The 2018/19 UEFA Europa League features some of the biggest names in club football and two of them meet in Portugal on Thursday night. Sporting Lisbon host Arsenal at the Estádio José Alvalade for a place at the top of Group E.
Both teams will believe they have what it takes to reach the knockout stages of the competition this season but finishing top of the group could provide an easier route to the latter stages of the tournament.
Sporting Lisbon are currently second in the group having won their two games. The Portuguese club started with a 2-0 home win over Qarabag before coming away from Vorskla Poltava with an important 2-1 victory.
The away win has put Sporting Lisbon in a great position and means a win in this match will put them close to qualification. Trends show they have won three and lost two of their last five games in all competitions, with their latest win coming on the weekend at Loures in the Taca de Portugal.
Sporting Lisbon have a very strong home record and they have won each of their five matches this season. In fact, Sporting Lisbon have won twenty-three of their last twenty-eight home games in all competitions, with the other five games ending in draws.
Last season they defeated Atletico Madrid 1-0 at home in the Europa League and this shows they have what it takes to compete with the big teams in Europe.
Arsenal completed an excellent comeback against Leicester City in the Premier League on Monday night to win 3-1. It was another great second half performance from the Gunners and trends show they have won each of their last ten matches in all competitions.
Unai Emery has made a good start as Arsenal manager and they have won their opening two games in the Europa League. Arsenal defeated Vorskla Poltava 4-2 at home, conceding two late goals having opened a 4-0 lead. They travelled to Azerbaijan on match day two and came away with a comfortable 3-0 victory.
Arsenal have won their last four away games this season, defeating Cardiff City, Newcastle United and Fulham in the Premier League plus Qarabag in the Europa League. Arsenal have scored 2 or more goals in each of their five away games this season.
Team news and Sporting Lisbon have several injury concerns ahead of the match. Bas Dost and Raphinha are the major doubts while Jeremy Mathieu is back in training but has missed the last five games.
Arsenal are still without the injured trio of Laurent Koscielny, Carl Jenkinson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Aaron Ramsey, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Matteo Guendouzi should all start the game having been on the bench on Monday night.
This is going to be one of Arsenal’s toughest tests in recent weeks against a team who are very strong at home. However, Sporting Lisbon have injury problems to key players and that could play into the hands of the away team. We could see an Arsenal win and both teams to score.