The Champions League games ends 2-1 to the hosts

Sporting Clube de Portugal lost 2-1 away to SSC Napoli on the second matchday of the UEFA Champions League campaign, coming back from Southern Italy empty handed despite their efforts.

The Stadio Diego Armando Maradona boasted a great atmosphere in which Sporting CP fans also made their voices heard. Coach Rui Borges made several changes to the starting XI he had fielded against GD Estoril Praia: Georgios Vagiannidis, Zeno Debast, Hidemasa Morita, Pedro Gonçalves, and Luis Suárez were replaced by Iván Fresneda, Eduardo Quaresma, João Simões, Geny Catamo, and Fotis Ioannidis – making his first start for the club.

The opening minutes, on a somewhat chilly autumn night, were tight and challenging. SSC Napoli had the first attack, with Kevin De Bruyne shooting over the bar, while at the other end, in the 12th minute, a good move ended with Geovany Quenda passing to Iván Fresneda. He placed the ball in a dangerous position, but the defence were able to clear.

The Italian champions began to take control of the match, and in the 22nd minute, after a combination move, Frank Anguissa missed the target with a shot. João Simões responded from long range for Sporting CP, but Vanja Milinković-Savić easily saved the effort.

Frank Anguissa took another shot around the half-hour mark; this time, the ball deflected off a defender and went out for a corner.

Sporting CP then began to go on the attack, dominating possession and moving the ball around well. Little by little, they closed in on the penalty area, but it was precisely at that moment that Antonio Conte's side managed to score from a deadly counterattack. Rasmus Højlund finished off the chance to make it 1-0.

Quenda sent a free kick directly into the goalkeeper's hands and Matteo Politana had an attempt skillfully saved by Rui Silva, heading into the halftime break.

Freshening up the attack in the second half, Pedro Gonçalves and Luis Suárez replaced Francisco Trincão and Geny Catamo. Opportunities, however, remained elusive for both sides. Aside from shots by Politano and De Bruyne that failed to go in, and a Suárez shot that was blocked, there was little to report in the early stages.

Then, in the 61st minute, after a Gonçalves shot, Maxi Araújo was brought down in the box, and referee Danny Makkelie awarded a penalty.

Suárez stepped up and converted the spot kick, bringing Sporting CP back on terms.

The introductions of Zeno Debast and Alisson Santos followed, in place of Eduardo Quaresma and Alisson Santos had left. Motivated by the goal and facing a team on the ropes, Sporting CP once again attacked SSC Napoli.

After Vanja Milinković-Savić's initial save of a Geovany Quenda shot, panic once again reigned in the SSC Napoli box: Luis Suárez, fed by Alisson Santos, set up Gonçalves, who shot just over the crossbar. It was the Alvalade club's second goal.

Hidemasa Morita came on for João Simões in another change from Rui Borges.

Soon after, SSC Napoli scored again, through Rasmus Højlund, this time with a header, and Sporting CP were back behind.

With ten minutes remaining, they fought hard to salvage at least a point, and came close to doing so in the 90+4 minute, when Morten Hjulmand's header forced Vanja Milinković-Savić into a superb save.

The game ended 2-1 to SSC Napoli. Sporting CP will now host SC Braga on Sunday in Liga Portugal. The return to the UEFA Champions League is scheduled for October 22nd, with a match against French side Olympique de Marseille at the Estadio José Alvalade.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Iván Fresneda, Eduardo Quaresma (Zeno Debast, 66’), Gonçalo Inácio, Maxi Araújo, Morten Hjulmand [C], João Simões (Hidemasa Morita, 78’), Geovany Quenda, Geny Catamo (Luis Suárez, 45’), Francisco Trincão (Pedro Gonçalves, 45’) and Fotis Ioannidis (Alisson Santos, 66’).