Sporting CP found their foothold in Lens through Sergi Altimira, with the former Real Betis midfielder taking command of a difficult opening spell at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis and helping to shape Luis Suárez’s 0-1 goal.
Lens began with force, pressing Sporting back in northern France. After the first quarter-hour, however, Altimira started dropping between the centre-backs, offering a safer passing route and slowing a match that had initially threatened to run away from the Portuguese champions.
Quick facts
- Altimira completed 47 of 50 passes against Lens and was accurate with all three long balls.
- He made 66 involvements on the ball and lost possession only four times.
- Defensively, he registered two interceptions, five clearances, three blocked shots and six recoveries.
- The 2001-born midfielder has started each of Sporting’s first 10 matches this season.
- Real Betis sold him for €18 million after their strongest-ever La Liga start, with 19 points from 24.
Rui Borges changed Sporting’s usual structure rather than simply asking his midfield to endure the pressure. The coach explained that his side normally operate in a 4-3-3, but said player movements can alter the shape; on this occasion, Altimira was the player who moved deeper, whereas Geny Catamo has previously helped form a five-man defensive line on the right.
The adjustment gave Sporting greater control and brought out Altimira’s authority in possession. His long passing was flawless, while his work without the ball was still more influential: Lens did not beat him with a dribble, and he won five of his seven duels.
Altimira’s role in the move for Suárez’s opener arrived at a point when Sporting most needed an outlet. It was another indication of how quickly the midfielder has become central at Alvalade, where he has increasingly eased concerns over the absence of Hjulmand.
A new reference point in Lisbon
Altimira has been named in the starting XI for all 10 Sporting fixtures so far, missing only three minutes in the Primeira Liga win over Nacional on matchday five. His influence is reflected in a 93.2% pass-completion rate, the best among Sporting’s midfielders.
He is also fourth for completed long passes at 5.65 per game, fourth for interceptions at 1.57, fifth for successful tackles at 3.57 and ninth for fewest fouls conceded at 1.29. The Spaniard has shown he can also break forward from deeper positions, scoring against Vitória Guimarães.
“I have been improving and adapting better and better,” Altimira said recently. “It was a very quick process. When I consider joining a club, one of the things I think about is the style of play and whether I can adapt. It is clear that I have.”
He has described the pivot role as naturally more defensive, saying his instinct to win the ball is essential there. “I have also improved small positional details and feel that I am developing a lot,” he added. “I am happy, and now the task is to maintain this level or raise it further.”
For Betis, whose 19 points from a possible 24 represent the best league opening in the club’s history, Altimira’s departure for €18 million may now invite a degree of second thought. In Lisbon, though, Sporting have found a midfielder capable of setting the tempo on a Champions League night and carrying that authority through the week.
