Sporting complicate matters, CL place is in... Benfica’s hands | OneFootball

Sporting see their dream of a third consecutive title slipping further away. The draw against AVS SAD was a heavy blow to the Lions’ ambitions, not only in the title race but also in the battle to qualify for the Champions League next season.

With 72 points, Rui Borges’ side no longer depend only on themselves to secure second place. Even if they win the postponed match against Tondela, they could draw level with Benfica on 75 points, but they are at a disadvantage in the head-to-head record (a draw at the Luz and a defeat at Alvalade).

The draw against the bottom-placed side, already relegated, not only hurt Sporting’s pride but also confirmed their worst spell of the season. Sporting have now gone four consecutive matches without a win: a draw with AVS, a goalless draw against Porto (which secured qualification for the Portuguese Cup final), a defeat to Benfica, and a draw with Arsenal, which sealed their elimination from the Champions League.

A negative run at a decisive stage of the season, leaving the Lions forced to look not only at their own performances but also at their rivals’ results. At this point, Sporting need Benfica to slip up to secure qualification for Europe’s richest competition.

The green-and-white side return to action next Wednesday, 29 April, against Tondela. The match, a postponed fixture from round 26 of the Liga Portugal Betclic, against Gonçalo Feio’s team, will kick off at 20:15 at the José Alvalade Stadium.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.