Man City given the inside track on Sporting and Pedro Porro by recent opponent

Manchester City do not have to look far to see the quality produced by Portuguese clubs over the last generation.

The Blues boast four first-team stars in their squad that came through Benfica’s academy while across town United have three more internationals, with so much talent from the country in Manchester alone that the national team manager recently paid a visit to the city to see his players ahead of their World Cup play-offs.

If the Portuguese league ultimately loses its best talent to stronger European leagues, its clubs have certainly left their mark in the Champions League; Porto gave City two fiery games in the group stage last season, and Sporting have progressed this time at the expense of Erling Haaland’s Dortmund.

Pep Guardiola will be aware that there were more difficult last-16 ties in the draw, but will also not be underestimating a team that won a league and cup double last season in Ruben Amorim’s first full year in charge.

Someone to have seen their growth up close is Julio Velazquez, who took over at Maritimo this season and did well to keep them up before parting company with them earlier in the season.

The Spanish coach pushed them all the way back in September when they almost held out for a draw at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, only to be beaten by a last-minute penalty converted by City loanee Pedro Porro. Velasquez accepts that the Blues will be heavy favourites for the tie, but expects a well-drilled Sporting side to be targeting transitions.

“Sporting is a team that has developed immensely in the past three years,” he told MEN Sport.

“They have players with quality to play for Europe's biggest clubs, very solid principles of play and a manager which, to me, is the biggest reason for