2023/2024 EL Group D: Atalanta - Sporting CP - Sturm - Raków

[Dragonite]

[Jua Ferreira]

Prediction

Atalanta
Sporting cp
Rakow
Sturm

[Firnen]

Prediction

1. Sporting
2. Atalanta
3. Rakow
4. Sturm Graz

[bugylibicska]

1.Sporting
2.Atalanta
3.Rakow
4. Sturm Graz

[bugylibicska]

Atalanta 1.91
Sporting Lisbon 2.30
Sturm Graz 10.00
Rakow 13.00

[og2002gr]

1. Sporting CP 61%
2. Atalanta 60%
3. Rakow 40%
4. Sturm Graz 39%

Rakow is an uprising team. I expect them to challenge and win Sturm who always fails in all stages (CL QR, EL QR, EL GS)
Sporting and Atalanta will fight for 1st place and it is a matter of form who will prevail. Small advantage to Sporting who are used to play in CL recently.

[Dragonite]

Atalanta



--> 2nd participation in the EL group stages
--> Always advanced from the group stages
--> Manager: Gian Piero Gasperini (10-5-5)
--> Squad EL experience: 199 matches




Sporting CP



--> 8th participation in the EL group stages
--> Advanced from the group stages 6 times (86%)
--> Manager: Rúben Amorim (1-4-3)
--> Squad EL experience: 182 matches




Sturm



--> 5th participation in the EL group stages
--> Never advanced from the group stages
--> Manager: Christian Ilzer (2-4-6)
--> Squad EL experience: 137 matches




Raków



--> EL (group stages) debutant
--> 3 of the previous 3 Polish debutants advanced from the group stages
--> Manager: Dawid Szwarga (0-0-0)
--> Squad EL experience: 17 matches




Prediction:
1. Atalanta
2. Sporting
3. Sturm
4. Raków

[Juliusz]

Sturm

When it comes to the line-ups, Szymon Włodarczyk is likely to be in the starting XI for at least some of EL matches as a striker. So far he was in the line-up in all matches apart from the return leg vs PSV.

Raków

In Raków, Jean Carlos is injured and will be out for two months, starting from the end of August. So he will miss at least 2-3 EL matches. Srdjan Plavšić or Deian Sorescu are the most likely replacements.

Stratos Svarnas has a serious injury, he won't play until the end of the year and isn't even registered. There also other long-term injuries, most notably Ivi López.

Zoran Arsenić will surely miss Atalanta away and maybe also Sturm at home on matchday 2.

[Polak]

Looks like a fairly simple 1st and 2nd in this one. I expect Atalanta to win the group. A fight for a place in the Conference League between Rakow and Sturm and I think and hope that Rakow can take it. I also hope Rakow play their games at their own stadium. Do any of the Polish users know if that is confirmed? They have won every home European game so far at their ground.

1. Atalanta
2. Sporting
3. Rakow
4. Sturm

[Juliusz]

I also hope Rakow play their games at their own stadium. Do any of the Polish users know if that is confirmed? They have won every home European game so far at their ground.

All home matches of Raków in EL will be played in Sosnowiec. Their ground in Częstochowa doesn't meet the criteria.

[Polak]

Not even for EL? What criteria? I am assuming not a capacity problem since clubs with far less capacity have played at their home grounds. That would be a big disadvantage for them.

[Greyn]

I don't know what are criteria, but Raków signed a 3-year deal with the city of Sosnowiec at the beginning of July. Thus, they will play their European home matches not only this season, but also in next two seasons.

[Juliusz]

They are the same for all competitions, starting from GS in EL and ECL, and starting from Q4 in CL.

Capacity is just one of them. There are also requirements for VIP stands and parkings, TV studios, media and commentary area and so on.

The overview of stadium categories is provided on Wikipedia. For the group stage, 4th category is necessary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_stadium_categories

[bugylibicska]

To win the group:

Atalanta 1.73
Sporting Lisbon 2.20
Sturm Graz 17.00
Rakow 34.00

[Dragonite]

Expected wins for Atalanta and Sporting CP.

When it comes to the line-ups, Szymon Włodarczyk is likely to be in the starting XI for at least some of EL matches as a striker. So far he was in the line-up in all matches apart from the return leg vs PSV.

He didn't start against Sporting CP, neither did Teixeira. It was Sarkaria playing alongside Boving up front.