Should Sporting make it past Metalist Kharkiv to reach the last four of the Europa League on Thursday evening, it will be the latest notable achievement in a remarkable run of recent success for Portuguese teams in Europe.
Last season the Liga ZON Sagres produced three of the four Europa League semi-finalists and an all-Portuguese final. The ability of Portugal’s top teams to compete with clubs that benefit from vastly superior resources has been so consistent that it is almost taken for granted nowadays.
As FC Porto, Braga and Benfica fell to Manchester City, Besiktas and Chelsea respectively, the feeling on each occasion, was that with a little more luck the Portuguese team could have prevailed against their incomparably wealthier opponents.
This ability to punch above their weight is borne out in the UEFA coefficients country ranking table, where Portugal now occupies fifth position, behind only England, Spain, Germany and Italy. If Portuguese clubs continue to prosper in the coming seasons, it is not inconceivable that the nation could overtake Italy.
Progress for Sporting would be another step in the right direction towards that goal.
Following Lisbon neighbours Benfica’s heroic but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League last night, Sporting are Portugal’s sole representatives left in European competition this season.
The Lions defend a precarious 2-1 lead from the first leg in Ukraine against Metalist Kharkiv. It could have been a lot more comfortable for the Portuguese side. Metalist scored their precious away goal in stoppage time to change the complexion of the tie. In fairness, only several superb saves from Sporting and Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patrício had kept out the visitors until that point.
Patrício, who is increasingly attracting attention from clubs in more high-profile leagues, will probably have to be at his best if Sporting are to advance, especially given the fact that key defensive midfielder Daniel Carriço misses the game through suspension.
But as recent history has shown, when it comes to Europe, Portuguese teams thrive on adversity.
As FC Porto, Braga and Benfica fell to Manchester City, Besiktas and Chelsea respectively, the feeling on each occasion, was that with a little more luck the Portuguese team could have prevailed against their incomparably wealthier opponents.
This ability to punch above their weight is borne out in the UEFA coefficients country ranking table, where Portugal now occupies fifth position, behind only England, Spain, Germany and Italy. If Portuguese clubs continue to prosper in the coming seasons, it is not inconceivable that the nation could overtake Italy.
Progress for Sporting would be another step in the right direction towards that goal.
Following Lisbon neighbours Benfica’s heroic but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League last night, Sporting are Portugal’s sole representatives left in European competition this season.
The Lions defend a precarious 2-1 lead from the first leg in Ukraine against Metalist Kharkiv. It could have been a lot more comfortable for the Portuguese side. Metalist scored their precious away goal in stoppage time to change the complexion of the tie. In fairness, only several superb saves from Sporting and Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patrício had kept out the visitors until that point.
Patrício, who is increasingly attracting attention from clubs in more high-profile leagues, will probably have to be at his best if Sporting are to advance, especially given the fact that key defensive midfielder Daniel Carriço misses the game through suspension.
But as recent history has shown, when it comes to Europe, Portuguese teams thrive on adversity.
