Atalanta vs Sporting Prediction: Team News and Lineups Preview

Tom Winch is here with a Atalanta vs Sporting prediction, team news, lineups and fixtures preview, as the Portuguese head to Italy in the Round of 16 in the Europa League.

The tie is firmly in the balance at the halfway stage. Atalanta has the advantage after the first leg ended all square in Lisbon. Can the home side continue their strong home performances or will the Portuguese league leaders claim their first win over Gasperini’s side? Our Atalanta vs Sporting prediction is for Atalanta to win the match 2-1.

• Atalanta vs Sporting Tip 1: Atalanta Full Time Result
• Atalanta vs Sporting Tip 2: Teun Koopmeiners AGS
• Atalanta vs Sporting Tip 3: Over 5.0 Asian Cards

Atalanta vs Sporting Prediction 1: Hosts To Edge This Exciting Contest

Europe, Europa League, Thursday, March 14th, 20:00 (UK)

Sporting was relatively disappointing in the opening clash. Ruben Amorim’s side took the lead with their very first shot. Since that early goal, the Portuguese outfit never really got going. Atalanta were the better team on the night. I like their chances of winning in Bergamo.

Atalanta are winless in their previous five matches. The side from Bergamo faced Juve, Sporting, Bologna and each Milan club, a tricky schedule. Gasperini’s side only failed to score against Inter in that run. Inzaghi’s men are runaway league leaders in Italy.

Only three sides have accumulated more points than Atalanta in Serie A this season. They’ve scored 31 and conceded just 10 in 14 matches at Gewiss Stadium. La Dea has registered ten shutouts in 18 games at this venue across all competitions.

Sporting have played Braga and Benfica away from home three times this term. Amorim’s side have not won any of those matches.

These sides met in the group stages. The clash ended 1-1 that night. Atalanta have been impressive in 2024. They do most of their best work here. Atalanta will take confidence from the opening leg. The hosts look a good bet in this encounter.

• Atalanta vs Sporting Prediction 1: Atalanta Full Time Result (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.00
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 5/10

Atalanta vs Sporting Prediction 2: Value In The AGS Market

Teun Koopmeiners has scored ten times in Serie A this term in 25 appearances. The Dutchman has scored nine times in as many starts in 2024. I don’t understand why eight Atalanta players are more favoured to find the back of the net.

I backed Koopmeiners in the first leg. Unfortunately, Teun started on the bench, which was a huge surprise. I have little doubt that the man in form will start from the first whistle. Teun scored a brace over the weekend in a 2-2 draw at Juventus. The 26-year-old market value is rising every time he plays.

The offer price is massive. Teun is a goal threat. 2024 has been a superb year for him, and I’m sure he’ll want to score plenty more times for his club. A big money move is on the horizon if these performances continue.

Atalanta is priced at 1.83 to score twice here. Teun has to be in with a shout of finding the back of the net. If Atalanta are to receive a penalty, our man will be the one to take the spot kick.

It’s all eyes on Koopmeiners in this one. The price in the anytime goalscorer market is too big and one I cannot ignore.

• Atalanta vs Sporting Prediction 2: Teun Koopmeiners AGS (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 4.33
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 3/10

Atalanta vs Sporting Prediction 3: Bring On The Violence

This game is massive. Both of these sides would love to win this match. I expect some violence between the two teams. Hopefully, this results in a referee dishing out his cards.

We saw 13 cards shown when these two met in the group stage. There were six in Portugal and seven in Italy. The opening encounter last week saw just four despite 32 fouls.

There’s plenty on the line between these two. Emotions will run high. Both sets of players will do anything to win. Cards are likely on Thursday night, and I’m happy to back the price on offer. It’s a big occasion. The proposed selection won here in late November.

Atalanta averages the second most fouls per match in this competition with 14.9. Gasperini’s side have picked up 16 bookings. Sporting’s average is considerably lower at 9.4, but they did commit 14 fouls in the opening leg.

As long as there are five cards on the night, this bet won’t lose. There’s every chance we’ll see at least six given with what’s at stake in a tie firmly in the balance.

• Atalanta vs Sporting Prediction 3: Over 5.0 Asian Cards (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.90
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 4/10

Atalanta vs Sporting Prediction odds via bet365 as at 12:00, March 11th, 2024. Odds may now differ.

Atalanta vs Sporting Team News and Possible Lineups: Two Full Strength Sides Is Rather Impressive

The home side couldn’t be in better shape. They appear to have no first-team players injured currently. Impressive for this stage of the season.

We can expect the same starting lineup from the first leg. A 3-4-2-1 formation is likely. Teun Koopmeiners has been excellent in 2024.

Sporting has their number-one goalkeeper unavailable for this clash. Adan is suffering from a thigh injury and won’t be active again until April.

There are a number of key players in the Sporting lineup. Viktor Gyokeres and Goncalves are having impressive seasons. Morten Hjulmand’s signature is wanted by some top clubs across Europe.

These two sides play a very similar style.

Atalanta possible starting lineup: Musso; Djimsiti, Kolasinac, Scalini, Zappacosta, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri, Koopmeiners, Lookman; Scamacca

Sporting possible starting lineup: Israel; Quaresma, Coates, Diomande, Catamo, Morita, Hjulmand, Mathues, Trincai, Goncalves; Gyokeres

Match OPTA Stats: The Hosts Start Fast

• Atalanta are now unbeaten in their last five meetings with Sporting CP in European competition (W2 D3),  including a win and two draws already in this season’s UEFA Europa League; no team has ever faced an  opponent four times in the same edition of the competition without losing at least once (Leverkusen could  also achieve this v Qarabag).
• Sporting CP have never won in 17 previous trips to Italian sides in European competition (D5 L12),  conceding in 16 of those matches and only scoring more than once on one occasion (2-3 vs Udinese in  August 2005).
• Atalanta faced just two shots on target in the first leg of this knockout tie with Sporting CP, the sixth time  they have faced three or fewer in a UEFA Europa League game this season, including in all three meetings  with Leões; La Dea have faced the fewest shots on target in the UEFA Europa League this season amongst  teams that have played in the competition from the group stage onwards (16).
• BTTS – Yes has landed in all three meetings this season – all four of Atalanta’s goals have arrived in the first half. Only Juventus have prevented Atalanta from scoring at this venue in 2023/24.
• Eighteen yellow cards have been shown in the three encounters this term.

Atalanta Fixtures: Three Huge Encounters In A Row

• Vs Fiorentina (H)
• Vs Napoli (A)
• Vs Fiorentina (A) Coppa Italia
• Vs Cagliari (A)
• Vs Verona (H)

Sporting Fixtures: Back To Back With Benfica The Standout

• Vs Boavista (H)
• Vs Estrela (A)
• Vs Benfica (A) Taca De Portugal
• Vs Benfica (H)
• Vs Gil Vicente (A)

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