On Thursday evening, Turkish team Istanbul Basaksehir host Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League last-32 second leg. Sporting are favourites to qualify for the last-16 after a 3-1 home victory in Lisbon.
Istanbul Basaksehir head into this encounter in inconsistent form. However, the first leg defeat is their only competitive loss in five outings.
The home sides recent record in the Europa League is a mixed one, as they have won three of their last six matches in the competition. They have also suffered defeat in two of their last three European games.
Istanbul Basaksehir have won just two of their ten home games in the Europa League since their debut in the competition back in 2016. However, they have lost just once in their last seven home games in the Europa League, winning two, drawing four and suffering that one solitary defeat.
A 3-0 home defeat in their last European game on home soil against Roma ended a six-game unbeaten run on home soil.
Sporting are in decent form ahead of this tricky trip, having won three of their last four competitive matches.
The Portuguese team have also been in fine form of late in the Europa League, winning five of their last six games in the competition. Sporting have been relatively prolific in recent European games, scoring at least two goals in five of their last six matches.
Despite their good recent record in the Europa League, the visitors have struggled for consistency on their travels in the competition, having won just one of their last four matches on their travels. Although their European games have not always been high-scoring, Sporting have scored at least twice in four of their last five Europa League outings.
Chegámos! 🛬 🙌Olá, Istambul! 👋🇹🇷#IBFKSCP #UEL pic.twitter.com/RroKbXqtRB— Sporting Clube de Portugal (@Sporting_CP) February 25, 2020
Chegámos! 🛬 🙌Olá, Istambul! 👋🇹🇷#IBFKSCP #UEL pic.twitter.com/RroKbXqtRB
Forebet predicts that the visitors will record a victory in a high-scoring game to progress to the last-16 of the competition.