Europa League preview, predictions, team news and odds – 101 Great Goals

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Will Sporting Clube de Portugal have a longer run in the Europa League this season?

Rúben Amorim’s side started the Champions League group stage on fire, celebrating back-to-back wins over Frankfurt and then Spurs.

However, the Leões failed to win any of their four subsequent games as they were sentenced to third place at home to Frankfurt on Matchday 6.

Sporting have not won a knockout tie in UEFA competition since 2017, advancing only two of the last ten, those victories against Astana and Viktoria Plzeň, both six years ago.

Nonetheless, Primeira Liga team are the favorites to go through this game and are looking to use home field advantage here.

As for Midtjylland, their Europa League group was historic as all four clubs scored eight points.

Thus, they were all separated on goal difference, with the Danish side finishing second, behind Feyenoord, in terms of goals scored.

The Wolves both won at home, beating Lazio 5-1 before a crucial 2-0 win over Sturm Graz on the final day.

Midtjylland have never won a draw in the knockout stages and were eliminated by Manchester United in 2017 and PAOK 12 months ago.

Given that Albert Capellas’ side are seventh in the Danish Superligaen, they don’t seem well placed to change that.

Will Sporting build a solid first-leg lead at the Estádio José Alvalade?

Sporting CP Team News

England winger Marcus Edwards stood out in the group stage, scoring against both Frankfurt and former club Tottenham, scoring ten times in total this season.

Their top scorer, however, is Pedro Gonçalves; He was sent off in a 4-1 defeat in Marseille and goalkeeper Antonio Adán received his marching orders one evening.

Right-back Héctor Bellerín made his Sporting debut in Sunday night’s 2-1 defeat by Porto and will keep his place here.

News from the Midtjylland team

The guests have been without competition since November 13th, the Superligaen are returning from the winter break this week.

Captain and talismanic centre-back Erik Sviatchenko will miss this first leg due to acclimatization with a yellow card.

Emiliano Martínez (not this one) and Emam Ashour could both make their debuts in midfield, having joined from RB Bragantino and Zamalek respectively in January.

Sporting CP vs Midtjylland: head-to-head stats