Atalanta vs Sporting CP prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Play Offs betting tips on match 2024-03-13 20:00.
[p]A creditable 2-2 draw away to Juventus last time out saw Atalanta finish the gameweek four points adrift of Serie A’s top four, although their five match winless run (D3, L2) will be a concern – especially as Gian Piero Gasperini’s men won six consecutive matches before that. One of those winless outings came in their first UEFA Europa League (UEL) Round of 16 fixture against familiar foes in Europe this season, Sporting Lisbon (1-1), who they also met in the group stage.[/p]
[p]Atalanta’s last UEL participation ended in the quarter-finals, but they will likely need to get back to winning ways to better or even repeat that this year. They are at least unbeaten against their opponents so far this season (W1, D2) having met twice in this competition before Christmas and they also boast a record of eight wins from their past nine matches, scoring at least three goals in four of the last six. [/p]
[p]Sporting travel to Italy in fine form after their 3-0 win away to Arouca saw their unbeaten run stretch to 11 competitive matches (W8, D3), but two of those draws came in their three UEL matches in 2024 (W1). While no win in any of their past 16 visits to Italy (D4, L12) highlights why securing progression into the next stage remains far from a foregone conclusion, the fact they’ve scored three goals in four of their last five competitive away games shows just how dangerous they remain. [/p]
[p]Although history in these parts isn’t on the side of the visitors, they shouldn’t be too intimidated having displayed strong travelling form of late – highlighted by the fact those five aforementioned away games saw them go unbeaten (W4, D1) – including the first play-off round match against Young Boys. Their free-scoring nature has been clear for all to see of late and has helped Sporting gain an impressive eight victories across their last ten away outings (D1, L1).[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Teun Koopmeiners scored twice for Atalanta last weekend and none of his last five goals arrived earlier than in the 35th minute. Also on the scoresheet on Sunday, Viktor Gyökeres has found the net in nine of Sporting’s last 11 matches, with three of the last five arriving before the 30th minute.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: There has been at least one goal scored inside the opening 20 minutes in each of Sporting’s last seven matches.[/p]