Sporting CP vs Rakow prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-11-08 20:00.
After three rounds of the UEFA Europa League (UEL) group stage, Portuguese outfit Sporting CP have the chance to seize control of their fate in Group D. A mixed set of results thus far (W1, D1, L1) leaves them in the top two on H2H record alone, but Rúben Amorim’s men head into matchday four full of confidence after piecing together a six-match unbeaten run in all competitions (W5, D1).
The Lions have happy memories of this competition to fall back on, as after being eliminated from the Champions League last term, Sporting knocked out Arsenal on the way to the quarter-finals. They managed that despite winning just one of their last eight European home games (D3, L4), a record they’ll be keen to improve on having won both of their previous H2Hs on their own turf against Polish opposition.
Reigning Polish champions Raków would love to be the ones to rewrite that slice of history, and they’re in desperate need of doing so after accumulating just one point from their three games on UEL debut (D1, L2). The one time they avoided defeat did come in the reverse fixture though (D 1-1), providing Dawid Szwarga’s men with something to cling to, even if Sporting were reduced to ten men inside eight minutes.
The Medallions are unbeaten in their three matches since that Sporting stalemate (W2, D1), and showed their class in a crushing 5-0 victory over Zaglebie at the weekend. Translating that form into Europe remains the challenge, however an away assignment may not intimidate Raków, as they’ve won four of their last eight European road trips (D2, L2).
Players to watch: With Viktor Gyökeres suspended, winger Marcus Edwards may need to fill the goalscoring void for Sporting, and he looks primed and ready having directly contributed to two goals at the weekend (G1, A1). Raków’s Vladyslav Kochergin could equally be impactful, as he’s had a hand in six goals in ten games from midfield (G3, A3).
Hot stat: Sporting have led at half-time in seven of their last nine matches in all competitions.