UEFA Europa League: uncovering Sporting Clube de Portugal

Matchday 2 of Group D will see Atalanta off to Lisbon to play Sporting Clube de Portugal at the José Alvalade stadium for their first UEFA Europa League outing of the 2023/24 season, scheduled for Thursday the 5th of October and to kick-off at 17:45 GMT+1 (18:45 CEST in Italy).

The team is coached by Portuguese trainer Rúben Amorim, at the helm of the Club since January 2020. After 6 Primeira Liga matches (the season started on 12/8), the team has accrued 16 points on the grounds of 5 wins and 1 draw, sharing the championship lead with Porto. After defeating Rio Ave 2-0 at home last Monday, the next league fixture before the European matchup at the José Alvalade stadium will see Sporting CP play Farense away on Saturday, the 30th of September, at 21:30 CEST.

History: On the grounds of being the third most decorated Portuguese club, the Lisbon-based team can flaunt an enviable heritage: 19 league titles, 17 Taças de Portugal (National Cups), 4 League Cups, 9 national Supercups and the 1964/64 Cup Winners’ Cup. The Leões closed last season with a final 4th place in the domestic standings and with UEFA Europa League quarterfinals after the third place reached in the UEFA Champions League Group Stage.

Previous encounter(s): The upcoming match will mark the third 1st-and-2nd-leg encounter between the teams, with the previous ones both happening in the Cup Winners’ Cup. The former dates to the 63/64 season, coinciding with Atalanta’s first-ever European appearance: while the Nerazzurri won 2-0 in Bergamo in the 1st leg courtesy of Calvanese and Domenghini, they suffered a 3-1 defeat in Portugal (with Christensen featuring on the scoresheet for Atalanta). In the tie-breaker played in Barcelona, Atalanta came off worst with another 3-1 loss –with Nova scoring. The latter dates back to the quarterfinals of the 87/88 season when Atalanta punched their way to the semis after a 2-0 win in Bergamo (courtesy of Nicoli from the penalty spot and Cantarutti) and the 1-1 draw in Lisbon (with Cantarutti featuring again the scoresheet).