Transalpine curse? Sporting still searching for joy in Italy | OneFootball

Sporting once again suffered a defeat in Italy, this time at the hands of Napoli, by 2-0, on Wednesday, October 1st. The match, part of the European competitions, reinforced a grim statistic for the lions: in 19 trips to Italian soil, they have yet to win, now accumulating 14 losses and only five draws. A history that has persisted for over six decades.

The first of these visits dates back to 1963/64, against Atalanta, in the now-defunct Cup Winners' Cup, with a 2-0 defeat marking the beginning of an unfortunate journey in Italian territory. Four years later, the lions would play again in Italy, this time against Fiorentina, in the former Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Interestingly, that clash ended in a draw, which remains one of the most positive results for the Alvalade Club on transalpine soil.

Despite the historical superiority of Italian opponents, Sporting managed over the years to secure five draws: twice against Fiorentina, and also against Atalanta, Bologna, and Napoli. These results, although scarce, contrast with the high number of defeats, revealing the persistent difficulty of the green and whites on transalpine soil.

With the defeat against Napoli, another chapter is added to a narrative marked by disappointments away from home. The negative record of Sporting in Italy mirrors the solidity and experience of Italian teams in European contexts, especially at home. The lions' inability to counter this trend remains a historical challenge yet to be overcome.

The green and white emblem will return to the field only next Sunday, October 5th, against Braga. The match, part of the eighth round of Liga Portugal Betclic, against the team led by Carlos Vicens, will be played at the Estádio de Alvalade, at 19:15.

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