Intro:

Sporting Lisbon are hoping to go through to the quarter-finals of the Europa League on Thursday, when they take on Manchester City in the away leg of their last-sixteen tie.

Script:

Sporting Lisbon hold a narrow 1-0 aggregate lead ahead of the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie against Manchester City on Thursday.

City were knocked off the top of the English Premier League at the weekend but Sporting coach Ricardo Sa Pinto does not think it will affect their approach to the Europa League tie.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese): Ricardo Sa Pinto, Sporting Clube de Portugal coach:

"I don't believe in that. I'm absolutely sure their manager doesn't want to lose. They lost their match against Swansea, after losing their match against us, but they will have the desire to win the match tomorrow. We know it is a decisive match tomorrow, there has to be a result. But I don't believe there will be a weak Manchester City side. We have to play to our full potential, I'm sure they will as well. So it will be a very interesting match."

Sporting are in top form since Sa Pinto took over as coach a month ago, with five wins in seven games.

Defender Daniel Carrico believes an in form Sporting can advance to the next stage.

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese): Daniel Carrico, Sporting Clube de Portugal:

"It's important that we have that result (from the first leg), but it's also important for us to score playing away and, if we want to go through, that is what we have to do. We know that Manchester
City will come at us very strongly, but we are well prepared for the match, and we know what we have to do and we know what to expect."

Sporting face an uphill task in Manchester - City are unbeaten in their last 16 European fixtures a home.