The Portuguese are a compa sionate bunch.For example when their bullfightsend, the wounded beast is led away to be put out of its misery in private. The season so far has been a bullfight for Sporting Lisbon to say Chris Hatcher Jersey the least, currently sitting fourth in the Portuguese Liga, 20 points adrift from bitter rivals Benfica and far fromsecuring a place in Europe next season. However after setting up a glamour tie with Atletico Madrid in the last 16following theirdisposal of Everton, a hope of saving the season couldcome in the form of the Europa League.Sporting have a long and succe sful history spanning over 100 years, winning 18 league titles and reaching a Uefa cup final, but so far this year they have beennothing short of a shambles. Despite their indifferent league form, Sporting have strung together some impre sive performances in their European campaign Mike Fiers Jersey so far, which has seen them top their group (consisting of Hertha Berlin, Heerenveen and Ventspils) with 11 points from their six games, beforebrushing aside Evertonfollowing a convincing second leghome display. Everton manager David Moyes payed tribute to an emphatic Sporting performance after the game: We didnt play well enough, Sporting got a grip of the game and put us under pre sure from the start.However their home attendencecontinues to diminish, withjust over 17,000 seeing their side progre s through to the next round; it seems that even the fans are beginning to lose faith in their side and manager Costinha, making their tricky Bruce Maxwell Jersey last 16 encounter with AtleticoMadrideven more pivital in the outcome of the season.Empty seats in the Estdio Jos AlvaladeThe reasons for the lack of form are unclear,with an average age of 26, Costinha has found the balance between youth and experience in his Portuguese dominated side. Sporting combine pace, power and goalscoring pedigreethroughout their lineup, boasted byinternationalssuch asMoutinho, Liedson, Veloso and future prospect Djalo.Similarto rivals Benfica, Sporting have a big history as far asEuropean Football is concerned and no doubt they will be looking to bettertheir Uefa cup run of 2008, which saw themreach Jake Smolinski Jersey the quarter finals, only to lose out to Rangers.Sportingcontinue their persuit of European glory in the round of 16 a week today, facing adifficult first legged away tie in Madrid, making an away goal vital.They go into the tie with an air of confidence though, followingan impre sive 3-0 league win over Porto le s than a week ago and aware oftheir opponentstemperamentalhome form in Europe this season. They will no doubt be looking to recreate the glory days of the 40s and 50s, which saw them dominate European Football.But what a way to win back fans and followers, by booking their place in the quarter finals.Theygo into the tie as 25/1 outsidersto winthe tournament,behind both English clubs Fulham and Liverpool. Its fair to Reggie Jackson Jersey say that as the tournament progre ses, thecompetition is only going to get harder; butin my view theyre worth a pound of anyones money.