Sporting CP vs PSG Prediction & Betting Tips (20 January)

Before these last two days of the regular season of the Champions League, Sporting can still believe in its chances of securing a place in the top 8 and being able to avoid going through the play-offs to qualify for the 1/8 finals. The Portuguese occupy 14th place in the ranking, only 2 short lengths from 8th place occupied by Atlético Madrid. Winners of OM 2-1, Rui Borges' men were unable to continue against Juventus 1-1 but they resumed their march forward subsequently against Club Bruges 3-0. Finally, the Lisbon side were logically unable to hold their own against Bayern Munich 3-1 on the last day. In the championship, Sporting is in 2nd position in the ranking, 7 lengths behind FC Porto who dominates the debates. Before this European poster, he will challenge Casa Pia.

For its part, PSG is quietly heading towards immediate qualification for the 1/8 finals. Be careful, however, for the defending champion who certainly occupies 3rd place in the standings for this regular season but who is only one point ahead of the 9th and first jump-off. Dominated for the first time this season in Europe by Bayern 1-2, Luis Enrique's men were then able to resume their march forward against Tottenham 5-3 before conceding a draw against a valiant Bilbao team before the winter break. On the national scene, the Parisians started 2026 with a victory in the Paris derby against Paris FC 2-1 before winning on penalties against OM during the Champions Trophy 2-2, 4-1 TAB after coming close to defeat. The Ile-de-France residents will once again face Paris FC in the Coupe de France and will have to face Lille before going to Lisbon. 

Sporting is rather diminished in this month of January. Indeed, the infirmary is quite full and we find the defenders Mangas and Debast, the attacker Geovany Quenda, (2 goals, 2 assists in C1), the excellent midfielder who is the master of this formation Pedro Gonçalves (9 goals, 5 assists) and the substitutes Salvador Blopa, Nuno Santos and Daniel Bragança. On the other hand, the former Marseillais Luis Suarez will a priori be operational. With his 15 goals scored in the league and 2 in C1, he is the top scorer in this team. The Parisians will also have to closely monitor the very interesting Francisco Trincao who also displays good statistics (4 goals, 6 assists in the league; 3 goals and 1 assist in C1). A priori, PSG should have found the holder Hakimi (right side) and the supersub Mbaye (attacker) whose participation in the CAN with Morocco and Senegal will be over.

On the other hand, goalkeeper Safonov, who was starting to accumulate playing time before his injury, and the usual replacements Kang-in Lee and Ndjantou are still not recovered. Otherwise, Luis Enrique should indeed be able to count on all his offensive executives like Ballon d'Or Ousmane Dembélé who seems to be gaining momentum at the start of 2026 with 2 goals scored since the restart. His friend Désiré Doué should take his place on the right when Kvaratskhelia should be preferred to Barcola on the left. In the heart of the game, the Spanish technician should renew his confidence in the trio Fabian Ruiz, Joao Neves, Vitinha.