Sure Prediction For Today, Thursday 20th February 2020

The defensive problems that have plagued their domestic campaign were evident in Sporting’s European assignments too. However, and The Lions kept a clean sheet in only 50% of their matches en-route to making the knock-out stages.

More recently, they kept their opponents off the scoresheet just twice in their last 11 attempts in all competitions, however, with much of their squad’s strength concentrated further up the pitch, Sporting were able to respond at the other end in eight matches during the same period.

Sporting’s inability to keep things tight in defence combined with the technical final third quality at their disposal makes them a team worth watching in both teams to score market – and we expect goals to fly in at either end again when they meet Istanbul Basaksehir this week.

Istanbul Basaksehir did remarkably well to beat Serie A behemoths, Roma, to the top spot in Europa League Group J last year, despite being hammed twice by the Italians during their six-fixture campaign.

Like Sporting, clean sheets tend to be rare occurrences for Istanbul Basaksehir, who managed to secure just two shutouts in six Group J games before the turn of the year and only three in their last 13 fixtures more recently.

The Turkish title-chasers hit back with goals of their own in 11 of those 13 matches. However, with both teams registering in nine of those matches overall.

In fact, whatever statistical angle you view Thursday’s fixture from, that both teams to score market looks like being the most promising avenue of approach.

Both teams found the net in 62% and 68% of Sporting’s and Istanbul Basaksehir’s league fixtures so far this term, and with both teams continuing to demonstrate an inability to keep the door shut at the back, we expect goals at either end again this week.

Alongside our both teams to score prediction, we’re forecasting the teams to finish level at 1-1 in our correct score forecast.

Istanbul Basaksehir averaged just 1.16 goals per game during their successful Group J campaign last year, and while Sporting averaged nearly double that, the loss of their inspirational captain Bruno Fernandes in January, who accounted for nearly half their Europa League goals, is likely to be crucial.

Having lost just one of their last 14 games, Istanbul Basaksehir comes into Thursday’s first leg in far better form than their hosts. However, our prediction is a home win or a draw for Sporting Lisbon.