Sporting CP take on Olympiakos in the Champions League next week, with the home side looking for a win that would give them a good chance of qualifying for the knockout phase of the competition. The Portuguese giants have won just one of their European encounters to date however, meaning that many are expecting a close affair when they take on Olympiakos at the Estádio José Alvalade
Champions League – Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon – Wednesday 22nd November – 19:45 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 14/5 at Ladbrokes |
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Sporting Lisbon
Olympiakos PiraeusMatch Preview
Sporting host Greek giants Olympiakos in the Champions League next Wednesday, with Jorge Jesus’ side searching for a crucial three points in front of their home fans. With a place in the knockout phase of the competition very much still available, the home side will be looking to dominate proceedings against an opponent who have so far struggled to make any sort of impact in the competition. For those looking to place a bet on the match, be sure to check out our top tip below. However, let’s first take a closer look at the two teams, starting with Sporting.
Sporting CP Team News & Form
Sporting come into the game off the back of a battling 1-1 draw with former Champions League winners Juventus, leaving them with four points from the same number of matches in Group D. Manager Jesus led his team to a narrow 3-2 win in Greece at the start of their European campaign, with the likes of Gelson Martins, Das Bost and William Carvalho making them a tough team to beat. The Portuguese side have scored just five goals from their four matches however, with goal difference potentially playing a part in deciding who eventually qualifies from the group. There are a whole host of familiar faces in the Sporting squad, with Fabio Coentrao, Sebastian Coates and Seydou Doumbia being familiar to fans across Europe.
Olympiakos Team News & Form
Despite having lost three of their four Champions League Group D matches, Olympiakos will still be looking for the win when they travel to Portugal to take on Sporting next week. Takis Lemonis’ side claimed an impressive draw with group leaders Barcelona last time around, however a lack of goals has severely effected his teams progress. Serbian forward Uroš Đurđević could well lead the line for the visitors, while former Chelsea man Marko Marin is one of their most creative talents.
Head to Head
The two teams meeting in Greece back in September was their only ever competitive meeting, with Sporting’s 3-2 success demonstrating the similarities in quality between the duo.
Betting Odds and Predictions
It comes as little surprise that it is Sporting who are the firm favourites for victory with the majority of bookmakers. The home side can be backed at odds of 11/20 at William Hill, while those looking to bet on a surprise away win for Olympiakos can take advantage of 11/2 odds with PaddyPower.
Top Betting Tip
However, our top betting tip for the match is to bet on Sporting keeping a clean sheet in Portugal next week, with best odds of 11/10 available at Ladbrokes.