Sporting CP vs Bologna Prediction - Champions League

Josh Ingram is on hand to oversee a Sporting Lisbon vs Bologna prediction betting preview at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, where Bologna arrives only playing for pride but could potentially spoil Sporting Lisbon’s chances of qualification. Sporting could likely get through with a point, but all three points is a guarantee of progressing, so they should come out all guns blazing for this massive clash. 

Bologna, despite already being out of the competition, are no pushover and will provide a stern test. Big players typically decide big games like this, and there are few bigger ones than Viktor Gyokeres at the moment across Europe.

Sporting Lisbon vs Bologna Prediction: Gyokeres to fire sporting through to the next round

Portugal, Champions League, Wednesday, January 29th, 20:00 (UK)

Sporting Lisbon could scrape through with a point versus Bologna on the final day. A draw should be enough, as that would take both Dinamo and Shakhtar out of contention in terms of leapfrogging Sporting. Elsewhere, Stuttgart and Man City both play teams that would fall below Sporting if they lose. For 100% certainty, Sporting need the win. Their opponents, Bologna, have had a rotten time in the Champions League, collecting just five points to ensure early elimination. 

At one stage, after four games played in the league phase, Sporting was joint second with ten points from a possible 12. Since then, Man United swooped in and snatched Ruben Amorim, and their form in Europe consequently nosedived. Verde e Brancos have lost three on the spin in this competition under two different managers, João Pereira and the current man in charge, Rui Borges. João Pereira was sacked on boxing day after four losses from eight, two of which were in the Champions League, including the humiliating 5-1 home defeat to Arsenal. Despite this, Sporting have won 13 of their last 15 home games in all competitions. The final fixture being at home might be vital on matchday eight.

If Sporting wins, it will likely be because of Viktor Gyokeres, who spearheads their attack. After the bizarre decision not to start him last week in their loss away at already eliminated Leipzig, he will surely begin the contest this time out. The Swedish marksman has been firing them in at a head-turning rate of more than a goal per90: 34 goals in 33 appearances. In the Champions League, the Swede has notched six in seven, including the impressive hat trick in the 4-1 win at home to Man City, which was Amorim’s penultimate game at the club. 

Bologna manager Vincenzo Italiano had a challenging task taking over from Thiago Motta after his successful campaign last season. When playing in the Champions League, in the early stages of the competition, they have struggled. The solitary win came last week against Borussia Dortmund in a surprisingly dominant fashion. In Serie A, they sit five points off the top four. They don’t concede a considerable volume of goals, but they have failed to keep a clean sheet in five out of seven games, the two 0-0s against Benfica and Shaktar bucking this trend.

Sporting is a free-scoring side, putting away 72 goals across all competitions so far this season. Gyokeres contributes a large percentage of this, with his 34 goals accounting for 47% of Sporting’s goals. Evidently, he is key to their success, and that’s not just in domestic competitions. He has scored six of Sporting’s 12 goals in the Champions League. 

• Sporting Lisbon vs Bologna Prediction: Viktor Gyokeres anytime goalscorer 1.83  (TRACKED BET) & Viktor Gyokeres to score 2+ goals (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.83 & 4.75
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 12.5/10 (TRACKED BET) & 0.5(TRACKED BET)

Sporting Lisbon vs Bologna  Prediction odds via bet365 as at 09:00, January 28th, 2024. Odds may now differ.

Sporting Lisbon vs Bologna Team News: Gyokeres to start after failed experiment and Hamstrings causing Bologna problems

As mentioned, Gyokeres’s odd exclusion from the starting eleven in Germany should be a one-off. The Swede proved it was a mistake by scoring off the bench; leaving your best players out usually doesn’t work. Sporting have a fair few injuries who would be in contention for a start, none other than key man Pedro Goncalves, who has been suffering from the effect of a muscle injury. Goncalves is joined by Nuno Santos, Jerry St Juste and Eduardo Quaresma in the treatment room. Alongside this January signing, Rui Silva isn’t registered to play in Europe, meaning Franco Israel will be between the sticks for this one.

Bologna have a few injuries themselves. Greek left-back Charalampos Lykogiannis had to come off when Bologna drew to Empoli this past weekend. It would be a miss as he has been creating chances from full-back these past couple of weeks, with two assists in two matches. Due to the hamstring injury sustained last week in Bologna’s win over Dortmund, Riccardo Orsolini will not feature in this one, or for a while. Another hamstring injury is causing doubt over whether Michel Aebischer will be fit enough with a late test to see if he’s ready. Remo Freuluer won’t be among those starting or even in the squad. The Swiss international is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:

Israel; Fresneda, Diomande, Goncalo Inacio, Quenda; Catamo, Morita, Hjulmand, Araujo; Trincao, Gyokeres

Bologna possible starting lineup:

Skorupski; Holm, Beukema, Lucumi, Juan Miranda; Odgaard, Pobega; Castro, Ferguson, Ndoye; Dallinga

Match Stats: Sporting navigated a tough schedule

• Sporting Lisbon’s draw pre-tournament fixture difficulty was ranked as the joint sixth hardest draw in the competition. At the same time, Bologna was only the 24th hardest. 
• Bologna beat Sporting last time they met, winning 4-1 on aggregate in their only previous meeting back in the 1998-99 UEFA Cup, winning 2-0 at the old Jose Alvalade.
• Viktor Gyokeres is the joint fifth-highest scorer with six goals in the Champions League and is currently sixth in the race for the European Golden Boot.

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