Sporting CP will need a fightback at home against Juventus

Sporting Clube de Portugal lost 1-0 to Juventus in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Europa League, with the opportunity to decide the tie coming on Thursday, April 20th, at the Estádio José Alvalade.

Rúben Amorim fielded Antonio Adán, Jeremiah St. Juste, Sebastián Coates, Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Esgaio, Hidemasa Morita, Pedro Gonçalves, Nuno Santos, Marcus Edwards, Youssef Chermiti and Francisco Trincão in his starting lineup against the Italian giants in Turin.

This was the third meeting in history between the two clubs, after they clashed twice in the Champions League in 2017/2018.

Juventus commanded play early on, with a first shot from Milik going over the top. Sporting CP responded within a minute with an effort from Trincão from the edge of the area, which also cleared the crossbar.

Adán was called upon to make a save in the 12th minute, denying Chiesa -whose cross he gathered soon after. At the other end, Morita pounced on a bad collection by the Juventus defence, before shooting the centimetres wide with a low drive from the edge of the area.

In the 29th minute, Sporting CP enjoyed one of their best opportunities, when Edwards was brought down on the edge of the area. From the free kick, Coates met the ball at the far post, forcing goalkeeper Szczesny into a stop.

Gonçalves also troubled the Juventus custodian when played through by Esgaio, and in the 33rd minute it was Nuno Santos' turn to try to score, with Bremer having to clear off the line.

Sporting CP grew into the game, with more possession, more pressure and several chances.

Szczesny felt a pain in his chest and the game was stopped for a few minutes, with the Juventus FC goalkeeper replaced by Perín. In the resulting stoppage time, Jeremiah St. Juste was also injured and was subbed off to bring in Ousmane Diamonde.

In the second half, Amorim's men kept up their intensity, and Gonçalves provided a shot towards the back post that Perín had to parry out.

Just past the hour, Arthur Gomes and Matheus Reis stepped in for Youssef Chermiti and Nuno Santos.

Despite having enjoyed more shots than their opponents, Sporting CP found themselves behind off a set piece. The home team won a corner and Adán was unable to ward off the danger, Coates scrambling to clear and Gatti taking advantage to score.

Edwards and Esgaio went off for Dário Essugo and Héctor Bellerín to come in, and the latter put in a dangerous cross immediately. Essugo followed up with an attempted chip that Perín claimed.

Perín would need to save again from Gonçalves and then Bellerín before the end, and a late Diomande shot was deflected out as the Italian side held on for the win. A 1-0 loss for Sporting CP was not the ideal result, but leaves hope for the second leg in one week's time.