A 1-2 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt means the team will now play in the Europa League

Sporting Clube de Portugal bowed out of the UEFA Champions League with a 1-2 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 6 of the Group Stage. With this result, they now drop into the UEFA Europa League, finishing third in the standings with seven points.

Rúben Amorim made six changes to the side that lost against FC Arouca in Liga Portugal the previous Saturday, with several returns to the starting lineup. Jeremiah St. Juste entered the defence and Pedro Porro and Nuno Santos returned to the wings, Manuel Ugarte came back into central midfield, partnering with Pedro Gonçalves, and Paulinho and Marcus Edwards were used in the attack alongside Arthur.

Sporting CP had previously beaten Eintracht Frankfurt 0-3 in Germany, and came into the game at the Estádio José Alvalade needing only a draw to progress in the competition.

Several attacks from the wings opened the contest, and Edwards was the first to create danger, taking advantage of a loose ball in the area following a free-kick, but opposition goalkeeper Kevin Trapp made the save. At the other end, Evan N'Dicka's header required a huge stop by Antonio Adán.

More proactive than their opponents, Sporting CP lacked the final ball on several promising moves. 

In the 33rd minute, Amorim was forced to make a change, bringing on Matheus Reis to replace Nuno Santos due to injury.

In the 39th minute, Os Leões opened the scoring. Following a move from the right by Edwards, Ugarte received the ball and crossed into the area, where Arthur struck first time into the net. It was the winger's second goal in the UEFA Champions League, having also scored against Tottenham Hotspur.

After the interval, Sporting CP didn't take their foot off the accelerator and went in search of a second goal, but would suffer a harsh setback in the 59th minute, when a penalty was given against Coates for handball in the area. Daichi Kamada converted the spot kick to make it 1-1.

Soon after, Dário Essugo (making his first appearance in the competition this season) and Francisco Trincão came in for Ugarte and Edwards.

Eintracht Frankfurt gained motivation and created several moves that provided danger. With 72 minutes gone, Kolo Muani consummated the comeback with a goal that took the score to 1-2.

St. Juste went off for Jovane Cabral, with Matheus Reis dropping back into the defense and Arthur moving to the wing, and Sporting CP spent the following moments on the attack, although without being able to test Trapp.

In the last two moves of the game, Adán went upfield for two corners that could have led to an equaliser, but Os Leões were unable to find the goal that they needed and lost 1-2.

Sporting CP will now have to wait for a draw to find out their opponents in the UEFA Europa League, but first they will host Vitória SC this Saturday, November 5th, at home.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adan, [GK], Jeremiah St. Juste (Jovane Cabral, 78'), Sebastián Coates, [C], Gonçalo Inácio, Pedro Porro, Manuel Ugarte (Dário Essugo, 63'), Pedro Gonçalves, Nuno Santos (Matheus Reis, 33'), Arthur, Marcus Edwards ( Francisco Trincao, 63') and Paulinho.