Nemanja Matic's header ended Sporting's proud four-year unbeaten home run in Europe as Chelsea seized control of Champions League Group G with a 1-0 victory in Lisbon on Tuesday.
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Booed by the home fans throughout, Matic, who used to play for Sporting's bitter rivals Benfica, nodded in Cesc Fabregas's inswinging free kick at the back post after 34 minutes.
Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, returning to Sporting two decades after starting his coaching career there as an interpreter, could have enjoyed a more comfortable night if not for an impressive display from home keeper Rui Patricio.
The Sporting captain denied prolific Chelsea striker Diego Costa, Andre Schuerrle and Oscar with a string of important saves but his heroics were in vain.
Victory took Chelsea to the top of the table on four points after Schalke 04 were held to a surprise 1-1 draw at home to Slovenian side Maribor.
‘We’ve put ourselves top of the group and in control again’
"We had so many chances to kill it off, but it was one of those nights when it wouldn't go in and thankfully Nemanja Matic scored," Chelsea captain John Terry, who made his 100th appearance in the Champions League, told Sky Sports.
"We lost our first group game last year and went on to win the group. We had that in mind and knew we needed to win - we've put ourselves top of the group and in control again."
After the disappointing home draw against Schalke 04 two weeks ago, Mourinho said he would ‘risk’ playing striker Costa, who has been suffering with hamstring problems, in the hope that his side could secure a much-needed win.
The gamble nearly offered an instant pay-off when Costa beat the offside trap to run clear on Sporting's goal but Patricio blocked well with an outstretched leg.
Chelsea finally found a way past the inspired keeper shortly afterwards when Matic's looping header back across goal nestled in the net.
Sporting enjoyed more possession in the second half with winger Nani, on loan from Manchester United, seeing plenty of the ball in dangerous areas.
However, it was Chelsea who threatened on the counter-attack with Oscar running clear but Patricio again blocked.
Veteran Totti punishes sluggish City with landmark goal
Manchester City face a hard battle to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League after their sluggish start to yet another campaign continued with a 1-1 draw at home to AS Roma on Tuesday.
They were denied victory by Francesco Totti, aged 38 years and three days, equalising for Roma in the first half at the Etihad Stadium to become the oldest scorer in European club football history.
Totti chipped the ball over goalkeeper Joe Hart for his landmark goal after 24 minutes which resulted in City failing to win their first home match in the competition for the fourth successive season -- even after they went ahead with a fourth-minute penalty from Sergio Aguero.
Frustrating night for City
City manager Manuel Pellegrini endured a frustrating night against the in-form Italians, who had won all six matches they had played so far this season in Serie A and the Champions League, and admitted his team now have a tough task to qualify for the last 16.
"We are disappointed to have just one point after playing here at home against a very good team," Pellegrini told Sky Sports.
Despite the experience they have gained since 2011 when they joined Europe's top table, City appear not to have learned the lessons of their previous campaigns.
By losing their opening match 1-0 at Bayern Munich and failing to win on Tuesday they are already five points behind Bayern, who top the group after two wins.
Despite making a great start, City allowed Roma to dominate much of the first half and only some excellent goalkeeping from Hart kept them in the game, even though they played marginally better after halftime.
Hart was then the busier keeper as Roma took control for long periods, with Miralem Pjanic and Gervinho forcing the England number one into some vital saves.
One subplot saw Frank Lampard, who came on for the last 33 minutes, face his old Chelsea team mate Ashley Cole, now at Roma, and it was Cole who enjoyed the result more than his former colleague.
