Felipe Caicedo available for Fiorentina clash
Sporting Lisbon have received a boost ahead of tomorrow's Champions League play-off first leg against Fiorentina with confirmation that forward Felipe Caicedo is available for selection.
The Ecuador international, who joined the Lisbon outfit last month on a season-loan deal from Manchester City, missed last weekend's league opener against Nacional with an abductor muscle injury.
But Caicedo returned to training on Monday and is expected to start against the Italian outfit.
Sporting coach Paulo Bento will be hoping Caicedo's presence will inspire his side to victory after their slow start to the domestic competition.
Sporting drew 1-1 against Nacional in Saturday's league opener, much to the disappointment of team captain Moutinho.
"We didn't do what we needed to do to get a win," he said. "We were slow to react.
"Now we must focus on the game against Fiorentina which will be a challenging one.
"A place in the Champions League group phase is at stake and we want to be a part of it."
Fiorentina open the Serie A campaign on Saturday at Bologna but Cesare Prandelli's side are fully focused on their midweek encounter at the Jose Alvalade Stadium.
"We know we will face adversity," said Fiorentina striker Alberto Gilardino. "We take on the runners-up of the Portuguese Liga.
"They have quality and international experience."
Sporting are bidding to make their fourth consecutive group-stage appearance in Europe's elite club competition but Gilardino is not intimidated and fancies his team's chances.
"We've worked very hard this month to be at our best," he said. "We now have to put into practise what we have done in training.
"We have a great group and we are covered in every position.
"Fiorentina has proved its quality in the results it has achieved in the last four years."
Gilardino, who will partner Adrian Mutu in Fiorentina's attack, knows his team will have to concentrate from start to finish.
"Portuguese teams tend to dominate possession," said Gilardino. "We cannot allow them to control the game and we must be careful and patient."
Fiorentina play host to Sporting in the return leg on August 26.
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