Sporting’s good start to the 2026/27 Champions League came to an abrupt end at Alvalade tonight as the Portuguese side were surprised by Austrian outfit LASK Linz.
The hosts got off to a perfect start when Luis Suárez converted an early penalty, but LASK soon equalised when Suárez lost the ball in midfield and the ball was worked quickly to Christoph Lang who produced a smart finish.
Sporting failed to get their attacking game going all night and the home fans were stunned when Sasa Kalajdzic and Krystof scored two more counter-attack goals in quick succession midway through the second half to put the Austrians in control.
Luis Suárez’s late strike proved too little too late. Tom Kundert reports from Alvalade. Exclusive photos by Arlindo Alves Homem.
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Sporting coach Rui Borges selected the same starting XI that had got the job done against Lens in France last week, which meant Brazilian goalkeeper Kaique Pereira kept his place between the sticks.
Buoyed by two wins in two tough away matches in their last two games, Sporting started on the front foot, forcing an early corner then winning a penalty in the 3rd minute. Australian winger Nestory Irankunda sped into the box and was tripped by his marker. Suárez stepped up and his perfectly placed spot kick struck the inside of the post and nestled in the net.
Despite the fillip of the goal, Sporting did not look like the cohesive team seen in Braga and Lens, the hosts struggling to produce moments of danger. And when Suárez lost the ball in the middle of his own half, the Austrians broke in devastating fashion, Kasper Jorgensen playing an inviting low cross into the path of Lang who shot low and hard on the turn to equalise, giving Kaique no chance.
Not even conceding a goal could kickstart an energy-less Sporting, who despite having plenty of possession were not using the ball well. LASK on the other hand were always threatening on the break, Lang going close twice in quick succession, the second chance bringing a fine save out of Kaique.
On the stroke of half time Sporting at last went close to scoring, Maxi Araújo eliciting a fine reflex save from Lukas Jungwirth, although the offside flag subsequently went up.
Half time: Sporting 1-1 LASK Linz
Two promising quick-passing moves upon the restart suggested Sporting would come out a different team, but it was a short-lived flash of dynamism as the game fell into the same pattern, with a lethargic home side comfortably kept at arm’s length by the Austrians.
LASK, in contrast, were attacking with intelligence and penetration when they got the chance, and scored two excellent counter-attacking goals in the 63rd and 68th minutes to take a firm grip of the game.
First the giant Kalajdzic showed he was more than a battering ram with a composed finish from a lightning quick break after the off-colour Sergi Altimira had lost the ball. Next it was Danek who got in the act, finishing another incisive counter-attack with a fine left-footed finish inside the near post.
Two good chances for Sporting to get back into the game came and went, Doumbia skying a presentable opportunity high over the bar after being teed up by substitute Flávio Gonçalves, and Suárez drawing a sharp save out of substitute goalkeeper Tobias Schützenauer.
Borges rolled the dice in the 80th minute, bringing on Luís Guilherme, Jesse Derry and Fotis Ioannidis for Catamo, Irankunda and Doumbia.
Derry was unlucky to see a well-struck shot hurtle just the wrong side of the post with the goalkeeper beaten, and the incessant pressure eventually told when Suárez again showed his composure with a clinical finish, rounding the keeper to give the home supporters renewed hope as the referee signalled there would be seven minutes of stoppage time.
Throwing everyone forward, Derry had a golden opportunity to grab a dramatic equaliser after more great work by Suárez but he could not get the ball out of his feet and the chance was gone.
Sporting remain on six points ahead of their next match against Shakhtar Donetsk which will be played in London.
For more images of the match see the Sporting 2-3 LASK Linz PortuGOAL photo gallery on Instagram.
Goals:
[1-0] Luis Suárez (pen), 5’
[1-1] Christoph Lang, 15’
[1-2] Sasa Kalajdzic, 64’
[1-3] Krystof Danek, 68’
[2-3] Luis Suárez, 89’
