Our prediction for this Europa League match:
Sporting Portugal
Match Time & Date:
25/10/2018
12:55 PM
Prediction: 1-1
Arsenal
All eyes will be on Estadio Jose Alvalade when Sporting CP and Arsenal face each other in the Group E derby. Sporting are eyeing their third consecutive win in the process, but they will have a big fish to fry in Thursday’s football game against Arsenal. The Lions are likely to adopt a cautious approach in the Europa League derby and, no doubt, they would be happy with one point from the match. The Gunners aim to keep their 100% record in Group E intact as well, but, no doubt, they would be happy with one point from the Estadio Jose Alvalade clash. A close encounter is on the horizon and we predict the two teams are going to share the spoils in Lisbon. You should bear in mind that the two teams meet for the first time ever in European competitions.
Highlighted Player (Nani):
Nani is a product of Sporting CP’s famous youth academy. The pacey winger played 58 games for the capital club in Primeira Liga, scoring nine goals and in 2007 he joined Premier League side Manchester United. He signed a five-year deal with the Old Trafford outfit for a fee of €25.5 million.
He joined his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo at Man Utd and it has to be noted that Nani he spent eight seasons at the club. In 2014 he returned to Sporting (loan) and at the end of the 2014/2015 Primeira Liga campaign he moved to Turkish side Fenerbahce.
In 2016 he signed a three-year deal with Valencia for an undisclosed fee. Speaking of his international career, Nani did remarkably well to win the 2016 European Championship trophy with Portugal and it has to be noted that he started against France in the title game. The Portuguese winger won the 2007/2008 Champions League trophy with Manchester United.
Highlighted Team (Arsenal):
Arsenal are regarded as one of the best English teams. The Gunners have won 12 FA Cup trophies, 13 league titles and two League Cups, but they have yet to lift the Champions League trophy. Arsene Wenger’s team were on the verge of beating Barcelona in the Champions League final back in 2006, but they eventually failed to win the prestigious title.
Arsenal used to play their homes at Highbury, but in 2006 they moved to the Emirates Stadium. The capacity of the stadium is 60,260. The Gunners won their last Premier League trophy back in 2004, with the capital club going through the season without a single loss. The likes of Thierry Henry, Denis Bergkamp and Robert Pires were part of the team back then, but Arsenal have not won the league trophy ever since.
Arsenal was founded by Woolwich munitions workers as Dial Square back in 1886. It is well known that Tottenham Hotspur are Arsenal’s fiercest rivals and there have always been fireworks when the two local rivals meet in the North London derby.
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