Sporting Lisbon aims to keep their flawless Champions League start intact as they host newcomers LASK Linz at Estadio Jose Alvalade for the third round of the group stage. The Portuguese side has triumphed in both of their initial matches in this season's European tournament, positioning them sixth in the 36-team standings. In contrast, the Austrian team is struggling at 33rd, having failed to earn any points from their first two games. This marks Sporting's 13th appearance in the Champions League group stage and their fifth in the last six seasons, starting off on a high note. Rui Borges's squad first secured a solid win against Galatasaray and followed it up with a 2-0 victory over Lens last week. Unlike their opening match against Galatasaray, where they fell behind early, the Lions had a strong start against Lens. Luis Suarez scored in the 22nd minute, and Issa Doumbia sealed the win in the second half. Consequently, Sporting has now won their last four matches in the group stage, including victories over Paris Saint-Germain and Athletic Bilbao during last season's campaign, where they finished seventh before being eliminated in the quarter-finals by Arsenal. The upcoming match offers Sporting a chance to bolster their pursuit of a second consecutive automatic qualification spot, especially since they have won their last five home matches in the group stage and come into this game with ample rest. The Lions did not play in the domestic league over the weekend, as there were no matches in the Portuguese top flight, leaving them third in the Primeira Liga. They remain unbeaten in all 10 of their matches across competitions this season, with seven wins and three draws. On the other hand, LASK's debut in the Champions League has been challenging, following a narrow loss to AEK Athens and a heavy 6-3 defeat in their subsequent match.