Sporting Lisbon have been ravaged by positive COVID-19 tests ahead of their Europa League third qualifying round match versus Aberdeen on Thursday night.
The team have been depleted of players and coaches heading into the game it is believed Aberdeen have been handed a boost due to so many individuals missing.
The Scottish club have already experienced their own COVID-19 issues this season. Aberdeen had matches postponed in Scotland in August due to players breaking isolation protocol.
Foi assim a primeira vez que @andrazsporar90 balançou as redes com a camisola verde e branca 🟢⚪Quem será que vai marcar o 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙞𝙧𝙤 𝙜𝙤𝙡𝙤 oficial 20/21 pelos Leões? 🤔🎥 UEFA pic.twitter.com/ekOeU3B2is— Sporting Clube de Portugal (@Sporting_CP) September 22, 2020
Foi assim a primeira vez que @andrazsporar90 balançou as redes com a camisola verde e branca 🟢⚪Quem será que vai marcar o 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙞𝙧𝙤 𝙜𝙤𝙡𝙤 oficial 20/21 pelos Leões? 🤔🎥 UEFA pic.twitter.com/ekOeU3B2is
Sporting Lisbon will be without manager Ruben Amorim and three of his coaches on Thursday night. All four members of the club tested positive for COVID-19. Making matters worse is that nine players are ruled out of the game due to positive tests.
In spite of the mass absences, Derek McInnes’ Aberdeen will be up against it in Portugal. The Dons head into the game after a shock 3-0 loss to Motherwell at the weekend. It ended a three-match Scottish Premiership winning streak.
Aberdeen sit fourth in the league table in Scotland, seven points off of second place. Due to matches being postponed in August, Aberdeen have games in hand and could catch up with league pacesetters Rangers and Celtic.
McInnes took his team into the Europa League first qualifying round where they defeated NSI Runavik 6-0. That victory was followed up with a win versus Norway’s Viking. It is certainly safe to say Sporting Lisbon are a major step up in competition.
The Lions enter the Europa League at the third qualifying round. They are yet to play in the competition and will hope to get their tournament off and running. Just two rounds separate these sides with the group stage of the Europa League.
Sporting Lisbon have not played this season. Thursday night’s game will be their first of the campaign. Sporting Lisbon and Aberdeen have never played previously, so the Europa League game will be their first-ever meeting.
McInnes is without valuable striker Sam Cosgrove and Michael Devlin. The former is out until October with a knee injury while the latter is sidelined with a hamstring strain.
Sporting Lisbon are missing Joao Palhinha, Eduardo Quaresma, Luis Maximiano, Goncalo Inacio, Nuno Santos, and Rodrigo Fernandes all due to testing positive for COVID-19. How can Sporting Lisbon win against Aberdeen?
The third qualifying round is a one-off tie once again. There will be little pressure on Sporting Lisbon due to the away goals rule not applying. Even with players and coaches missing, Sporting Lisbon should progress with a narrow win at home.
Aberdeen are coming off of a 3-0 loss at the weekend and should suffer a second straight defeat. Expect under 2.5 goals in this one.