Sporting v Shakhtar preview

Bento eager to see Portuguese side progress

Last updated: 4th November 2008

Sporting v Shakhtar preview

Bento: Feeling positive

Also see

Sporting Lisbon are aiming to secure a spot in the UEFA Champions League last 16 for the first time by beating Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Portuguese giants have yet to make it through to the knockout phase, but are in a strong position to progress.

Paulo Bento's side won 1-0 at Shakhtar a fortnight ago, with Liedson scoring the only goal of a tight game in the Ukraine.

If Sporting win the return at home on Tuesday, and Basel do not pull off a shock at Barcelona, then Bento's side will be safely through to the next round.

Bento is feeling positive ahead of the Group C encounter and hopes Sporting can finish the job against Shakhtar.

Faith

"We have a clear objective - to get the points that will practically secure qualification for us," said Bento.

"We have faith in our ability to go into the game strongly, and when a team has qualities like ours does, and is playing at home with a great atmosphere behind them, of course we feel we have a good chance to win.

"It would be great for the club, the players, and the coach as well."

Sporting have struggled for goals domestically of late and Bento must decide whether to keep faith with Derlei, or bring in Helder Postiga or Yannick Djalo.

Shakhtar head to Portugal in search of three points and coach Mircea Lucescu is aware of the task confronting his team.

Lucescu: "Sporting are a very strong team, as we saw, but we'll do our very best to win."