Will Sporting continue their upward trend?
The late bloomer from Lisbon has not yet ticked off the group stage of this year’s top flight. With three matchdays still to go, Sporting still have a realistic chance of reaching the last 16 of the 2021/22 Champions League under their own steam. To do so, the Lisboners must win at least two of their last three group matches.
The upcoming home match against Besiktas Istanbul is of immense importance. Because Sporting Lisbon already scored three points away from home against BJK in the first half of the season, the Portuguese representatives will be going into the second-round match in front of their home crowd with a broad chest. The best betting companies see Sporting Lisbon against Besiktas as favourites according to the odds anyway.
Sporting Lisbon have won six matches in a row across all competitions. In contrast, Besiktas have been in disastrous form in recent weeks, partly due to personnel problems. They have lost three of their last four competitive matches, including the most recent away defeat in Hatay.
In addition, the record against Portuguese clubs does not favour Besiktas Istanbul at all. So far, BJK have only won three out of 17 competitive matches against teams from Portugal.
Sporting Lisbon – Statistics & current form
Better late than never: Sporting Lisbon have found their way back to success in recent weeks and have now compensated for their poor start to the season. The Lisbon Lions are now level on points with the leaders from Porto in second place in the Primeira Liga. In the top flight, Sporting still have a chance of reaching the last 16.
In their last group match, they won an important away match in Istanbul and thus got their first three points in the group stage of the Champions League. Because BVB lost to Ajax in the parallel match, Sporting were able to reduce the gap to the German representatives in Group C to three points with the win against BJK.
Another win would be of great importance on Wednesday evening, after all it would allow Sporting to draw level on points with their German table rivals in the best possible scenario – another Ajax win against BVB. It would also set the stage for the second-round showdown with BVB.
Will Sporting continue their current winning streak?
Ahead of their upcoming group game against Besiktas Istanbul, Sporting have already been able to build up their confidence. Head coach Rúben Amorim’s team has won six matches in a row across all competitions. Among them was the match against BJK in the first leg of the current CL group stage.
Since the away win in Istanbul, Sporting Lisbon have benefited from home advantage at the Estádio José Alvalade three times in a row. The Lions beat Moreirense (1-0), Famalicao (2-1) and Vitoria Guimaraes (1-0). It is quite possible that they will continue their recent form against Besiktas.
Sporting have never lost a competitive match against the Black Eagles from Istanbul. In three games against the traditional Turkish club, there have been two wins and a draw. Considering how strong the Portuguese side has already been in the away game in Turkey, it is obvious to make a prediction on the Lions in Sporting Lisbon vs. Besiktas on Wednesday evening.
Predicted line-up of Sporting Lisbon:
Adan – Inacio, Coates, Feddal – Porro, Palhinha, Nunes, Reis – Pote, Sarabia – Paulinho
Last matches played by Sporting Lisbon:
Liga Portugal
10/30 2021 – Sporting CP 1 – 0 Vitoria de Guimaraes
Liga Cup Group B
10/26 2021 – Sporting CP 2 – 1 Famalicao
Liga Portugal
10/23 2021 – Sporting CP 1 – 0 Moreirense
Champions League Grp. C
10/19 2021 – Beşiktaş 1 – 4 Sporting CP
Cup
10/15 2021 – CF Os Belenenses 0 – 4 Sporting CP
Besiktas – Statistics & current form
The slide continues for Besiktas. Last week, the Black Eagles from Istanbul suffered their fifth defeat in the last seven competitive matches. The latest result in the Süper Lig was certainly surprising, as Besiktas won the city derby against the Turkish record champions Galatasaray on the previous matchday.
Besiktas now have a “do or die” game on the international stage this week. If the black-and-whites lose their fourth group match, they could face a lightning knockout in the top flight. BJK has not yet scored any points in the Champions League and is also in trouble in the race for third place.
In the first half of the season, they suffered a heavy defeat against Sporting Lisbon. Accordingly, the Portuguese group rival has a clear advantage over BJK in the direct comparison, which is decisive in the event of a points tie. Sporting can only lose this advantage if they lose by at least four goals to one.
Next away defeat on international stage?
Because Besiktas have hardly been convincing away from home, even the minimal point gained by the Turkish visitors is rather unrealistic. Season and competition-wide, BJK have lost their last five away games on the international stage. The black and whites from Istanbul have conceded a total of 16 goals.
Moreover, the recent record against Portuguese clubs does not favour BJK at all. In the last eleven competitive matches against teams from Portugal, there have been five defeats and five draws. Only against FC Porto did Besiktas prevail in September 2017.
As was the case last weekend in the Turkish top flight, BJK coach Sergen Yalcin is again struggling with personnel problems in the top flight. With Miralem Pjanic and Souza, two key players in the midfield of the Black Eagles are missing. In addition, Chelsea loanee Michy Batshuayi will have to take a break due to injury.
Compared to the recent starting eleven, therefore, some changes are to be expected – forced, mind you. If BJK still manage to pull off a surprise coup, odds of 8.00 are paid out for tip 2 on Sporting Lisbon vs.
Predicted line-up of Besiktas:
Destanoglu – N’Sakala, Wellinton, Vida, Yilmaz – Ghezzal, Ucan, Josef, Hutchinson, Larin – Karaman
Last matches played by Besiktas:
Süper Lig
10/30 2021 – Hatayspor 1 – 0 Beşiktaş
10/25 2021 – Beşiktaş 2 – 1 Galatasaray
Champions League Grp. C
10/19 2021 – Beşiktaş 1 – 4 Sporting CP
Süper Lig
10/15 2021 – Başakşehir 3 – 2 Beşiktaş
10/02 2021 – Beşiktaş 2 – 1 Sivasspor
Sporting Lisbon – Besiktas Direct comparison / H2H record
So far, the two clubs have met three times on the international stage. Sporting Lisbon won two out of three matches against Besiktas. There was also a draw between the Portuguese and Turkish representatives. In two out of three matches between Sporting Lisbon and Besiktas, a prediction of over 2.5 goals has come true, including the match in the first leg of the current CL group stage (4:1 for Sporting).
Sporting Lisbon – Besiktas Tip
With three points in their account, Sporting Lisbon still have a realistic chance of reaching the last 16 of the top flight with three group games remaining. In order to set the course for the showdown against BVB and Ajax, however, the Lions from Lisbon must first master the compulsory task against Besiktas.
In the first half of the season, Sporting scored three points against the bottom team in Group C. In Istanbul, they were clearly outclassed. The Portuguese side put on a clear show of strength in Istanbul, scoring four goals in a Champions League match for the first time since November 2014. We don’t rule out a similar result in the second leg by any means.
Meanwhile, as Sporting’s recent run of form shows, the Lisbon hosts are in fine form. Most recently, the Lisboners have won six matches in a row. In contrast, Besiktas have been in free fall in recent weeks.
With a stake of six units, we therefore place our bet on Sporting Lisbon vs. Besiktas at good odds of “HT/FT: 1/1”.
