PSV Eindhoven and Sporting Lisbon are similar in style but had different outcomes in their first Champions League matches. The Eindhoven side is favoured by the bookmakers, even though they might be missing up to four key players due to injury, whereas the Portuguese side has already adapted to playing without Jerry St. Juste.
Against Juventus (1:3) two weeks ago, PSV struggled significantly in the first hour, conceding three unanswered goals. Eventually, the team created 0.99 xG against Juventus's 2.57, with wingers Malik Tillman and Johan Bakayoko failing to provide many opportunities for central forward Luuk De Jong. Without Sergiño Dest and Rick Karsdorp, the Dutch side lacks quality defenders, and only the experienced Olivier Boscagli remains to hold off the Portuguese champions, which might not be enough.
Sporting's debut in this season's Champions League was straightforward: a solid 2:0 win against Lille showcased Rúben Amorim's serious intentions in the European competition. On Friday, they thrashed Estoril Praia 3:0 in the Portuguese league, marking their sixth consecutive clean sheet. In that match, forward Viktor Gyökeres’s impressive goal-scoring streak (10 matches with 14+5 for club and country) came to a halt, but the Swedish forward will likely be highly motivated for the Champions League.
It's risky to bet on a straight win for Sporting Lisbon, as PSV Eindhoven can be surprising at home. However, a double chance for the Portuguese side is an obvious and reliable choice.
