In the upcoming Europa League clash, last season’s quarter-finalists Sporting Lisbon will travel to Austria to face Sturm Graz.
Despite their impressive performance against Arsenal in the knockouts, Sporting fell short against Juventus. This year, they begin their European campaign with hopes of reaching new heights.
Match Preview
Sporting Lisbon faced disappointment last season as they finished fourth in the Primeira Liga, missing out on the Champions League qualification.
Braga secured the final spot ahead of them, leaving Sporting with a Europa League place. However, this setback didn’t dampen their spirits, as they have made an excellent start this season.
Ruben Amorim’s side currently sits level on points with Porto and Boavista at the top of the league after a convincing win over Moreirense.
With a favorable run of fixtures in the domestic league, Amorim may prioritize securing victories in their European group matches as well.
Sporting’s journey in the Europa League last season came to a halt in the quarter-finals, marking their best performance in over a decade.
Since their defeat in the 2005 UEFA Cup final to CSKA Moscow, Sporting has struggled to establish themselves as contenders.
However, Amorim remains hopeful that his team can compete against the quality teams in this season’s Europa League, especially considering their victory over Arsenal last year.
Although Sturm Graz won’t make it easy for Sporting, they have shown great form in the domestic league.
With five wins under their belt, including impressive victories over LASK Linz and Austria Vienna, Sturm Graz’s draw against Salzburg showcased their potential.
Matching up against Sporting will be a tough challenge, especially considering their recent 7-2 defeat against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League playoffs.
Team News:
Sturm Graz’s new signing Seedy Jatta will remain unavailable for this match, but Dimitri Lavalee could make his debut.
Following a strong performance against Salzburg, manager Christian Ilzer is expected to keep a similar lineup.
Sporting Lisbon may reintroduce Paulinho to their side after leaving him out of the Moreirense win.
Viktor Gyokeres has been in top form, but Paulinho’s scoring record this season makes him a valuable asset.
Promising right-back Ivan Fresneda might also receive his full debut, while Daniel Braganca and Francisco Trincao will be vying for a rare start.
Pedro Goncalves, known for his incredible goals, will be a key player in Sporting’s attacking strategy.
Predicted Starting Lineups:
Sturm Graz:
Scherpen;
Gazibegovic, Wuthrich, Gorenc-Stankovic, Schnegg;
Affengruber, Prass, Kiteishvili;
Sarkaria, Wlodarczyk, Fuseini
Sporting Lisbon:
Adan;
Diomande, Coates, Goncalo Inacio;
Ivan Fresneda, Morita, Pedro Goncalves, Nuno Santos;
Edwards, Gyokeres, Trincao
Prediction:
We predict a 3-1 victory for Sporting Lisbon over Sturm Graz. While Sturm has been performing well, Sporting’s quality and current form give them the upper hand in this exciting encounter.
