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Kick off: Thursday, 01.10.2015. @19:00
Venue: Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadi
Head to head record
No past meetings
Besiktas vs Sporting Lisbon prediction
Thursday’s match at Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadi sees Besiktas take on Sporting CP in Group H derby. Besiktas head into the Europa League clash following a 3-2 win over Fenerbahce in the city derby and no doubt the hosts are brimming with confidence at the moment.
Fine form
Thanks to a 3-2 win over Fenerbahce in the local derby, Besiktas climbed to top position in Turkish Super Lig standings. The Kara Kartallar will be looking to build on the victory when they take on Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League, but Thursday’s clash will be anything but a walk in the park for the Turks. Senol Gunes’ men kicked off their Europa League campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Skenderbeu of Albania, meaning that they would be happy should they happen to share the spoils with the Portuguese outfit at their Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadi. Mario Gomez has netted four goals in six league appearances this season and the experienced forward will be the man to watch in the home side. Eyes will be on Ricardo Quaresma too, who has been in a brilliant form in recent weeks. It has to be noted that Besiktas have recorded three wins in last four home fixtures in the Europa League.
The likes of Veli Kavlak and Tolgay Arslan are both sidelined through injury, but coach Senol Gunes has no other selection worries ahead of the Sporting Lisbon game. The Turkish tactician is likely to stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation.
Poor start
Sporting CP failed to qualify for the Champions League group stages, with the team losing to CSKA in the two-legged tie. Russian clubs obviously do not suit Lions as they were beaten by Lokomotiv Moscow in the opening match of their Europa League campaign (3-1). Jorge Jesus’ men aim to bounce back from the defeat and they will surely take Thursday’s match against Besiktas very seriously. The Portuguese outfit head into the match following a goalless draw with Boavista in the national championship, but despite dropping two points in the clash against As Panteras, Sporting remained in second position in Primeira Liga standings. Jorge Jesus has a number of high-profile players to choose from, but men to watch in the away side will be Slimani, Ruiz and Italian midfielder Aquilani. It is well known that the Lions are a real force to be reckoned with at home, but the team’s away record is anything but impressive and you should know that they have suffered a loss in each of their last four away fixtures in the Europa League.
Ewerton is likely to miss the match with injury, but he is the only absentee in the away side. Youngster Martins is widely expected to start the match.
Besiktas vs Sporting Lisbon betting tip
Following the 3-1 loss to Lokomotiv Moscow, Sporting are desperate to grab something from their second group game and I am positive that the visitors will adopt an attack-minded approach in Thursday’s game against Besiktas. Both teams have high-profile players up front and seeing that the hosts have been in a fine form of late, there is every chance both teams will find the net at Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadi. The two sides have never met before in a competitive match.
Tip: Both teams to score
Odds: 1.83 (5/6) @Unibet
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