The team triumph in the Champions League on Matchday 5

Sporting Clube de Portugal defeated Belgian side Club Brugge KV 3-0 at home on Matchday 5 of the UEFA Champions League, with goals from Geovany Quenda and Luis Suárez in the first half, and Francisco Trincão in the second. They now have ten points in the competition, occupying eighth position with three matchdays remaining in the league stage.

Rui Borges brought players back into the starting lineup after a wholescale rotation for the cup match against AC Marinhense; of the first XI, only Francisco Trincão had started against the lower league opposition. He was joined by Rui Silva, Iván Fresneda, Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio, Maxi Araújo, Morten Hjulmand, João Simões, Geny Catamo, Geovany Quenda and Luis Suárez.

The first dangerous attack came from Sporting CP, just three minutes in, when Maxi Araújo took an opponent out of the equation with a great piece of skill and set up Geovany Quenda, who shot wide from outside the box.

Passing the ball well in the attacking midfield, Sporting CP played with quality and confidence, but suffered a scare in the 9th minute when Morten Hjulmand was shown a straight red card for a foul on Aleksandar Stanković. After consulting VAR, referee Tobias Stieler changed his decision and only cautioned the captain with a yellow card.

Club Brugge KV finally had a chance in the 14th minute, when Christos Tzolis tried to finish with a shot from the heart of the area, but Ousmane Diomande blocked it out for a corner. The Greek player tried his luck again soon after, but his weak effort went off target.

At the other end, Geny Catamo appeared near the penalty area but had a shot go astray, and in the 23rd minute, Sporting CP created their best chance so far: after dribbling past a defender, Luis Suárez forced goalkeeper Nordin Jackers into a good save.

Their persistence translated into a goal shortly after, thanks to a great move that emanated from Rui Silva. The ball went onto the right and Geny Catamo toyed with his marker before shooting, forcing another save from Nordin Jackers. This time, however, Geovany Quenda appeared to turn in the rebound with a half-volley, opening the scoring and grabbing his first goal in this season's UEFA Champions League.

The 18-year-old tried to score his second in the 27th minute, but was unsuccessful.

It was in the 31st minute that Geny Catamo, with phenomenal timing, assisted Luis Suárez with a brilliant half-turn pass that left the Colombian alone through on the goalkeeper. With great class, the striker finished clinically, to a roar from the Estádio José Alvalade.

Sporting CP continued to press, and in the 35th minute Maxi Araújo advanced down the left and shot across goal and wide.

Francisco Trincão, in the 39th minute, concluded a rapid team move with a strike just wide of the post, then went on to cross for Luis Suárez -who headed outside the post.

Despite this response, Sporting CP had an incredible opportunity shortly afterwards when Geovany Quenda set up Luis Suárez. He managed to round Nordin Jackers, but was put off by Hugo Siquet and ended up hitting the post.

The Belgian opposition responded with a header wide from Brandon Mechele and a one-on-one for Nicolo Tresoldi, but did not convert the chances.

Sporting CP scored again, 20 minutes from the end: Maxi Araújo passed to Geovany Quenda, who tried to return the ball to the Uruguayan in the area, but it was Francisco Trincão who snatched it away and shot towards the far post, with the ball ending up in the back of the net. It was his eighth goal of the season and his third in the UEFA Champions League.

Geny Catamo forced a save from Nordin Jackers, before he and Geovany Quenda were taken off and Alisson Santos and Salvador Blopa – making their UEFA Champions League debuts – came on.

The game saw Iván Fresneda have a strike saved and Brugge's Raphael Onyedika attempt a long-range effort that ended up in Rui Silva's hands. Substitute Rodrigo Ribeiro then set up Salvador Blopa, but Nordin Jackers bravely made the save.

The contest concluded 3-0, with Sporting CP securing their third victory in the competition. They play again this Sunday in Liga Portugal, hosting CF Estrela da Amadora, whilst their return to the UEFA Champions League comes on December 9th, with a trip to take on FC Bayern Munich.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Iván Fresneda, Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio, Maxi Araújo (Matheus Reis, 85'), Morten Hjulmand [C], João Simões (Hidemasa Morita, 63'), Geny Catamo (Alisson Santos, 75'), Francisco Trincão, Geovany Quenda (Salvador Blopa, 75') and Luis Suárez (Rodrigo Ribeiro, 85').