Bolton - Sporting Under 2.5 @ 1.6
Although struggling to preserve their Premier League status in a troubled domestic campaign, Bolton remain unbeaten in eight Uefa Cup engagements and, having seen off Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid, the Trotters now take on Lisbon giants Sporting, recently parachuted in from the Champions League, where they finished third in their group behind Manchester United and Roma. Although this is only their second season of European football - both in the Uefa Cup - they earned praise for eliminating highly-fancied Atletico Madrid in the previous round, winning 1-0 at The Reebok and drawing 0-0 in Madrid. However, domestically, Bolton's recent Premier League results have been worrying: a 4-1 defeat by Blackburn Rovers was followed by a 3-1 reverse at home to Liverpool last weekend. Yet throughout the season, Wanderers have risen above poor League form to get over their European hurdles, and they will be hoping to do so again against Sporting - despite the worry that the longer their Uefa Cup adventure continues, the more they could be distracted from the battle to avoid relegation.
Sporting, meanwhile, are fighting for third place in the Portuguese League behind Porto and Benfica. They held Benfica to a 1-1 draw on Sunday in a lively Lisbon derby at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.Simon Vukcevic's 11th-minute header put Sporting in front, but Oscar Cardozo equalised seven minutes before half-time. So while Benfica missed the chance to cut Porto's lead to ten points, Sporting remained fifth place. Third would qualify them for the Champions League next season. In the last round of the Uefa Cup they beat Basel 5-0 on aggregate and they must now beat Bolton to reach the quarter-final, but with the likes of Joao Moutinho, Luis Paez and Miguel Veloso in their ranks, they stat as favourites to win the tie.
Coach Paolo Bento will be sure not to underestimate Bolton in view of Atletico's demise in the last round. But Bento has fond memories of English opposition, having played in Portugal's 3-2 victory over England at Euro 2000 when he was an international defensive midfielder.Now 38, he joined Sporting as a player in that year and began his coaching career with the Lisbon club's youth team on retiring from playing in 2004. He replaced José Peseiro as Sporting's first-team coach in 2005. Having won the League title with the club as a player in 2001-02, Bento won the Portuguese Cup as their coach in 2006-07.
Bolton have played against Portuguese opponents in both of their Uefa Cup campaigns - and both games ended in 1-1 draws in the group stage, away to Vitória SC in 2005-06 and at home to SC Braga in this season's competition.Sporting have played against English sides 13 times, winning six, drawing two and losing five. On English soil, their seven games have produced two wins, a draw and four defeats.
Sporting, meanwhile, are fighting for third place in the Portuguese League behind Porto and Benfica. They held Benfica to a 1-1 draw on Sunday in a lively Lisbon derby at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.Simon Vukcevic's 11th-minute header put Sporting in front, but Oscar Cardozo equalised seven minutes before half-time. So while Benfica missed the chance to cut Porto's lead to ten points, Sporting remained fifth place. Third would qualify them for the Champions League next season. In the last round of the Uefa Cup they beat Basel 5-0 on aggregate and they must now beat Bolton to reach the quarter-final, but with the likes of Joao Moutinho, Luis Paez and Miguel Veloso in their ranks, they stat as favourites to win the tie.
Coach Paolo Bento will be sure not to underestimate Bolton in view of Atletico's demise in the last round. But Bento has fond memories of English opposition, having played in Portugal's 3-2 victory over England at Euro 2000 when he was an international defensive midfielder.Now 38, he joined Sporting as a player in that year and began his coaching career with the Lisbon club's youth team on retiring from playing in 2004. He replaced José Peseiro as Sporting's first-team coach in 2005. Having won the League title with the club as a player in 2001-02, Bento won the Portuguese Cup as their coach in 2006-07.
Bolton have played against Portuguese opponents in both of their Uefa Cup campaigns - and both games ended in 1-1 draws in the group stage, away to Vitória SC in 2005-06 and at home to SC Braga in this season's competition.Sporting have played against English sides 13 times, winning six, drawing two and losing five. On English soil, their seven games have produced two wins, a draw and four defeats.
posted by Midnight Sun @ 11:39,
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