Champions League draw looming: Sporting set to learn possible opponents | OneFootball

After finishing the league phase in seventh place, the penultimate spot for direct access to the Champions League round of 16, Sporting avoided the play-off - a round in which they were eliminated last season by Borussia Dortmund - and were left with four possible opponents, now reduced to two: Real Madrid and Bodø/Glimt.

Benfica was initially part of this group, but the possibility of an unprecedented European knockout against their eternal rival was dashed with their elimination by Real Madrid, the record holder of titles (15), who won both legs (1-0 away and 2-1 at home).

On Tuesday, Bodø/Glimt surprised by eliminating Inter Milan, winners of three trophies and runners-up in two of the last three editions, triumphing with an aggregate score of 5-2, in their debut season in the main European club competition. Coming from the Arctic Circle and semifinalists of the Europa League in 2024/25, the Norwegians defeated the Serie A leaders twice (3-1 at home and 2-1 away) during the transitional phase of the season in their country.

Bodø/Glimt finished the main phase in 23rd position, the penultimate spot for play-off access, with the same nine points as Benfica, Olympique de Marseille, Pafos, and Union Saint-Gilloise, benefiting from goal difference, the first tiebreaker criterion.

The Scandinavians have never faced Sporting, but last season they defeated Porto and Braga in the Europa League league phase. Meanwhile, Real Madrid has four wins, one draw, and one loss against Sporting, who, in knockout rounds, were eliminated by the Spaniards in 1994/95, in the first round of what was then called the UEFA Cup. The Merengues finished the league phase in ninth place, with 15 points, one behind Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting, and Manchester City, all directly qualified for the round of 16.

The draw for the round of 16 and subsequent rounds will take place on Friday at 11:00 local time (12:00 in Lisbon), in Nyon, Switzerland, with Sporting assuming the status of a seeded team, due to their presence in the top 8 of the league phase.

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