Legia Warszawa vs Sporting Clube de Portugal - Jorge Jesus warns Sporting Lisbon to concentrate on Legia not Benfica

Posted Tuesday, December 06, 2016 by PA

Sporting Lisbon coach Jorge Jesus has urged his side to put domestic matters out of their mind as they head into Wednesday night's UEFA Champions League clash against Legia Warsaw in Poland.

Both sides' hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition have long gone having mustered just four points between them behind pace-setters Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.

But there is still plenty to play for in Wednesday's game in the Polish capital with a draw enough to land Sporting a place in the Europa League - while victory for Legia will put them through.

And Jesus has admitted his side is in danger of being distracted by the prospect of next week's trip to Primeira Liga leaders Benfica - whom they currently trail by two points.

Jesus told Portuguese media: "We are in the race for the Primeira Liga title, but what matters for us at the moment is the Champions League match that is coming up first."

Sporting go into the tie in good heart having won three straight domestic games since last month's narrow 2-1 home defeat to Real Madrid which ended their slim hopes of progression.

The visitors have Goncalo Vieira and Joao Pereira both banned for the trip to Poland while Legia are without Sebastian Szymanski, who is also suspended.

Legia coach Jacek Magiera will be desperate for his side to erase the memory of last month's extraordinary 8-4 defeat in Dortmund by winning their first Champions League group game in 21 years.

Magiera's men go into the game sitting in fourth place in the Polish Ekstraklasa but having lost ground on the teams above them after Friday night's frustrating 2-2 draw at home to Wisla Plock.