Sporting CP have made hard work of the league stages of the UEFA Champions League following an excellent start, but a win over Bologna will be enough to ensure their place in the play-offs as they look to qualify for the last-16.
Their Italian opponents are unable to progress, but they will be hopeful of a bold show after claiming their first win in the competition against Borussia Dortmund last week.
Contents |
Prediction | BetSie Supercomputer % | Odds | Odds % |
Sporting CP to win | 56.3% | 61.9% | |
Sporting CP 2-1 Bologna | N/A | 11.8% |
Sporting have won 13 of their last 15 home matches
Bologna have scored just three goals in their seven UEFA Champions League games this season
Viktor Gyokeres has scored 28 goals in 24 games for Sporting CP this season
Tip | Current Odds |
Sporting CP to win by one goal | |
Viktor Gyokeres to score at any time | |
Jens Odgaard to have over 1.5 shots on target |
Sporting CP to win by one goal - 11/4
Sporting CP looked to be cruising straight through to the last-16 in the UEFA Champions League, but their campaign has faltered since they won three and drew one of their opening four matches.
They memorably thumped Manchester City 4-1 in Ruben Amorim’s final European game in charge, but it has been a tale of woe since, as they were hammered 5-1 by Arsenal in their next game on their own patch and followed that disappointment with losses at Club Brugge and RB Leipzig.
That means they can ill-afford another slip-up against Bologna, who have already been eliminated, and it could prove to be a tight game at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
The Italians will want to give a good account of themselves, even though they have earned just five points from their seven league-stage games and their tally of three goals is the joint-worst among the 32 competitors.
They have shown a degree of mettle by earning a goalless draw at Benfica and beating Borussia Dortmund in their last two games and they have lost just two of their last 19 Serie A matches, as 10 draws this term has hampered their progress and left them eighth domestically.
So they could be difficult to break down and it could be that Sporting CP just squeeze home by one goal to ensure their interest in the competition continues.
Viktor Gyokeres to score at any time - 1/1
There is little doubt that Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres has been the star of the show for Sporting CP this season and he can be expected to boost his European goal tally in the final league-stage outing.
Gyokeres has six UEFA Champions League goals this season, including a hat-trick in that memorable victory over Manchester City, while he leads the Primeira Liga goalscoring charts with 22.
He has also scored nine goals in six internationals this season, so is clearly at the top of his game, which is bad news for the Italian visitors.
Jens Odgaard to have over 1.5 shots on target - 10/3
Bologna have nothing to lose on their trip to the Portuguese capital, so that should see them at least attempt to be positive, having been spurred on by their win over Dortmund.
One player to keep an eye on is Danish midfielder Jens Odgaard, who has not been shy about having a pop at goal lately.
Odgaard has had 10 efforts at goal in his last five matches and all but two of them have been on target.
He has tested the goalkeeper more than once in six of his last 10 appearances for the Serie A outfit and looks an attractive price to replicate that on Wednesday.
Sporting CP | 56.3% |
Draw | 22.6% |
Bologna | 21.1% |
The odds suggest that Sporting CP have a 61.9% chance of winning, though the BetSie Supercomputer gives them a 56.3% chance.
The BetSie Supercomputer rates the draw a 22.6% chance, with visitors given a 21.1% chance of victory.
A 2-1 for the hosts has a 11.8% chance of happening according to the betting odds.
Formation: 4-4-2
Team: Israel; Fresneda, Diomande, Goncalo Inacio, Quenda; Catamo, Morita, Hjulmand, Araujo; Trincao, Gyokeres.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Team: Skorpuski; Holm, Beukema, Lucumi, Juan Miranda; Odgaard, Pobega; Castro, Ferguson, Ndoye; Dallinga.
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