In the round of 32 of the Europa League, Manchester City pitilessly extinguished FC Porto’s defence of the title, while at the same time Sporting Clube de Portugal laboured to a distinctly unimpressive 3-2 aggregate victory over the might of Legia Warsaw.
Therefore, in the next round, ahead of the latest Anglo-Portuguese clash, with City sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League, and the Lisbon club languishing in fifth place in the Liga ZON Sagres, even the most ardent of Sporting fans made their way to the Estádio José Alvalade for the first leg last week more in trepidation than in hope.
What followed exemplified why this great game never ceases to lose its incredible allure for supporters the world over. The Lions produced a performance full of passion, enterprise and intelligence to earn a deserved 1-0 victory over the extravagantly assembled City.
But a close look at the history books suggests perhaps we should not have been so surprised. When it comes to European competition, Sporting have enjoyed themselves against the English more than against any other of the major football nations.
Out of the nine occasions the Lisbon club have faced English opposition in knockout situations, they have made progress to the next round seven times. The Green and Whites have knocked out their last six English opponents in a run going back nigh on forty years.
And the greatest European night in the club’s history was precisely against an English team from Manchester. Against a team far more daunting than the nouveau riche City.
In March 1964 Sporting welcomed Matt Busby’s great Manchester United team containing the likes of Best, Charlton and Law to the Alvalade in the Cup Winners Cup, having been trounced 4-1 in the first leg at Old Trafford, thanks to a Dennis Law hat-trick and a Bobby Charlton goal.
Incredibly, the Portuguese team turned around the tie, winning 5-0. All five goals were scored by the 54th minute, with Osvaldo the hero, netting a hat-trick. Injected with belief from the astonishing comeback, Sporting would go on to lift what remains their only European trophy to date that season.
Sporting have fallen on barren times in recent years, but a club with such a rich history and golden memories will surely be back. Completing an aggregate win over Roberto Mancini’s side tonight may help that happen sooner rather than later.
Sporting’s European record against English sides in knockout ties:
Manchester United (Cup Winners Cup, 1963/64), 6-4 aggregate win
Newcastle (Uefa Cup, 1968/69), 2-1 aggregate defeat
Arsenal (Uefa Cup, 1969/70), 3-0 aggregate defeat
Sunderland (Cup Winner Cup, 1973/74), 3-2 aggregate win
Southampton (Uefa Cup, 1981/82), 4-2 aggregate win
Middlesbrough (Uefa, 2004/05), 4-2 aggregate win
Newcastle (Uefa Cup, 2004/05), 4-2 aggregate win
Bolton (Uefa Cup, 2007/08), 2-1 aggregate win
Everton (Europa League, 2009/10) 4-2 aggregate win
Manchester City (Europa League, 2011/12) ???
What followed exemplified why this great game never ceases to lose its incredible allure for supporters the world over. The Lions produced a performance full of passion, enterprise and intelligence to earn a deserved 1-0 victory over the extravagantly assembled City.
But a close look at the history books suggests perhaps we should not have been so surprised. When it comes to European competition, Sporting have enjoyed themselves against the English more than against any other of the major football nations.
Out of the nine occasions the Lisbon club have faced English opposition in knockout situations, they have made progress to the next round seven times. The Green and Whites have knocked out their last six English opponents in a run going back nigh on forty years.
And the greatest European night in the club’s history was precisely against an English team from Manchester. Against a team far more daunting than the nouveau riche City.
In March 1964 Sporting welcomed Matt Busby’s great Manchester United team containing the likes of Best, Charlton and Law to the Alvalade in the Cup Winners Cup, having been trounced 4-1 in the first leg at Old Trafford, thanks to a Dennis Law hat-trick and a Bobby Charlton goal.
Incredibly, the Portuguese team turned around the tie, winning 5-0. All five goals were scored by the 54th minute, with Osvaldo the hero, netting a hat-trick. Injected with belief from the astonishing comeback, Sporting would go on to lift what remains their only European trophy to date that season.
Sporting have fallen on barren times in recent years, but a club with such a rich history and golden memories will surely be back. Completing an aggregate win over Roberto Mancini’s side tonight may help that happen sooner rather than later.
Sporting’s European record against English sides in knockout ties:
Manchester United (Cup Winners Cup, 1963/64), 6-4 aggregate win
Newcastle (Uefa Cup, 1968/69), 2-1 aggregate defeat
Arsenal (Uefa Cup, 1969/70), 3-0 aggregate defeat
Sunderland (Cup Winner Cup, 1973/74), 3-2 aggregate win
Southampton (Uefa Cup, 1981/82), 4-2 aggregate win
Middlesbrough (Uefa, 2004/05), 4-2 aggregate win
Newcastle (Uefa Cup, 2004/05), 4-2 aggregate win
Bolton (Uefa Cup, 2007/08), 2-1 aggregate win
Everton (Europa League, 2009/10) 4-2 aggregate win
Manchester City (Europa League, 2011/12) ???
