Wolfsburg came through a very tough away game in the Estádio José Alvalade, as Sporting CP managed to squander several guilt-edge opportunities to pass up their chance to make it into the last 16. 

Sporting were buoyed by a 2-0 win at home to Gil Vicente, allowing them to keep the pressure on FC Porto and SC Benfica above them. Coach Marco Silva made several changes to that side in a bid to overturn the two-nil deficit from the first leg.

Andre Martins, Carlos Mane, Miguel Lopes and Jefferson weren't included in the starting line-up following that game, meaning Adrien Silva, Andre Carrillo, Cedric and Jonathan Silva were handed a chance from the start.

Dieter Hecking's men were in the form of their lives and firing on all three fronts, showing just how far they'd matured since last season. A hard-fought 2-1 victory over Hertha BSC at the weekend maintained the eight-point gap between themselves and FC Bayern München.

Bas Dost's goal-scoring form was showing no signs of ending any time soon and there was just one alteration from the Sunday win. Sebastian Jung was replaced by Joshua Guilvagoui, allowing Christian Träsch to move into a familiar right-back role.

The opening stages were fairly quiet. An early cross from Nani, which was well dealt with by Diego Benaglio, was the only opportunity of any real note. Wolfsburg had a comfortable cushion and were clearly in no hurry to try and extend it. The Manchester United loanee then fired a volley wide of goal, cursing his luck after being given the freedom of the back post by the Wolves defence.

William Carvalho and Bas Dost traded chances, though they were easy pickings for two goalkeepers of such high quality. Rui Patricio had to race off his line to pick off Ricardo Rodriguez's, just as it looked like Dost would be tapping in the opening goal.

A lack of action was followed by a flurry of opportunities for the hosts. Junya Tanaka fired wide after a lovely turn, before he was denied by Benaglio's super block. Carvalho had his shot well-saved by the Swiss stopper and Knoche and Träsch's brave defending prevented Joao Mario and Adrien Silva from opening the scoring.

The final chance of the half fell to Tanaka once more, who was proving an absolute handful. A great run from Silva allowed him the time to pick out the Japanese forward, but his shot was tipped onto the post by Benaglio; meaning the two sides went in level at the break.

There were no personnel changes at half-time and that was mirrored in how the game was panning out. Benaglio claimed a dangerous ball across the box from Carrillo almost immediately after the restart, with Sporting showing no signs of letting up.

Kevin de Bruyne and Wolfsburg did issue a response of their own, finally forcing a decent chance. The Belgian broke free of his marker and drove towards goal, unleashing a shot that beat Patricio but not the post. It rattled the upright from twenty yards out and would have been the goal to kill the tie.

The hosts were beginning to run out of ideas, in relation to beating Benaglio and the Wolves defence, which was frustrating both the team and the home support. Tanaka had another chance, though Benaglio was able to turn his volley away with his legs. 

That's the way the game finished, as Wolfsburg progressed to the last 16. Hecking's side are in such fine form that they'll be one of the key teams to avoid in Friday's draw. Sporting will be extremely disappointed they didn't score at least once, having forced Benalgio into one of his finest performances this season.

VAVEL Logo
About the author
Jonathan Walsh
SoccerSight IFA commentator. VAVEL deputy editor-in-chief/VAVEL Bundesliga editor-in-chief and writer. Email: [email protected]