Sporting rescue draw against Bologna to sneak into play-offs

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Sporting CP sneaked into the knockout stages of the Champions League with a 1-1 draw at home to already eliminated Bologna.

The Portuguese league leaders came into the game off the back of three straight defeats in Europe, after they had won three of their opening four games. All three defeats came after manager Ruben Amorim left for Manchester United.

Bologna fired an early warning shot when Sam Beukema's header hit the bar following a corner, before taking the lead when the defender's flicked header was converted by Tommaso Pobega.

Sporting pushed for an equaliser as the second half progressed and finally found a breakthrough when Conrad Harder converted Joao Simoe's cut-back from close-range.

Results elsewhere meant that a point was enough to secure Sporting a place in the play-off round - where they will face either Atalanta or Borussia Dortmund - with a 23rd place finish. They finished level on 11 points with Club Brugge and Dinamo Zagreb but went through with a superior goal difference.

Bologna were already eliminated before kick-off and finished the league phase in 28th place with six points.

Player of the match

L. Ferguson
7.83
52 João Simões
7.50
57 Geovany Quenda
7.50
1 F. Israel
7.33
26 O. Diomande
6.67
20 M. Araújo
6.50
25 Gonçalo Inácio
6.50
22 Iván Fresneda
6.33
23 Daniel Bragança
6.33
19 C. Harder
6.33
21 Geny Catamo
6.00
6 Z. Debast
5.33
42 M. Hjulmand
5.33
17 Trincão
5.00
2 Matheus Reis
5.00
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