Lille vs Sporting- Home dominance for French under Garcia
Published:Rudi Garcia puts his impressive European record as coach of Lille on the line when the French outfit host Sporting Lisbon in their opening Group C fixture in the Europa League.
Lille are unbeaten in eight European home games since Garcia became their coach and they have won on seven of these occasions.
They are 4/5 to beat Lisbon, who are still awaiting a first victory on French soil.
Meanwhile, Lille have won nine of their last ten Europa League home games, while Sporting are unbeaten in their last three on their travels.
History favours neither team in the other Group C clash, as Levski Sofia put their dismal home European record on the line against Gent, who are no better on their travels.
Sofia have lost all of their home games in the group stages of the their most recent European appearances and it may pay to back the draw at 23/10.
Elsewhere, Porto make their first appearance in the competition since emerging triumphant in 2003 and begin at home to Rapid Vienna in Group L.
Rapid are unbeaten in their last seven European fixtures, but have lost on all three of their previous visits to Portugal and have not even managed a goal in these fixtures.
Porto are 3/10 to win at home and would be happy to repeat the victory they claimed over Rapid’s neighbours Austria Vienna en route to winning the competition eight seasons ago.
They won 2-0 on that occasion and a repeat is 5/1.
The other game puts the sole remaining Turkish team left in the competition Besiktas against CSKA Sofia and they can take confidence from the fact they beat the same opponents at home in the UEFA Cup in 2007 2-0.
Besiktas are 2/7 to beat Sofia again, with the Bulgarians 10/1 for the shock win.
Lille are 11/8 to win Group C, behind favourites Sporting Lisbon. See the whole Group C betting market.
