Sporting Lisbon vs Arsenal Prediction & Betting Tips - Europa League

Prediction published on 22/10/2018, 12:00  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 22/10/2018 at 17:47 in Europa League Predictions

Sporting Lisbon take on Arsenal in the first of two back-to-back Europa League games. Both sides have six points from their first two group games with Arsenal on top. This will go a long way towards determining the group winners and Sporting aren't in the best of form at present. They are fifth in their domestic league, four points adrift of leaders Benfica. They have lost two of their last three league games including a 4-2 away loss to Portimonense who have lost four of their first seven league games. In this group so far they have had a 2-0 home win over bottom team Qarabag but had to wait until the 54th minute to break the deadlock. They followed that up with a 2-1 win at Vorsika Poltava but looked to be heading for defeat until goals in the 91st and 93rd minutes. They are unbeaten in their last four home games in this competition and beat Atletico Madrid last season.

Arsenal had a poor start to the season losing to both Manchester City and Chelsea. Since then they have won ten games in a row though the standard of opposition hasn't been that high. They kicked this group off with a 4-2 home win over Vorslka and then beat Qarabag 3-0 away. The goals have been flowing and importantly that appalling away record has improved with four straight wins and 13 goals scored. Arsenal won't play their strongest line-up but have plenty in depth. They have only lost one of their last five away games in this competition and can get an 11th win in a row with victory in Lisbon.