Jose Mourinho returns to Portugal on Tuesday with his Chelsea side needing to end Sporting Lisbon's long unbeaten home run in European competition to claim a first Champions League Group G win.
Mourinho, who worked at Sporting as assistant to coach Sir Bobby Robson for one-and-a-half seasons between 1992 and 1993, is out to end Sporting's 16-match unbeaten run at Estadio Jose Alvalade.
The 2013/14 Portuguese Liga runners-up have 13 wins and three draws since a 2-0 defeat to Danish side Brondby in the 2010/11 Europa League play-offs.
The last time Chelsea played Portuguese opposition was against Benfica, Lisbon's other great side, in the 2013 Europa League final in Amsterdam, which the Blues won.
Mourinho has often spoken of his determination to avoid the Europa League, but his side have work to do after beginning their Group G campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Schalke at Stamford Bridge.
Sporting, who have Manchester United winger Nani on loan, have proved difficult to beat this term, winning two and drawing three of their five games entering this weekend's fixtures.
They have good pedigree against English clubs and have won their last three home games against English visitors without conceding a goal.
They lost to Manchester United in the 2007-08 tournament group stage, though.
Chelsea will be without former Benfica midfielder Ramires (groin) and it remains to be seen if Diego Costa can play two games in close proximity in a big week for Chelsea which concludes with the Premier League visit of Arsenal to Stamford Bridge.
Source: PA
