Key Takeaways:
- Last night, Sporting Lisbon defeated Paris Saint-Germain 2:1 in the Champions League’s penultimate main phase round
- Luis Suárez netted both goals for Sporting, with the decisive winner coming in the 90th minute
- Sporting and PSG are now level on points
Match Analysis
Sporting delivered a memorable performance against reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain, prevailing 2:1 in Lisbon in the seventh and penultimate round of the Champions League main phase. Despite being hampered by a raft of absentees, the Portuguese side rose to the occasion, with summer signing Luis Suárez emerging as match-winner, having netted both Sporting’s goals, including a dramatic headed winner in the 90th minute.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia equalised for PSG with a spectacular effort in the 79th minute, responding swiftly after Suárez had opened the scoring. Ultimately, it was the hosts who celebrated, drawing level on points with PSG and breaking into the top eight in the standings. However, the Lisbon outfit’s position remains precarious, as several clubs below them are yet to complete their fixtures in this round and retain the opportunity to overtake both sides.
⏹️ 𝘼 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 🌟 Let's go Lions!! 🤩
⚽ Luis Suárez (2)
🟢 2-1 🔴 // #SCPPSG #UCL pic.twitter.com/tTTQeLs77T— Sporting CP English (@SportingCP_en) January 20, 2026
Team Line-ups and Absentees
Sporting head coach Nuno Borges opted for Luis Suárez as the focal point in attack, supported by Jeny Catamo, Trincão, and Maximiliano Araújo just behind. The midfield comprised Hidemasa Morita and João Simões, shielding a back four of Iván Fresneda, Gonçalo Inácio, Matheus Reis, and Ricardo Mangas ahead of goalkeeper Rui Silva.
Key players missing for the hosts included Usman Diomandé, Pedro Gonçalves, Fotis Ioannidis, Eduardo Quaresma, Nuno Santos, Giovane Kenda, and Luís Guilherme, while Morten Hjulmand was absent through suspension. Daniel Bragança and Zeno Debast were named among the substitutes.
In contrast, Paris Saint-Germain faced fewer selection headaches, with Luis Enrique naming a strong eleven featuring Lucas Chevalier between the sticks, a defensive line of Warren Zaïre-Emery, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, and Nuno Mendes, and a midfield trio of Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz, and Seni Mayulu. The front line consisted of Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, and Bradley Barcola.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Illia Zabarnyi, Lucas Beraldo, and Gonçalo Ramos were available from the bench. João Neves, Kang-in Lee, and Matvey Safonov missed out due to injuries, Lucas Hernandez was suspended, and Achraf Hakimi was rested following his Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
First Half: PSG Dominate, Sporting Hold Firm
Paris Saint-Germain quickly established their authority, maintaining prolonged spells of possession and applying pressure in Sporting’s half. The visitors created their first real opportunity in the 6th minute, as Fabián Ruiz, set up by Nuno Mendes, forced Rui Silva into a sharp save. Mendes almost found the net against his former club soon after, but Silva again denied him.
Sporting responded in the 14th minute when Jeny Catamo’s low drive flashed narrowly wide. PSG continued to press, with Seni Mayulu’s header lacking the power to trouble Silva. The frantic pace continued, with Vitinha’s speculative effort missing the target and Marquinhos failing to capitalise on a set-piece situation. Bradley Barcola’s attempt was blocked by a resolute Sporting defence.
Towards the end of the first half, PSG twice saw goals ruled out – first for offside against Ousmane Dembélé, who also impeded Silva in the process. Sporting found it increasingly tough to retain possession and counter, yet managed to remain compact and maintain parity at the interval.
Second Half: Suárez and Kvaratskhelia Provide Late Drama
PSG resumed as the more purposeful side after the break. Vitinha unleashed a powerful shot in the 51st minute, but failed to trouble the Sporting goal. Gradually, the hosts grew into the game and began to threaten on the counter, with Trincão firing wide on one such opportunity.
Ousmane Dembélé thought he had scored from a right-wing cross, but for the third time PSG were denied by the offside flag. Dembélé was soon denied by a crucial Rui Silva stop after breaking into the box.
As the match entered its latter stages, Nuno Borges introduced Kvaratskhelia, while PSG pushed forward with even greater intensity. Despite this, Jeny Catamo continued to test the French defence for Sporting and won a corner in the 73rd minute. From the ensuing set-piece, a goalmouth scramble allowed Luis Suárez to break the deadlock with a clinical finish past Chevalier.
PSG replied almost immediately when Kvaratskhelia, played in by Dembélé, baffled a defender with his signature dribbling before dispatching a curling effort into the far corner on 79 minutes. Luis Enrique reacted by sending on Illia Zabarnyi for Fabián Ruiz as PSG sought a winner. Yet, in a remarkable twist late in normal time, Trincão’s fierce strike forced Chevalier into action, and Suárez was perfectly placed to head home the rebound for his second of the evening, sealing the 2:1 victory.
Looking Ahead
PSG will conclude the main stage by welcoming Newcastle to Parc des Princes. Even a victory there does not assure Luis Enrique’s men of a place in the top eight, with their fate potentially dependent on other results. Sporting, in a similar situation, are set to travel to face Athletic Bilbao in their final main phase fixture, also with their qualification hopes in the balance.
