Guide to Champions League 2007/08! Sporting Lisbon

SPORTING LISBON
Portuguese League runners-up
Champions League pedigree - Group stage: 1997/98, 2006/07

THE LOWDOWN:
Not surprisingly for a club boasting one of the best academies in Europe, Sporting had the youngest squad in the Champions League last season. Unfortunately, their fresh-faced exuberance was no match for the more worldly-wise Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and Moscow Spartak.

A single win - albeit an impressive triumph at home to Inter - was all they could muster and they could have no complaints about finishing last in their group.

Every Lions fan was desperately sad to see goalkeeping hero Ricardo and brilliant young winger Nani lured away by Real Betis and Manchester United respectively and even though new faces have flooded in, the consensus of opinion was that it was a case of quantity rather than quality through the in door.

THE TECHNICAL AREA:
The youngest coach in the Portuguese League, 38-year-old Paulo Bento took over from Jose Peseiro midway through the 2005/06 season. Critics pointed to the fact that the former Portuguese international defensive midfielder had never led a pro club before, but Bento immediately proved to be made of the right managerial stuff. He demonstrated a sound grasp of tactical matters and natural leadership qualities as he steered the Lions to the runners-up spot in the domestic league.

Often likened to Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho because of his bold choices, Bento's Sporting play a 4-4-2 system, characterised by its compactness, midfield diamond and neat passing triangles. Inevitably for someone who was once the club's youth team coach, he never hesitates to give a first team chance to rookies.

THE WOW FACTOR:
The midfield quarter, especially Miguel Veloso and Joao Moutinho, offer real invention for Sporting. The former is a highly intelligent defensive midfielder of no little tactical acumen and athletic ability, while Moutinho is a junior version of Barcelona's Deco, dynamic with exceptional distribution skills.

Main striker, the Brazilian Liedson is one of football's born predators, always on the look out for a chance and lightning-fast in his reactions in the box. 'Liedshow' has been the top scorer in the Portuguese League for the past three seasons and will be desperate to prove himself on a bigger stage.

Then throw into the mix Brazilian central defender Anderson Polga. He may lack a little pace, but more than makes up for it with an astute football brain, good positioning and physical durability.

THE BIG BUY: Russian midfielder Marat Izmailov is only on loan for the season from Lokomotiv Moscow, but no doubt he will be pulling out all the stops to make western Europe sit up and take notice of his talents.

The 25-year-old nominally lines up on the left-side, but Izmailov is even more productive if allowed to take his flair and creativity all over the pitch. He was just 18 when first called up to the full Russian side in 2001, only five months after making his bow as a professional for Lokomotiv.

Also coming into the Sporting squad are Slovak left-back Marian Had (Ex-Lokomotiv Moscow), Serb keeper Vladimir Stojkovic (Nantes), Brazilian defenders Gladstone (Cruzeiro) and Pedro Silva (Corinthians) and Montenegrin midfielder Simon Vukcevic from Russian side Saturn. Time will tell whether the new-faces have the quality to excel at Champions League level.

THE TENDER SPOT:
New keeper Vladimir Stojkovic is no Ricardo. The Serb moved from Red Star Belgrade to French club Nantes a year ago, only to be dropped within weeks.

The Brazilian frontrunner Derlei has lost his way since starring in the FC Porto side which won back to back UEFA Cup and Champions League in 2003 and 2004, so Yannick may be a better bet.

Argentine playmaker Leandro Romagnoli, who has earned praise from a certain Diego Maradona, has an abundance of gifts, but can be infuriatingly inconsistent.

HOT GOSSIP:
Watch out for the latest class act off the Sporting production line: young French-born midfielder Adrien Silva is tipped to make a splash as a super-sub in the Champions League and he could be the next sporting player to attract the attentions of Europe's elite clubs.

IDEAL LINE UP:
Stojkovic, Ronny, Gladstone, Anderson Polga, Abel, Miguel Veloso, Joao Moutinho, Izmailov, Romagnoli, Liedson, Derlei

THE VERDICT:
Coach Bento will tell anyone who listens that the loss of Ricardo and Nani is a blow his side can overcome, but few believe him. The Lions will not be roaring in December.