BSC Young Boys vs Sporting Lisbon Prediction & Betting Tips - Europa League

Prediction published on 15/02/2024, 03:50  by Daniel Ngulu in Europa League Predictions

Young Boys and Sporting Lisbon will put aside their domestic title ambition to contest a Europa League last 16 spot. The two sides face off on Thursday, with Young Boys hosting the first leg of their knockout round playoff. Young Boys are here courtesy of a drop from the Champions League. Playing in Group G that also had champions Manchester City and Leipzig, Young Boys could only do better than Red Star Belgrade. They finished with just a win, and four points. The Swiss side will hope to do better in the Europa League, having lost four of their six group games in the Champions League. Coming into this game, Young Boys are well in control of their title charge in Switzerland. Their 3-3 draw with Lugano last time out denied them a chance to go nine points clear at the top. However, they still have it in their grip. Young Boys will only be disappointed that in the game, they led three times and still blew it with 10 minutes to go. The last time they played in the Europa League, they advanced to the last 16 but lost home and away to Ajax in 2021.

Sporting Lisbon are here after they finished three points short of Atalanta in Group D of the Europa League. A 2-1 loss at home to Atalanta was in the end the major difference at the close of the group stages. Coming here with three wins in six group stage matches, they'll feel they have what it takes to register a first leg advantage. They advanced to the quarters last season courtesy of a famous win over Arsenal and will be looking to go further. The Portuguese side is in perfect shape coming here, with three straight wins and all of them really comfortable ones. They thrashed Sporting Braga 5-0 in their last game, avenging a 1-0 loss to the same team earlier, in the League Cup. With that win, Sporting have scored 16 times in the last three matches and conceded no goal. Having won five of their last six away matches, Sporting will feel confident heading to Switzerland for this encounter.