LONDON (AP) — Sporting Lisbon is parting ways with coach Rui Borges after the club’s slow start to the season, with reserve-team coach Tiago Fernandes taking temporary control ahead of the Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk in London on Tuesday.

Sporting is third in the Portuguese league, already nine points behind leader Porto.

The club said in a statement Monday that it has begun discussions with Rui Borges “with a view to terminating his employment contract.”

Tiago Fernandes will be in charge of the first team on an interim basis until Rui Borges’ replacement is appointed, the Lisbon-based club added.

Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca is expected to take over, according to French media. Fonseca told reporters there was a possibility he could leave the Ligue 1 side after Lyon’s 2-0 win against Angers on Sunday in Ligue 1.

In the Champions League, Sporting won its first two games — against Galatasaray and Lens — but surprisingly lost at home to LASK of Austria in the last round.

Borges took over at Sporting in December 2024 after leaving his role as Vitoria de Guimaraes coach. He replaced João Pereira, who lasted just six weeks as the successor to Ruben Amorim, and guided Sporting to a successful defense of its Portuguese league title.

Last season, Sporting also reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League, only losing to eventual runner-up Arsenal 1-0 on aggregate.