Sporting coach Jorge Jesus feels his side can take heart from their performance last time out against Barcelona, when they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat.
“The confidence and determination that the players of Sporting will have will be bigger than those of Juventus,” he said at a press conference, as quoted on the club’s official Twitter feed.
“A positive result here will makes us believe that we can progress through this group, so Sporting has all the conditions to fight for the victory.”
The Portuguese, though, will not be taking the challenge ahead of them lightly.
“Juve needs no introduction, and your track record in Italy (of European success) says it all,” Jesus added.
“This game is important, but it will not be not decisive, neither for Juventus nor Sporting.”
ends