In a crucial Europa League clash, Rakow Czestochowa travels to Estadio Jose Alvalade to face Sporting Lisbon. The reverse fixture ended 1-1, with Sporting Lisbon at the top of the group with four points and Rakow Czestochowa at the bottom with just one point.
Match Preview
Sporting Lisbon enters this match after a remarkable 3-2 victory over Estrela, extending their unbeaten run to six games in all competitions. They lead the Primeira Liga, ahead of Benfica by three points.
In contrast, their Europa League performance in the first half of the group stages has been less convincing, with only one win against Sturm Graz in the first week.
In their last match against Rakow Czestochowa, they played most of the game with 10 men after Viktor Gyokeres received a red card, ultimately costing them two crucial points.
Sporting Lisbon has been formidable at home, winning nine of their last ten matches and losing just once in their last 22.
Rakow Czestochowa secured a vital point in their previous encounter with Sporting Lisbon, keeping their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.
However, they have only one point in the competition so far, and being three points behind the teams above them in the group, they face an uphill battle to qualify if they do not win this match.
Dawid Szwarga’s team lost 2-0 to Atalanta in the first group match and experienced a similar outcome in the second group game.
They have slipped to fourth place in the Ekstraklasa table despite a recent 5-0 win against Zaglebie Lubin, their only victory in regulation time in five matches.
Rakow Czestochowa’s realistic target would be to compete for a third-place finish in the group, which secures them a spot in the knockout stages of the Conference League.
Team News
Viktor Gyokeres is suspended due to his red card in the previous encounter. Paulinho, who scored the winning goal against Estrela, is expected to start.
Marcus Edwards and Pedro Goncalves are likely to line up on the wings, with Morten Hjulmand and Hidemasa Morita in the central midfield.
For Rakow Czestochowa, they have several long-term absentees, including Zoran Arsenic, Ivi Lopez, and Stratos Svarnas. Lukasz Zwolinski and Adrian Gryszkiewicz will miss this match due to injuries.
Predicted Lineups
Sporting Lisbon Possible Starting Lineup:
- Israel;
- Diomande, Coates, Inacio;
- Esgaio, Hjulmand, Morita, Reis;
- Goncalves, Paulinho, Edwards
Rakow Czestochowa Possible Starting Lineup:
- Kovacevic;
- Tudor, Racovitan, Rundic;
- Silva, Berggren, Lederman, Plavsic;
- Yeboah, Crnac, Nowak
Prediction: Sporting Lisbon 2-1 Rakow Czestochowa
Sporting Lisbon aims for a decisive victory on their home turf, seeking redemption for the dropped points in the previous encounter.
While Rakow Czestochowa may put up a fight, Sporting Lisbon’s strong home record makes them the favorites in this clash.