Sporting CP vs Paris Saint-Germain Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
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Portuguese champions Sporting CP are pushing for the top eight as they welcome defending European champions Paris Saint-Germain to the Jose Alvalade in Lisbon.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+
Sporting CP preview: Struggling to keep up with Porto
Sporting CP have regressed a touch this season but not too much. Their strong campaign is being undermined by the relentlessness of Porto domestically, though, with Sporting seven points adrift of the unbeaten Dragons in Liga Portugal.
In the UEFA Champions League, Sporting have maintained their generally impressive campaign as they begin the penultimate round of fixtures of the league phase sitting just two points outside of the top eight and the automatic knockout places.
Paris Saint-Germain preview: Indifferent PSG
Last season, Paris Saint-Germain won a historic treble but, with reports suggesting that Luis Enrique will depart this summer, the Parisians are already aware they will not repeat that trick after losing to Paris FC in the Coupe de France a couple of weeks ago.
In Ligue 1, PSG have also been below their standards of the second-half of last season, sitting behind an impressive Lens side at the top-of-the-table in what is a genuine and legitimate, albeit rare, title race in France.
Sporting CP team news: Hjulmand suspended
Denmark international midfielder Morten Hjulmand is missing through suspension for the hosts, while Geovany Quenda and Pedro Goncalves are among those that are injured.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Silva; Fresneda, Reis, Inacio, Vagiannidis; Simoes, Morita; Catamo, Trincao, Araujo; Suarez
Unavailable: Santos (Injured), Diomande (Injured),Hjulmand (Suspended), Quaresma (Injured), Quenda (Injured), Goncalves (Injured), Guilherme (Ineligible)
Questionable:
Paris Saint-Germain team news: Hakimi and Mbaye should return
Achraf Hakimi and Ibrahim Mbaye were involved in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday but both could return here, albeit Lucas Hernandez is missing through suspension.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Chevalier; Zaire-Emery, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Mayulu, Vitinha, Ruiz; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia
Unavailable: Safonov (Injured), Hernandez (Suspended), Neves (Injured), Lee (Injured), Ndjantou (Injured)
Questionable: Hakimi (International duty), Mbaye (International duty)
Sporting CP vs Paris Saint-Germain prediction
Paris Saint-Germain have been dealing with plenty of injuries throughout this season but the French giants have everyone back, more or less, and now is the time last year that they begun to click and rip through the second-half of the season. However, they do appear susceptible at the back at the moment and Sporting, with a bit of intensity and home advantage, will fancy themselves to bloody the nose of the champions in the Portuguese capital city.
Sporting CP vs Paris Saint-Germain Tip: Both teams to score
