Atalanta vs Sporting Lisbon Prediction: Both sides to fire again as Lions hold firm

Atalanta and Sporting Lisbon lock horns for the second time in a week on Thursday evening (KO, 20:00), as the Italians host the second leg of their delicately-poised Europa League round of 16 tie.

It's all equal heading into Bergamo after neither side was able to add to first half goals scored by Paulinho and Gianluca Scamacca in Portugal. Below is all the latest team news and match odds, as well as our Atalanta vs Sporting Lisbon prediction.

Team News

Atalanta could name an unchanged XI from the one that drew in Lisbon last week, with goalkeeper Juan Musso and former Leicester City forward Ademola Lookman among those set to return after beginning Sunday's 2-2 draw at Juventus on the bench.

Sporting are still without first-choice goalkeeper Antonio Adan so Franco Israel will continue to deputise in nets.

Ruben Amorim sprung a surprise in the first leg by naming midfielder Morten Hjulmand and top scorer Viktor Gyokeres on the bench. Both will surely start in Bergamo and could be joined in the line-up by Goncalo Inacio and Pedro Goncalves, two players who didn't even make the matchday squad for the home fixture.

Match Odds

Atalanta have been priced as the 19/20 favourites to win inside 90 minutes on Thursday, while a victory for Sporting under the same parameters can be backed at 11/4. The draw is 13/5, both teams to score is 8/13 and over 2.5 goals is available at 8/13.

Draw or Sporting and both teams to score @ 13/8

A draw at home wouldn't have been the plan for Sporting in the first leg, but it was a weakened XI that they put out and they should still be confident of progression into the quarter-finals.

Atalanta are winless in their last five - albeit they have faced some top teams - and despite finishing above Sporting in the group stage, there hasn't been much to separate them so far, with a couple of 1-1 draws following their 2-1 victory in Lisbon last October.

I actually think the Lions are a better side than La Dea, but it could be one that goes the distance, so I'd back the insurance of the double chance on Sporting.

One thing that seems very likely though, is that both teams will find the back of the net. It's a selection that has landed in all three meetings between the sides this season, while Sporting have only kept one clean sheet in their last six games, and Atalanta don't have one in their last five.

#PickYourPunt - Both teams to score, over 9.5 Sporting shots and over 49.5 total booking points @ 11/4

I've already covered the BTTS shout, and there is some value to be had by combining that with 10+ Sporting shots and over 49.5 total booking points in the game (90 mins).

Sporting only had four shots in the first leg but as previously mentioned, it was a weakened starting XI, and was approached with a bit more caution.

I'm expecting them to rise to the occasion on Thursday and at least match the 10 efforts they fired off at the Gewiss Stadium in the group stage of the competition. They also had 15 shots in the first game between these sides this term, and with Gyokeres back leading the line, they're unlikely to be shy shooters here.

It could also be another feisty encounter between the pair. The first match produced six yellow cards - 60 booking points, the second saw seven yellows dished out - 70 booking points - and there was four last week - 40 booking points.

With even more on the line, expect more fireworks.

Check out the rest of our Football Betting Tips here.