Everton v Sporting LisbonFulham v Shakhtar Donetsk
Liverpool v Unirea Urziceni
Tuesday, February 16
Everton v Sporting Lisbon
Verdict: One of the form sides of the Premier League, Everton, faces struggling Portuguese outfit in Sporting Lisbon at the strange KO time of 5.45pm. Everton qualified through to this stage of the tournament by finishing 2nd behind Portuguese champions, Benfica. Although the English side lost 7-0 on aggregate to Benfica, they did manage wins over FC Bate and AEK Athens to see them through. Sporting had an easier time of it in perhaps a less difficult group containing the bottom team in Germany, Hertha Berlin, struggling Dutch side Heerenven, and Latvian side Ventspils.
Sporting are in poor form going into this match, winless in 5 in all competitions, and a massive 21pts behind perennial rivals Benfica. In total contrast, Everton are seemingly firing on all cylinders. Fresh from their impressive 2-1 win over league leaders Chelsea, Everton have lost just once in the Premier League in over 2 months. The injured Fellaini and the ineligibility of Heitinga will be a hindrance to the home team but Osman showed up well against Chelsea and Nigeria captain, Joseph Yobo, is fit again to slot in at centre-back.
Everton were poor in the first half of the season, due mainly to injuries to some very key members of the squad. It was an achievement in itself to get to this stage of the competition but now the English side are hitting the heights. I feel they have a damaged reputation to repair in Europe after the mauling at the hands of Benfica. I expect Everton to take a comfortable lead into Lisbon in a little over a week's time.
Picks:
Everton -1AH @2.14 (pinnacle, 10 units)
Everton 2 - 1 Sporting Lisbon
Over 2.25 goals @1.91 (pinnacle, 10 units)
Everton 2 - 1 Sporting Lisbon
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