The team return from Turin with a point in the Champions League

Sporting Clube de Portugal drew 1-1 away to Juventus FC on Matchday 4 of the UEFA Champions League’s league phase, taking them to seven points in the European competition Maxi Araújo scored the goal for the team.

At a packed stadium in Turin that hosted a significant travelling support from Sporting CP fans, coach Rui Borges made three changes to the starting lineup from the previous game, with Iván Fresneda, Geny Catamo and Luis Suárez making way for Giorgos Vagiannidis, Geovany Quenda and Fotis Ioannidis.

The Portuguese champions started well. After an even first few minutes and a shot by Juventus’ Dušan Vlahović that was saved by Rui Silva, the scoring was opened in the 12th minute off a great team move. Francisco Trincão assisted for Maxi Araújo, who fired a powerful shot across goal, off the crossbar into the back of the net.

Sporting CP immediately went in search of a second goal. Two minutes later, Trincão hit the post, coming very close to doubling the lead and sending the Italian opposition into a panic.

Juventus reacted, and did so through Vlahović. The powerful centre forward began to engage in duels with Rui Silva, with the goalkeeper in great form. He made a fantastic save in the 17th minute, when he responded to a header from the Serbian.

Shortly after, another attempt by Vlahović -this time from outside the area- required another great intervention by Rui Silva. At the half-hour mark, it was Manuel Locatelli who tried his luck, but missed the target.

However, Vlahović got his goal on 34 minutes. He appeared in a dangerous position and took his chance to make it 1-1. Before halftime, Luciano Spalletti's team could have taken the lead through Francisco Conceição, but Gonçalo Inácio managed to deflect the ball out for a corner.

The pace of the match slowed down after the break. Vlahović and Khephren Thuram had attempts from long range in the opening minutes, but Rui Silva made saves that were relatively simple.

Sporting CP were struggling to get close to the opposition box, and their crosses were lacking in quality. On 56 and 59 minutes, respectively, Quenda and Trincão sent good balls into the area, forcing goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio to intervene.

Juventus FC weren't giving Rui Silva much trouble, and tried to attack from distance, including Khephren Thuram's two shots that ended up flying into the stands.

Just past the hour mark, Rui Borges made his first substitution, taking off Giorgos Vagiannidis and Quenda to bring on Eduardo Quaresma and Geny Catamo.

Gradually, the visitors gained a degree of control and began to move the ball around better in the attacking areas of the midfield, even though they still lacked effective decision-making in the final third. To address this, the centre forward position was switched up on 71 minutes: Fotis Ioannidis came off, and Luis Suárez came on.

Borges soon introduced Hidemasa Morita and Alisson Santos (replacing João Simões and Pedro Gonçalves) for the final ten minutes. In the 85th minute, Geny Catamo – expertly set up by Suárez – who shot just wide of the post. At the other end, Filip Kostić could only threaten with an effort that required another easy save for Rui Silva.

In the final moments, Juventus FC pressed and threatened more. The peak of this impetus came in the 92nd minute, when Jonathan David headed towards goal, forcing yet another great save from Rui Silva.

The 1-1 score remained unchanged, and the team returned to Portugal with a point.

Sporting CP will now travel to the Azores to face CD Santa Clara in Liga Portugal on Saturday.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GR], Giorgos Vagiannidis (Eduardo Quaresma, 66'), Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio, Maxi Araújo, Morten Hjulmand [C], João Simões (Hidemasa Morita, 82'), Geovany Quenda (Geny Catamo, 66'), Francisco Trincão, Pedro Gonçalves (Alisson Santos, 82') and Fotis Ioannidis (Luis Suárez, 71').