Europa League Odds: Sporting-Arsenal prediction, pick, how to watch
English club Arsenal travel to the Estadio Jose Alvalade XXI for the first leg of the Europa League round of 16 against Sporting Lisbon on Thursday evening. Join us as we continue our Europa League odds serieswhere we meet and select our Sporting Arsenal prediction while showing you how to watch.
Ruben Amorim’s former Champions League contenders beat FC Midtjylland 5-1 in the play-offs. Sporting are also unbeaten in five games and will try to rely on their good results lately.
The Gunners marched on as Group A winners, defeating PSV, Bodo/Glimt and Zurich. Arsenal are hoping to extend their streak of four wins in the Premier when they travel to Portugal.
Here are the Sporting arsenal football oddscourtesy of FanDuel.
Europa League Odds: Odds from Sporting-Arsenal
Athletic CP: +250
Arsenal FC: +110
Draw: +230
Over 2.5 goals: +100
Under 2.5 goals: -122
How to watch Sporting vs Arsenal
Television: TUDN USA
Stream: fuboTV, Paramount+, TUDN.co, TUDN App, ViX, ViX+
Time: 12:45 p.m. ET / 9:45 a.m. PT
*Watch Football LIVE with fuboTV (Click for Free Trial)*
Why Sporting can beat Arsenal
Sporting have recovered from their slow start to the season and are now in the hunt for European football. In their last home game, they lost 2-1 to holders Porto before suffering a 1-1 first-leg defeat by FC Midtjylland. The Lees went on a four-game winning streak, including a 4-0 win as a guest against Midtjylland in the second leg of the knockout stages to qualify for the round of 16. With 47 points scored, Sporting are in the top four of the Portuguese league from 15 wins, two draws and six losses.
The hosts want to build on their good results from the last few games. They were victorious in the Portuguese Primeira Liga against Chaves, Estoril Praia and Portimonense, without conceding in their last two games.
Sporting have good stats that underpin their amazing run in European competition. They scored a total of 13 goals in both the Champions League and the Europa League. Pedro Goncalves and Sebastian Coates each scored two Europa League goals, while Arthur Gomes, Marcus Edwards and Francisco Trincao also each scored two Champions League goals. Revenge is on Sporting’s agenda ahead of this game as Arsenal won a Europa League Group E match in 2018.
Sporting Lisbon will be without midfield player Daniel Braganca, who is struggling with a ligament injury. Sporting should be able to have more than the Priemeirra League average of 16.1 total shots, 7.0 corners and 62.3% possession rate per game. On defence, Sporting has kept nine clean sheets in Liga Portugal while also recording 17.3 tackles, 8.5 interceptions and 10.7 clearances per game.
Why Arsenal can beat Sporting
Arsenal are the current Premier League leaders with 20 wins and three draws in 26 games played. Arsenal’s visits to Leicester City and Aston Villa have been fruitful, as have their home games against Everton and Bournemouth. The Gunners grabbed all four games with wins in those games. The Gunners now have +34 goal difference, the second best mark in the league.
Ahead of their current four-game winning streak, the Gunners had four games without a win, including losses to Manchester City, a draw to Brentford and a loss to the now-hosts. Man City also defeated them in Round 4 of the FA Cup.
With 31 out of a possible 39 points, Arsenal have the best record in away games in the Premier League. The Gunners are hoping to maintain their good record in the Prem and continue in European competition. In six Europa League games, Arsenal average 16.7 shots, 6.7 corners and 1.3 goals per game thanks to a 60.3% possession rate. Eddie Nketiah leads the club with two goals. Four other players have one assist each. Marquinhos and Fabio Vieira have two goals for the Gunners.
Manager Mikel Arteta has to accept the absence of Gabriel Jesus, Mohamed Elneny and Leandro Trossard for the game. Nketiah is also a doubt going into this game. Thomas Partey will return to his role in midfield alongside Granit Xhaka and Vieira will start ahead of captain Martin Odegaard. Gabriel Martinelli is used as a center forward, with Reiss Nelson and Emile Smith Rowe on the wings. Second-choice keeper Matt Turner gets the nod ahead of Aaron Ramsdale.
Final Sporting Arsenal Prediction & Pick
Arsenal are likely to use their second-string members in this game. However, don’t be fooled by Arsenal’s tactics as they are still capable of winning this game. Sporting Lisbon certainly have the better momentum, having beaten a European side in their last five games, but the Gunners will shoot for the win here.
Sporting Arsenal final prediction and selection: Arsenal (+110), over 2.5 goals (+100)