Real Madrid CF begin their quest to do what no side has done in the UEFA Champions League era and retain the European Cup. The defending champions kick off their 2016/17 campaign against a Sporting Clube de Portugal side seeking their own first – a victory in Spain.
• For Cristiano Ronaldo, the match brings a reunion with the club where he spent six years (1997–2003) before leaving for Manchester United FC.
Previous meetings
• The clubs last met in the 2000/01 UEFA Champions League first group stage, when Madrid were again defending champions. Then as now they faced each other on m…