Sporting CP in the 2026/27 Champions League: What are their fixtures? Who is in their squad?
Thursday, August 27, 2026
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Fixtures, squad, key player, coach profile, big summer signing and one to watch – all you need to know about 2026/27 Champions League contenders Sporting CP.
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One of last season's surprise packages after reaching the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, Sporting CP will aim to cause another shock or two in the 2026/27 campaign. Get to know the Portuguese First Division runners-up.
At a glance: Sporting CP
UEFA coefficient ranking: 15
How they qualified: Second in Portugal
Last season: Champions League quarter-finals
UEFA coefficient rankings as at end of the 2025/26 season.
What are Sporting CP's Champions League fixtures and results?
You can keep track of Sporting CP's Champions League fixtures and results here.
Who is in Sporting CP's Champions League squad?
Sporting CP's Champions League squad can be found here.
Coach: Rui Borges
A lower-league winger, who started and ended his playing career with hometown club Mirandela, Rui Borges worked his way up as a coach at the likes of Académica, Nacional, Vilafranquense, Mafra, Moreirense and Vitória SC. He joined Sporting CP in December 2024 and helped them to win the title and the Portuguese Cup that season.
Key player: Luis Suárez
Sporting CP announced the signing of Suárez in summer 2025 after a 31-goal season at Almería – incredibly he surpassed that tally in his first season in Lisbon. The 28-year-old racked up a remarkable 38 goals in 53 games, including five in the Champions League. He was top scorer in the Portuguese Liga with 28 goals and became Colombia’s first-choice forward at the World Cup as a result.
Big summer signing: Rodrigo Zalazar
Son of former Uruguayan international José Luis Zalazar, affectionately known as ‘El Oso’ (The Bear), 27-year-old Rodrigo is aptly nicknamed 'El Osito' (The Bear Cub). The attacking midfielder arrives at Sporting after a standout campaign at Braga – ten appearances and two goals on the way to the Europa League semi-finals and a 16-goal haul in Portugal’s top flight.
One to watch: Gonçalo Inácio
Having come through the youth system at Sporting, Gonçalo Inácio has been an established first-team player for six seasons now - and is still only 25 years old. Strong in the tackle and an adept passer, the centre-back is also a regular for the Portuguese national team, winning 22 caps for his country.
Sporting CP's 2025/26 season
Sporting lost to Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals, and could not defend their Portuguese title, finishing second behind Porto. They were also runners-up - to second-tier Torreense - in the Portuguese Cup.
What is Sporting CP's best Champions League finish?
Last season's journey to the last eight equalled Sporting's previous best performance, which came in the 1982/83 European Cup, where they were defeated by Real Sociedad.
Did you know?
Sporting have not won a major UEFA trophy since winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1964 - though they were runners-up in the 2004/05 UEFA Cup.