(Football news) With a 3-1 lead to protect at Estadio Jose Alvalade and a round-of-16 spot at stake, the hosts are favorites after winning the first leg in Switzerland.
With a chance to go past the first round and secure a spot in the round of sixteen, Sporting Lisbon will look to build on their performance away from home last week when they take on the second leg of their Europa League playoff match on Thursday.
As Atalanta BC knocked Sporting Lisbon out of first place in Europe’s secondary competition, they did not receive automatic entry into the round of 16. Nevertheless, their 11 points from six continental games was sufficient to guarantee a postseason spot, and they ended the group stage with a 3-0 victory over Sturm Graz.
That finish set up a first-ever competitive tie against Young Boys for Os Leoes, and in their trip to Switzerland last Thursday, they certainly gained a strong edge in the contest, building up a 3-1 aggregate lead having initially gone ahead through an Aurele Amenda own goal, before Viktor Gyokeres netted from the spot and Goncalo Inacio added a third after the interval.
Ruben Amorim’s side were able to build on that momentum on their return to league action on Monday too, picking up a 2-0 victory away at Moreirense thanks to goals from Hidemasa Morita and Pedro Goncalves, making it right straight Primeira Liga wins and 15 goals scored across their last three in the top flight without conceding, while remaining only second on goal difference with a game in hand on leaders Benfica.
Certainly full of confidence in the midst of a strong campaign on all fronts, Sporting Lisbon will now turn their focus back to the Europa League and bid to see out a comfortable aggregate win in the Portuguese capital.
Their opponents, who advanced to the playoffs from the Champions League group stage, will come to Lisbon with the intention of defying the odds and turning the tie on its head after suffering a home loss the previous week.
The Swiss champions advanced past Maccabi Haifa in the qualifying round to secure their spot in Europe’s top competition. Although they couldn’t defeat Manchester City or RB Leipzig to finish in the top two and move on, their four points were sufficient to secure third place and a trip to the Europa League playoffs.
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