The Champions League draw pitted us against a familiar foe in Sporting Lisbon, who we've faced many times before in European competition, especially in recent times.

We have been paired with the Portuguese champions in three of the past four seasons, but despite last playing in November 2024, much has changed for the Lions.

Ahead of Tuesday's game, here is everything you need to know about our opponents.

The history

The third-most successful club in Portuguese football with 57 major honours to their name, Sporting were founded in 1906 by Jose Avalade - whom their stadium is named after. Six years after playing in the top-flight for the first time, they won their first championship in 1935.

A golden period between 1947 and 1954 saw the Lions claim seven out of eight league titles, and the following year they played in the first-ever European Cup match against Partizan Belgrade. 1964 would see them lift their only continental silverware to date, as they beat MTK Budapest to win the European Cup Winners’ Cup final.

The rest of the century saw regular success dry up, but they ended an 18-year wait for a league title in 2000, following that up...