PSV vs Sporting CP prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-09-30 19:00.
[p]Dominant Eredivisie force PSV Eindhoven were handed a harsh reality check in Turin when losing their first UEFA Champions League league phase match 3-1 away to Juventus, but recent seasons are a fresh reminder that itâs far too early to be discouraged. PSVâs four previous group stages in any UEFA competition saw them draw or lose their opening match, but they would nonetheless recover to progress to the knockouts in three of them. [/p]
[p]Thatâs because of some reliable home form that has seen them go unbeaten on Dutch soil across the last two UEFA seasons (W6, D4), with no visitor able to keep them scoreless and only one of the six losers (Lens) able to restrict the margin to a single goal. PSV are also âsportingâ an unbeaten record at home to Portuguese clubs this century (W2, D2) and should therefore have no reason to fear their upcoming opponents, who they last hosted in the 2019/20 Europa League (W 3-2).[/p]
[p]Sporting CP took advantage of a numerical advantage to double their lead and secure a 2-0 win at home to an out-of-form Lille on the opening matchday. It was the third consecutive season in which they opened a new league/group stage of a UEFA competition with all three points, and as a result theyâre already halfway to matching the two wins earned in their last Champions League group stage! [/p]
[p]Manager RĂșben Amorim urged his side not to get carried away with their winning streak that now stands at eight games across two competitions, particularly when they have to host Arsenal and Manchester City in November. Their away performances could therefore be especially decisive in determining their fate, and just one away loss across their two previous group stages at any level (W2, D3) is something encouraging to build upon. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: PSVâs Guus Til has been a regular attacking threat for PSV this season, scoring and/or assisting in six of his nine competitive appearances. Mozambican Geny Catamo recorded the top Flashscore rating of the match at the weekend when scoring in the third of his last five starts for club or country.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Ten of Sportingâs last 12 UEFA matches saw both teams score on the day.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]