Sporting begins its Champions League campaign tonight with the home match against Galatasaray, the Turkish four-time champions, at the Estádio de Alvalade. This first matchday of the league phase marks Rafael Leão's return to his former club, where he made a name for himself before moving to AC Milan and later to Chelsea.
The Lisbon side is led by Rui Borges and arrives at this match in excellent form, with four consecutive victories in the season. In the Portuguese Primeira Liga standings, Sporting occupies second place, just two points behind FC Porto.
FC Porto, which on Tuesday made its Champions League debut with a home defeat against English champions Manchester City 2-0, is currently ahead of the Lions in the Portuguese league table. Today's match represents an opportunity for Sporting to earn their first points in the European competition.
