Juventus vs Sporting Lisbon

Allianz Stadium forms the backdrop for an exciting Europa League quarter-final first-leg showdown between Juventus and Sporting Lisbon.

Juventus’ bid to fight their way back into contention for the top-four finish in Serie A took a fatal blow last weekend as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at Lazio, letting fourth-placed AC Milan go eight points clear. Therefore, ‘I Bianconeri’ will see the Europa League as a perfect alternate path into next season’s Champions League, having ousted Nantes and Freiburg in the two previous knockout rounds. Following an ill-fated Champions League group-stage campaign, Massimiliano Allegri’s men have gone nuclear in Europe’s second-tier competition, where they’ve yet to lose at home (W6, D7). And if you’re a fan of omens, the last time Juventus lifted the Europa League trophy in 1992/93, they overcame Portuguese opposition in the quarter-finals. Grabbing a first-leg lead is crucial to replicating that feat, with an eight-game unbeaten home run (W6, D2) suggesting Juventus have every reason for optimism.

In the meantime, visiting Sporting Lisbon defied the odds to dispatch Premier League pacesetters Arsenal in the previous knockout round and advance into the Europa League quarter-finals for the first time since 2017/18. Like their hosts, the Portuguese heavyweights are unlikely to secure Champions League football through domestic competitions despite claiming a dramatic 4-3 win at Casa Pia last weekend. That will force Ruben Amorim’s side to pursue an unlikely European success, though a nine-game undefeated streak on the road (W6, D3) indicates they have plenty to look forward to in Turin. However, ‘Los Leoes’ head into proceedings carrying the burden of failing to win any of their 15 away meetings with Italian clubs in major European competitions (D4, L11).