the hosts will be fighting for their Champions League lives.
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Read on for a preview of Tuesday's key European clash, complete with full viewing details and a look at all the latest team news.
Date: Tuesday, November 22
Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT, 2:45 p.m. ET
TV Info: BT Sport Showcase (UK), FS2 (U.S.)
Live Stream: BT Sport player, Fox Soccer 2Go
| Team | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | For | Against | GD | Points |
| Borussia Dortmund | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 10 |
| Real Madrid | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 7 | 5 | 8 |
| Sporting | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 3 |
| Legia Warsaw | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 16 | -12 | 1 |
Team News
Per Marca, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Alvaro Morata all played no part in Saturday's 3-0 win for Real over Atletico Madrid, which saw them move four points clear at the top of La Liga.
Ramos was on the bench, though, having recovered from a recent knee injury, while Karim Benzema played 11 minutes against Atleti following a recent hip problem.
Sergio Gomez of AS reported ahead of the Madrid derby that Benzema, Casemiro and Pepe all had fitness tests before the derby, so the latter two could also come into contention if they have further recovered over the weekend.
Kroos will not be available having been mooted to be absent for two months following the metatarsal injury picked up earlier this month, per Goal's Nicholas McGee.
Morata, meanwhile, is expected to be absent until deep into December having been injured while on international duty with Spain, per Sport.
Predicted Sporting lineup: Beto; Douglas, Jefferson, Oliviera, Esgasio; Silva, Elias, Cesar, Ruiz; Castaignos, Andre.
Predicted Real Madrid lineup: Navas; Carvajal, Nacho, Varane, Marcelo; Kovacic, Modric, Isco; Vasquez, Ronaldo, Bale.
Preview
Despite their numerous key absentees, Real looked irresistible at times as they dispatched Atletico 3-0 at the Vicente Calderon.
Ronaldo netted all three goals in arguably his best performance of the season, while Isco was brilliant from midfield, per Squawka:
Sporting's last outing was a 5-1 win in the Taca de Portugal against minnows Praiense, with Brazilian striker Andre coming off the bench to net two late goals.
He could be the key attacking threat for Real's defence to deal with, and Bruno Cesar will also be a player to watch having netted Sporting's goal against Los Blancos in their meeting earlier in the season.
Ronaldo will be eager to impress on his return to the club where he started his senior career, and he could hardly be in better form.
If Zinedine Zidane's men match the level of performance they showed against Atletico, Sporting will likely have little chance of victory, as few clubs in the world could have dealt with Real on Saturday.
However, if the hosts can frustrate the defending champions on Tuesday and look to hit them on the break, they may just be able to keep their Champions League hopes alive going into the final round of matches.
