UEFA Europa League: Sporting vs Juventus preview and live stream
Preview
Juventus will go to Lisbon with a one-goal lead for the second leg of their UEFA Europa League quarterfinal contest against Sporting CP on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. at Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Sporting have now failed to win on any of their 16 visits to Serie A opponents, losing on 12 times, following their disappointing journey to Italy last week, when Juventus sneaked a 1-0 win. The fact that they are fourth in the Primeira Liga standings, while arch rivals Benfica are first, does not match the Portuguese champions’ desire, and they remain outsiders to qualify for the Champions League through the league following a disappointing home draw with Arouca on Sunday. Since beating Tottenham in Lisbon last September, they have lost all of their European home games. Sporting will almost probably need to break that streak on Thursday, since losing five consecutive european games at Alvalade would mean elimination.
Despite their domestic difficulties and a terrible Champions League campaign in which they were beaten twice by Sporting’s city rivals Benfica, the Bianconeri have won their past four European matches without allowing a goal, which is their best such run since 2013. Nantes and Freiburg have been pushed aside after Juventus advanced to the Europa League knockout stages after finishing third in Champions League Group H, and a semi-final against either Manchester United or Sevilla might be on the horizon. Lifting the title following next month’s final in Budapest would also provide a path back into Europe’s top club competition, but despite a narrow first-leg lead, a difficult Sporting side stands in their way.
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Head-to-head
Juventus comes into this match with two wins and a draw in their last three meetings with Sporting CP. The teams drew 1-1 in their only meeting in Lisbon.
Prediction
Juventus can frustrate a Sporting side that has not duplicated last season’s title-winning form and is a touch more vulnerable these days, thanks to Allegri’s acquired expertise and his expensively constructed cast of underachievers. And because a draw would send them to the final four, Juventus will gladly play spoiler and concentrate their efforts on attacking on the break.
