H2H: Rosenborg vs. Sporting – Prediction (Europa League

Preview and Teams Comparison.

Rosenborg have won three of their last four home games against Portuguese sides (L1), though this is the first such meeting since March 2004 (2-1 v Benfica in the UEFA Cup). Sporting have won four of their five previous meetings with Norwegian sides (L1), with their 1-0 win against Rosenborg in the reverse fixture the first meeting between the sides.

Rosenborg remain pointless after three group fixtures in this season’s UEFA Europa League (UEL), and a run of just four victories across their previous 15 in all competitions is also worrying. However, they will take heart from the fact that eight of their previous ten wins in all competitions have come on home turf. Rosenborg’s Norwegian international striker Bjørn Johnsen has scored four of his five goals for the club in the second half of games. Claiming just one home clean sheet since July, Rosenborg have a mixed record versus Portugeuse opposition in UEFA competition (W4, D1, L6). Furthermore, they last made it out of a European group in the 1999/00 UEFA Champions League, and are now 13 UEL games (excluding qualifiers) without a win.

Rosenborg haven’t scored three or more goals in three consecutive matches since September 2017. Squads representing Sporting Lisbon have only won five of the last 28 UEL away fixtures. The hosts have let in 13 goals across their last four UEL home games, for a per-game average of 3.25 conceded.

Sporting Lisbon are amidst a very hit-and-miss period at present, either winning or losing their last ten games in all competitions (W5, L5). Any success here is unlikely to be without a hitch, as six of Sporting’s last eight wins overall have seen both teams score. Sporting are unbeaten in seven out of eight UEFA games in which Bruno Fernandes has scored (W4, D3, L1). The ‘Leões’ have also registered just two clean sheets from their previous 20 matches across all competitions, highlighting the potential importance of scoring at least twice. They’ve managed that feat in 14 of their last 19 victories overall, but a run of only four away clean sheets in 2019 (in all competitions) further enhances the importance of multiple goals.