Juventus vs Sporting CP Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
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This has the potential to be quite an entertaining encounter at the J Stadium in Turin as Juventus welcome Portuguese champions Sporting CP to Piedmont this midweek.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+
Juventus preview: New era for Old Lady
After a recent 1-0 loss to Lazio at Stadio Olimpico, Juventus took the decision to sack manager Igor Tudor and he was replaced by former Napoli and Italy boss Luciano Spalletti, with the Old Lady seeking to push them back towards the top of Serie A.
The Bianconeri come into this one on the back of a 2-1 victory at Stadio Giovanni Zini in Lombardy against Cremonese the other day to make it back-to-back victories, courtesy of goals from Filip Kostic and Andrea Cambiaso.
Sporting CP preview: Entertaining Sporting
Sporting CP come into this one on the back of a comfortable 2-0 victory against Alverca in the Portuguese Primeira Liga at the weekend, leaving them sitting second and just below Porto on goal difference at the top-of-the-table.
In the UEFA Champions League, Sporting have been able to hammer Kairat and edge past Olympique de Marseille in Lisbon, but have suffered a defeat in Italy; losing by two goals to one against Napoli in Naples.
Juventus team news: No Kelly or Yildiz
Juventus have a couple of fresh injury absentees for this one as defender Lloyd Kelly is sidelined alongside Turkey international attacker Kenan Yildiz for this midweek.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso; McKennie, Koopmeiners, Locatelli, Thuram, Kostic; Openda, Vlahovic
Unavailable: Pinsoglio (Injured), Bremer (Injured), Kelly (Injured), Cabal (Injured), Yildiz (Injured), Milik (Injured)
Questionable:
Sporting CP team news: A few injuries
Sporting CP have a few longer term absentees for this week as Zeno Debast remains sidelined alongside wing-back Nuno Santos and midfielder Daniel Braganca.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Silva; Fresneda, Diomande, Inacio, Araujo; Hjulmand, Simoes; Catamo, Trincao, Goncalves; Suarez
Unavailable: Debast (Injured), Santos (Injured), Braganca (Injured)
Questionable:
Juventus vs Sporting CP prediction
Juventus have a strong team and a very good squad with a lot more attacking depth after the summer and Luciano Spalletti will therefore be under immediate pressure to cultivate a creative and attacking side that is more effective. They face a Sporting side that head to Turin looking to play on the counter-attack and both teams scoring would appear a good bet for this one.
Juventus vs Sporting CP Tip: Both teams to score
