Sporting CP-Atalanta is a match valid for the first leg of the Europa League round of 16 and is played Wednesday at 6:45 p.m.: live TV, probable formations, predictions.
In the group stage Atalanta had won the duel with Sporting for first place, remaining unbeaten in the double confrontation with the Lusitanians, beaten 2-1 in Lisbon in the first leg and stopped on a draw (1-1) in the return. Two invaluable results, because in the end the three-point lead in the Group D standings allowed Gian Piero Gasperini’s team to bypass the play-offs and qualify directly for the round of 16.
Ruben Amorim’s men, on the other hand, had to play a playoff with a relegated Champions League side, Young Boys: qualification was already hypothesized after the first leg thanks to the green-and-whites’ clear 3-1 victory in Bern (the return leg then ended 1-1). By a strange twist of fate, the two teams now find themselves against each other in the knockout stage as well, and this time a place in the quarterfinals of the Europa League is up for grabs. Dea last fall showed that they have something more, especially on the level of intensity, but Sporting remains a fearsome opponent, with several quality players and who seems to have grown up compared to a few months ago. In short, it will by no means be a walk in the park for the Nerazzurri.
Dea, watch out for Gyokeres
That the Lusitanians are healthy is confirmed by the fact that they haven’t lost in nine games – in 2024 the only defeat was to Braga in the national cup – and that above all it is currently ahead of everyone in Liga Portugal, Portugal’s top league, with one point more over city rivals Benfica.
Benfica by the way beaten a week ago in the Taça de Portugal match, while last weekend it was Farense that surrendered to Sporting (3-2), which immediately returned to winning ways after a pyrotechnic draw with Rio Ave (3-3). Slight decline, on the other hand, for Atalanta, coming off a double league loss to Inter (4-0) and Bologna (1-2), the two teams in the best shape in Serie A at the moment. Two knockouts that caused the Bergamaschi to slip -5 from fourth place, also bypassed by De Rossi’s Roma. Gasperini in Lisbon with few doubts about the lineup to deploy: the only ballot is between Holm and Zappacosta. Up front, space for Scamacca, with De Ketelaere starting from the bench. In Sporting, Swedish striker Gyokeres, author of 14 goals in the calendar year, is on fire: alongside him Trincao and Edwards.
The prediction
Two teams that now know each other very well and this could be an advantage for Sporting, which in the group stage had perhaps somewhat underestimated Atalanta, especially in the first challenge. In any case, we hypothesize a balanced match and one in which most likely both sides will score, as was the case in the previous two autumn matches. A draw is not to be ruled out.
The probable lineups of Sporting CP-Atalanta
SPORTING CP (3-4-3): Israel; Quaresma, Coates, Reis; Catamo, Hjulmand, Morita, Nuno Santos; Edwards, Gyokeres, Trincao.
ATALANTA (3-4-3): Musso; Scalvini, Hien, Kolasinac; Holm, Ederson, de Roon, Ruggeri; Miranchuk, Scamacca, Lookman.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
