Sporting CP vs Juventus betting tips: Europa League quarter-final second leg preview, predictions, team news and odds
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Sporting CP vs Juventus odds and betting statistics
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Sporting CP vs Juventus recommended bets
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Sporting CP vs Juventus match preview
Will Juventus march into the semi-finals, or can Sporting Clube de Portugal claim another huge scalp?
Last Thursday’s first leg in Turin produced just a solitary goal, with Federico Gatti poking home from close-range after Dušan Vlahović’s header had been blocked on the line by Sebastián Coates.
Sporting though certainly created chances in Turin, the most notable of which came in stoppage time, when Mattia Perin produced a remarkable double save to deny Pedro Gonçalves and then Héctor Bellerín.
So, 1-0 it finished at Allianz Stadium; can Juventus make that lead count in Lisbon?
La Vecchia Signora are seeking to win this competition for the fourth time, having previously done so in 1977, 1990 ad 1993.
This could be their best route into next season’s Champions League, with Massimiliano Allegri’s side seventh in Serie A, following back-to-back defeats at the hands of Lazio and Sassuolo.
Nevertheless, Juve are still targeting Europa League success and, having already seen off Nantes and Freiburg, are amongst the favourites to lift the trophy on 31 May.
Sporting Clube de Portugal meanwhile caused a huge upset in the round of 16, overcoming Arsenal on penalties after both legs ended in draws.
Like their visitors, Rúben Amorim’s team are looking to Europe to salvage their season.
Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Arouca means the Leões remain fourth in the Primeira Liga, now seven points adrift Braga, who occupy the last Champions League spot, with only six games remaining.
Sporting have not reached the semi-finals of a UEFA competition since 2012 and have lost their last six two-legged knockout ties against Italian opposition, dating back to 1991.
So, will it be a famous night at Estádio José Alvalade, or will Juventus set up a semi-final showdown with Manchester United or Sevilla?
Sporting CP team news
Rúben Amorim rotated heavily at the weekend with this game in mind.
Gonçalo Inácio will return to the back three, although Jeremiah St. Juste is out having sustained an injury in Turin, meaning Matheus Reis is set to deputise.
Elsewhere, Hidemasa Morita will return to midfield, Ricardo Esgaio will be back at right-wing-back while Marcus Edwards is set to be the danger man in attack.
Striker Paulinho remains sidelined, so Chermiti will lead the line, with Edwards and Trincão in support.
Pedro Gonçalves scored from 46-yards against Arsenal in the previous round, and remains Sporting’s star player.
Juventus team news
Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny was taken off in the first half of the first leg after suffering a heart palpitation.
He is now fine, and was back on the bench in Emilia-Romagna on Sunday, so could return in place of Mattia Perin.
With Leonardo Bonucci still not fit, unlikely first leg hero Federico Gatti will continue at centre-back.
Manuel Locatelli, Juan Cuadrado and Ángel Di María will all return to the XI, the latter scored a hat-trick away to Nantes in the first knockout round.
The forgotten man Paul Pogba also enjoyed a seven-minute cameo against Sassuolo, taking his tally to 46 minutes across four appearances this season.
Pogba scored in the 2017 Europa League Final and was part of the Juve team that reached the semi-finals of this tournament nine years ago.
