SPORTING CP v VILLARREAL
Europa League
Thursday 14th February 2019
Kickoff: 2000hrs
Pick: Sporting AH0
Bookmaker: Marathonbet
Odds: 1.64 (odds taken at 23:27 GMT, 13 Feb 2019)
The Europa League action continues with Sporting CP taking on Villarreal as the betting tips continue at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon with the hosts keen to keep their promising run of home form in the competition going on Thursday night.
Europa League Betting at Marathonbet
Sporting CP Prediction
Sporting came through the group stages as runners-up to Arsenal in Group E, winning four of their six group matches and finishing a massive 10 points clear of the two teams below them, Vorskla and Qarabag who both finished on a measly three points apiece.
Sporting registered home and away wins over Qarabag 2-0 and 6-1 respectively as well as home and away victories against Vorskla, while they did earn a point away at Arsenal in a 0-0 draw at The Emirates Stadium too.
The hosts have lost just twice in their last eight matches overall in the Europa League which were defeats to Atletico Madrid (away) and at home to Arsenal, but they’ll fancy their chances of getting a positive result at home against their Spanish opponents on Thursday night.
Sporting have lost just 2 of their last 9 home matches in the competition.
- Sporting have lost just 2 of their last 9 home matches in the competition
- Sporting won 4 of their 6 group matches
- Villarreal are without a win from their last 10 matches in all competitions
Villarreal Prediction
Villarreal finished top of a fairly evenly matched Group G by narrowly edging out runners-up Rapid Vienna into top spot by virtue of a superior goal difference and remained unbeaten throughout the group stages with two wins and four draws.
The Spanish club’s overall form though has been fairly unremarkable as they’re without a win from their last 10 matches in all competitions, a run that includes no fewer than seven draws, along with three defeats.
In the Europa League, Villarreal are unbeaten in their last six matches which was the recent group campaign in Group G, but again, the draw features prominently in their matches and it’s worth considering for this first leg clash in Lisbon too.
The visitors’ results away from home have been fairly solid though as the Spanish club have suffered just one reverse from their last 11 matches on their travels, which was a 3-1 loss away at French Ligue 1 outfit Lyon in last season’s Europa League.
Again, the draw has featured in 7 of these last 11 away matches and I daresay the game plan from Villarreal’s perspective will be to hold out in this first leg with the scores level ahead of the second leg at their Estadio de la Cerámica.
Betting Tips Verdict
Sporting will be keen to take a lead over with them to Spain for the second leg but Villarreal are a tough unit to crack away from home. It’s certainly a good idea to keep the draw onside here and back the hosts with the draw no bet option.
