Day: October 24, 2018

Sporting Lisbon and Arsenal come into this game knowing that the winner of this game would have the upper hand in the race to top their group in this competition.

The other two group member were never going to make it beyond the group stages with these two teams as their opponents.

Sporting started their Europa League campaign with a 2-0 home win over Qarabag.

They followed that up with a 2-1 win over Vorskla to keep them level on points with the Gunners. While they have a good set of results in Europe, they have been struggling in their domestic league.

They are currently 5th on the Portuguese league table having collected 7 points less from their opening 8 games this season.

They have, however, had a fine run of results at home as they have won all 5 competitive games at home, so they would be prepared to give the Gunners a run for their money here.

Arsenal have been unplayable for much of this season as they continue to flourish under the tutelage of Unai Emery. The Gunners beat Leicester City 3-1 on Monday to make it ten wins on the bounce in all competitions. They have also scored an impressive 30 goals in that period of time and their fans have begun dreaming about winning a trophy this season.

The Gunners are, however, vulnerable at the back. They have kept just 3 clean sheets from their 12 competitive games this season, and they are facing a Sporting Lisbon team that hasn’t failed to score at home in the Europa League since 2015.

Celtic travel to one of the biggest games they would play in the group stages of the Europa League when they face RB Leipzig in Germany for this one.

The Hoops have started their season slowly and things could get worse before they begin to hit their stride again.

After winning their first group game at home, they travelled to Austria for their second group game and allowed a 1 goal lead to slip through them as they ended the game 3-1 losers to RB Salzburg.

Celtic dominated their first group game against Rosenborg, but just like they were against Salzburg, they would be underdogs in this game, and if they get an unlikely away win, it would do more for their confidence than any result has done for them this season.

Celtic are going to be facing a Leipzig team that is very much on form. The Germans have been beaten only once in their last 9 home games, and they head into this game having won 4 and drawn two of their last 6 games. Their last match against Augsburg saw them record 18 shots on target against their opponents who couldn’t record any.

Although they couldn’t get a goal at the weekend, they can get a couple against this Celtic team.

The Germans have been banging in the goals for much of this season as they have already netted 23 times prior to their weekend match. They are currently 5th on the league table, but 2 points separate them from the second position having lost just a league game this season.

This is the first time these teams are meeting in competitive football.

Chelsea would be looking to get over their 2-2 draw at home to Manchester United at the weekend when they take on BATE in this game. The Blues have been flying high this season as they remain unbeaten in all competitions, however, they have scored just two goals in their opening two group games in this competition so far.

They almost drew their last game against Vidi who are considered the poorest teams in the group, but they should do better in this game as they welcome a Belarusian side who hasn’t won an away game in European group stage competition just yet.

The Blues have dropped points against West Ham, Liverpool, and Manchester United, but overall, they have been good value for winning games with 9 wins from 12 games so far.

BATE fans won’t be too optimistic of their side’s chances when they take to the field for this game.

They managed to beat Vidi away in their first group game, but they suffered a humiliating 4-1 loss at home to PAOK, they would be hoping that Eden Hazard is not in a lethal form in this game.

BATE’s win away to Vidi was their first in 13 away days in major European competition too (excluding qualifying matches), and away from home in the Europa League, they have lost 5 of their last 9.

This includes a 6-0 demolition at The Emirates last season, which was preceded by a 5-2 loss at Koln just a month before.