Arsenal host Sporting Lisbon on Thursday night and a draw for the Gunners could prove enough to seal progression into the last 32 of the Europa League.
Unai Emery’s side took control of Group E with a win in Portugal a fortnight ago but Sporting will be seeking revenge as they also look to continue in the competition.
But the 18-time Portuguese champions present a challenge.
RECENT RESULTS
Jose Peseiro’s side have flitted from victory to defeat in their past seven games, losing to Portimonense in the Primeira Liga as well as to Arsenal and in the Taca da Liga to Estoril.
Sporting prepared for their trip to north London with a narrow 2-1 away win at Santa Clara having also seen off Boavista since their previous meeting with Arsenal.
WORK IN PROGRESS
Sporting’s training ground was attacked by a group of angry supporters after the club failed to seal Champions League qualification at the end of last season.
That led to a host of players terminating their contracts, citing “just cause” following the incident as the likes of Rui Patricio and William Carvalho led the mass departures.
Peseiro has now been charged with getting the side back on the right track and recruited a number of replacements, with former Manchester United winger Nani returning to his first club.
Before the first game against Arsenal, Peseiro said rebuilding the team is a “fantastic challenge” as he aims to reunite the club with a band of disillusioned fans.
IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED
Peseiro returned to the Portuguese capital this summer as a replacement for Sinisa Mihajlovic, who held the post for just nine days before he was sacked.
A former manager of Saudi Arabia’s international team, Peseiro has also coached in Greece, Romania and the United Arab Emirates.
He was also an assistant to Carlos Queiroz during his time as Real Madrid manager but, 13 years after resigning as Sporting manager, he was reappointed at a tumultuous time in the club’s history.
KEY MEN
Nani’s return helped ease the pain of losing a number of first-team regulars and the 31-year-old has also taken the captain’s armband.
But it is the timely return to fitness of prolific goalscorer Bas Dost which should cause Arsenal concern.
The Holland international has averaged almost a goal per game since joining Sporting in 2016 and toasted his first start since returning from injury by tucking home a penalty in the win at Santa Clara.
If Peseiro deems he is fit enough to start at the Emirates Stadium, Dost will certainly add potency to Sporting’s attack.