Unbeaten Sporting face a LASK side still searching for their first Champions League point
LASK travel to the Estádio José Alvalade to face Sporting CP on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, in the Champions League league phase, with kick-off at 21:00 CEST. Rui Borges‘ side have a maximum six points after beating Galatasaray 3-1 and winning 2-0 at Lens, and they are unbeaten in ten competitive games this season. LASK are making their Champions League debut and are still on zero points after a 1-0 defeat at AEK Athens and a 6-3 home loss to Liverpool. Nick Walsh is the referee.
“Sabemos que temos de jogar muito bem. Para cumprir a nossa missão, temos de jogar com muito rigor.” – LASK coach Dietmar Kühbauer (“We know we have to play very well. To complete our mission, we have to play with real discipline.”)
Predicted lineups: Sporting vs LASK
Sporting are without Rodrigo Zalazar, who picked up a thigh injury at Braga and is not expected back until the end of the month, while Zeno Debast is not expected to return in time and Nuno Santos is still out. Borges refused to name his goalkeeper, but Kaique, who made six saves on his debut at Lens, is expected to keep his place ahead of Rui Silva. Borges has switched to a 4-3-3 with two wingers in recent games. For LASK, Sascha Horvath had a thigh problem before the weekend but is included in Austrian predicted line-ups.
Sporting CP Team News & Preview
Sporting’s last game was the 2-0 win at Lens a week ago. Luis Suárez opened the scoring after 22 minutes to become the club’s all-time top scorer in the Champions League, and Issa Doumbia added the second. Borges called it a competent display, strong on the counter but not precise enough in the final third, and Lens did create chances: Kaique had to make six saves.
Suárez is the key man. He has nine goals in ten games this season and also came off the bench to score in the 3-1 win at Braga. Sporting had no fixture at the weekend, so they come into this game fresher than their opponents. Borges warned that LASK are among the most dangerous teams on fast breaks and that they are strong at attacking space in behind.
What works for or against Sporting CP
- Six points from two games, with five goals scored and one conceded.
- Unbeaten in ten competitive games this season.
- No game at the weekend, while LASK played on Saturday.
- Zalazar and Debast are both missing.
LASK Team News & Preview
LASK’s first Champions League campaign has been a tough one. They lost 1-0 in Athens to a Razvan Marin free kick, then were 3-0 down at half-time at home to Liverpool before losing 6-3, although Florian Flecker scored twice. That defeat was part of a run of five competitive games without a win, which ended with a 4-0 victory at Austria Lustenau on Saturday. Saša Kalajdžić and Samuel Adeniran scored after the break before Christoph Lang added two late goals.
Kühbauer was clear that his side need their best performance to get anything in Lisbon, and Alessandro Schöpf admitted that Sporting are no weaker than Liverpool in terms of quality. LASK have conceded 3.5 goals per game in this competition and allowed five expected goals in two matches.
What works for or against LASK
- Scored three goals against Liverpool.
- Morale boost from the 4-0 win at Austria Lustenau.
- Seven goals conceded in two Champions League games.
- Still without a point in the competition.
Sporting vs LASK Odds
Match Result
Double Chance
Handicap
Over/Under
Both Teams to Score
Half-Time/Full-Time
Sporting vs. LASK Stats Comparison
Show Recent Results
Sporting vs. LASK Form Guide
Sporting Form, Stats & Data
Sporting have been efficient rather than dominant in Europe: 1.70 xG per game, five shots on target per match and only 41% possession. They have been happy to let opponents have the ball away from home, and goalkeeper Kaique’s 8.57 rating shows they have had to defend at times. At Alvalade, against a weaker side, I expect them to take more control.
LASK Form, Stats & Data
LASK carry a goal threat, with 1.40 xG per game, but their defending has not been at Champions League level. They have allowed 2.50 xG per game and conceded 3.5 goals per match, and the Liverpool game showed how quickly they can be overrun when they push forward.
Sporting vs LASK: Prediction & Betting Tip
I am backing Sporting to win by at least two goals. Both of their Champions League wins have come by a two-goal margin, they are unbeaten in ten games, Suárez is in excellent form and they have had the extra rest. LASK have conceded seven goals in two games in this competition and looked out of their depth for long spells against Liverpool.
The best argument the other way is LASK’s counter-attacking threat, which Borges himself highlighted, and the fact that they scored three against Liverpool. Sporting also drew league games against Famalicão and Arouca earlier this season, so they do not always put weaker sides away. Zalazar’s absence takes some creativity out of midfield. But Sporting’s quality advantage at home is big, and LASK’s defensive record gives me confidence in the margin.
So it is Sporting -1.5 Asian Handicap at 1.58 with Winz for me, and I expect a 3-1 scoreline.