Sporting vs. Rosenborg – Prediction (24.10.2019)

Preview and Teams Comparison.

Sporting have won three of their four previous meetings with Norwegian opponents (L1), but this is the first time they’ve ever faced Rosenborg. None of Sporting’s last four UEL group stage home wins have seen them score in both halves. Dating back to October 2017, three of Rosenborg’s last four UEL away defeats have seen them lose the first half 1-0. If excluding opposition own-goals, Sporting have scored exactly twice in one half, but not in the other, in their last three UEL home wins. Since the beginning of the 2015-16 Europa League campaign, Rosenborg have managed just one solitary win in their 20 games in the competition (W1 D5 L14). Indeed, no side has lost more games in the competition in that time (Marseille also 14).

Sporting Lisbon enter this clash after beating LASK Linz 2-1 on UEFA Europa League (UEL) group matchday two. That made it three consecutive UEL games involving Sporting that have seen both teams score, though only one of the six halves played across that sequence saw both score from open play. Sporting’s Bruno Fernandes netted the winner just after the hour mark vs LASK. That was his second consecutive goal to prove decisive in a one-goal victory. The Leões’ victory over LASK was their fifth UEL group stage home win from the last six. Within that group of five victories, Sporting specifically won the second half by a two-goal margin on four occasions.

With Rosenborg winless in four competitive games ahead of this one, they are huge underdogs. The last three games (D1, L2) in that sequence saw both teams score, with five of the six halves played across those matches each producing over 1.5 total goals. Rivals will face off against veteran defender Tore Reginiussen, who remains Rosenborg’s last scorer of a UEL (group stage) away goal. Rosenborg’s matchday two defeat (1-4 vs PSV) is amongst that trio, making up the final part of their current eight-match winless run in the UEL (D1, L7). The last six defeats in that sequence saw Rosenborg lose the first half ‘to-nil’.

Match Info and Live Scores.

Pre-match League Table.