- Date and Time: Tuesday, November 5, 2024. 8:00 PM GMT+1
- Venue: Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal
Sporting vs Man City Preview
Sporting
Ruben Amorim will come up against a Premier League team in the Champions League just days after his official confirmation as the next Manchester United manager was announced.
Sporting have made an eye-catching start to the European competition this season, winning twice and avoiding defeat in the opening three matchdays.
The Portuguese champions will once again deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation, which has been perfected during Amorim’s reign in Lisbon.
Bom dia, Leões 👋
Treino da #UCL 🔜 pic.twitter.com/HyUX1O3DC2
— Sporting CP (@SportingCP) November 4, 2024
Viktor Gyökeres has been the most important player in the system, offering the team an out-ball up the field. The attacking midfield duo behind the Swede can operate inside the pitch, with the wide players in the middle four operating as wing-backs.
Sporting have caused problems for all opponents this season, accumulating an xG of 2.02 per game in home matches, and scoring a total of 15 goals.
Amorim will have a fully fit squad to select from this weekend, but their ratio of keeping clean sheets in 60% of their matches will be tested by the English champions.
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola will be hoping for a response from his Man City side on Tuesday, as they just suffered their second domestic defeat of 2024 against Bournemouth on Saturday.
The reigning champions have been forced to contend with injury issues across the field, with Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne, and Jack Grealish all sidelined. That crisis could be worth considering before making a Sporting vs Man City prediction.
Out of nowhere! 💥
🚀 @BernardoCSilva pic.twitter.com/WXYM5vcROj
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 4, 2024
Despite the injuries, City have still accumulated an xG of 14.98 this season, scoring a staggering 16 goals from open play. However, the lack of depth due to injuries in the middle of the field means that the Premier League champions have been vulnerable in transitions this term.
An energetic Sporting could get joy against a City midfield that lacks legs, with İlkay Gündoğan and Mateo Kovačić once again set to partner in the middle of the field.
Bet hereSporting vs Manchester City Prediction
- Pick: Draw
- Odds: 4.02 (22Bet)
- Score prediction: Sporting 1-1 Man City
The injury crisis that City have to contend with makes for important reading before making football predictions on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Sporting are unbeaten in their last three matches against English sides, and have started the Champions League in excellent form this term after avoiding defeat in their opening three.
Sporting’s formation could also ask questions of City this week, as they will be dynamic and progress in transitions, with the wing-backs quickly able to get up the field after winning the ball.
That being said, City’s unbeaten sequence in the Champions League is hard to overlook, meaning that their character could ensure that they avoid defeat and take a point away from Lisbon.
Sporting vs Manchester City Prediction, Betting Tip
- Pick: Viktor Gyökeres to Score
- Odds: 2.6 (22Bet)
This match will be teased as the battle of the number nines, but Erling Haaland’s form in recent weeks has been slightly disappointing. Therefore, we can see Viktor Gyökeres upstaging the Norwegian.
The former Coventry City striker has been a revelation for Sporting since his arrival at the club. His form this term has been world-class, netting 20 goals in 14 matches across all competitions. Tuesday could be his opportunity to emerge as one of the best number nines in world football.
Given the tactical shapes of both teams, and the speed in which Sporting transition at, we could see City picking up over 1.5 cards on Tuesday. Guardiola’s side has averaged 1.80 cards per match in away fixtures this term, and have had over 4.5 cards in 60% of their Premier League matches on the road.
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