LASK Linz vs Sporting – Prediction (Europa League – 12.12.2019)

Preview and Teams Comparison.

LASK Linz’s perfect home record (W4) in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) continued as they beat PSV 4-1 at home, their eighth victory from 11 competitive encounters (D1, L2) as a home favourite this season. They now have an opportunity to defeat Sporting CP for the first time (D1, L2) whilst preparing for a maiden knockout appearance in the UEL format. After giving up a half-time lead at Sporting to lose in the last H2H, LASK have since gone unbeaten in three UEL second halves (W2, D1). However, with both teams scoring in three of their last four European matches, they’ll be craving a clean sheet.

Sporting’s last UEL away trip saw them record their first victory of 2019/20 as an away outsider (L2) in all competitions. Their last two European games have now seen Sporting win at both half-time and full-time, and they have recorded three UEL clean sheets in a row, despite conceding an average of eight corners per game. Sporting demonstrated their superior second-half prowess in the previous H2H and possess Group D’s strongest second-half goal difference (+4) ensuring they have not lost a single second half this group stage (W3, D2).

Players to watch: Dominik Frieser has recorded LASK’s second goal of the game in his last two UEL appearances. The suspension of Bruno Fernandes places great responsibility upon Luiz Phellype, who will be the only Sporting CP player to have recorded multiple goals in this UEL campaign.

Stat attack: Six of LASK’s last eight competitive fixtures, as well as five of their last six at home, have seen a margin of at least two goals separating the teams. No UEL team had collected more yellow cards than Sporting’s 3.20 per game after five group stage matches. None of the last six group stage matches involving either side have seen both teams score in both halves.

Match Info and Live Scores.