Sporting CP will be looking to recover from a first-leg deficit in their UEFA Europa League quarter-finals tie when they welcome Juventus to Estádio José Alvalade for the reverse match on Thursday.
In last week’s opening leg, Juventus won 1-0 at Allianz Stadium. Federico Gatti scored the lone goal for the Bianconeri in the 73rd minute.
Juventus have got the better of Sporting CP of late, unbeaten in their last three matches (W2 D1 L0). Sporting CP are looking for their first win in fixtures between the two teams since October 2017. The Italian side have outscored the Portuguese side 4-2 during their unbeaten streak.
In the final third, Pote has been a key player for Sporting CP in Europa League play. The midfielder is the club’s top scorer with three goals.
Visitors Juventus have been spearheaded in in the final third thanks to Ángel Di María, who has scored on four occasions in the current Europa League campaign, including two match-opening goals. He is tied for fourth for goals scored in the competition in 2022/2023.
The visitors have scored in each of their five Europa League contests this season. Juventus have been similarly successful at holding opponents scoreless, as the visitors haven’t allowed a goal in their last four Europa League matches, dating to a Ludovic Blas finish in their knockout round play-offs draw against Nantes.
Hosts Sporting CP have drawn each of their two previous Europa League contests at Estádio José Alvalade this season. Os Leões are looking to extend a six-match home unbeaten streak (W3 D3 L0) in all competitions.
Juventus were victorious in both of their previous contests away from Allianz Stadium in the competition this season.
In their last six matches in all competitions, Sporting CP have won two, drawn three and lost one. They scored nine and conceded six in that stretch, scoring first in two of the six contests.
They had four first-half goals, while their opponents netted four times in the first 45 minutes. Juventus have won three, drawn one and lost two in their last six.
They scored five and conceded four in that period, netting first in four of the six. They had two goals in the first half, while their opponents netted one time before the break.
Prediction
After winning the first leg, Juventus should make it also this time and are expected to be in the competition’s last four. Pick: Juventus 1, Sporting CP 0.
