FC Porto will travel to Estádio José Alvalade for their 20th matchday of the Primeira Liga to face Sporting CP in an effort to extend their winning run to five games.
Will Sporting CP employ the same tactics that led to their 2:0 loss to FC Porto in the Taca de Liga, or will this time be different now that they have the backing of their supporters?
Let's have a look at the latest Portuguese Primeira Liga predictions between Sporting CP vs FC Porto, team news, probable lineups, match facts and up to date betting odds for you to consider!
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After experiencing heartbreak in the Taca de Liga final against FC Porto, when they were denied the trophy in a 2:0 loss at home, they went on to unleash their wrath at home against Braga, thrashing Artur Jorge's team 5:0 to secure all three points.
This was then followed by another victory, this time away against Rio Ave, where they won 1:0 thanks to a late goal from Youssef Chermiti in the 84th minute that ended all dreams of a draw for their adversary.
They currently have a three-match winning streak in the Primeira Liga, have only suffered one loss in their last five games, and have racked up a total of 10 points. Needless to say, they've maintained a solid form of running so far.
They currently hold the fourth spot in the standings with 38 points, and given that they are 15 points behind Benfica at the top of the table, it appears that they have little prospect of catching up.
Team News
Sporting CP just has Daniel Braganca to worry about because he is the only one who is currently injured for this match.
Probable Starting XI
Formation: 3-4-3
Adan; Juste, Goncalo Inacio, Matheus Reis; Ricardo Esgaio, Morita, Ugarte, Nuno Santos; Edwards, Chermiti, Pedro Goncalves
FC Porto
Form: WWWWD
Following a 1:0 victory over Academico de Viseu on the road in the Taca de Portugal quarterfinals, Andre Franco's goal in the 50th minute of the second half, assisted by Uribe, secured their passage to the next round, where fellow Primeira Liga opponent Famalicao is waiting for them.
Prior to that, they won 2:0 at home against Maritimo to extend their winning streak in the Primeira Liga to four games. It's important to note that this victory alone also extended their unbeaten streak across all competitions to 20 games, which has seen their form be nothing short of impressive.
After suffering a shocking road loss to Rio Ave in August 2022, losing 3:1, they went on an 8-match unbeaten streak when playing away, winning five games and drawing three others. It is clear that the Eagles have maintained yet another impressive form, this time on the road.
With 45 points, they are currently in second place and have been closely monitoring first place, where they are trailing by eight points. They will try to close that point gap as they continue to put pressure on table-topper Benfica.
Team News
FC Porto will be without Gabriel Veron, Otavio, and Stephen Eustaquio due to injuries, with Wendell Borges still doubtful for this match.
Probable Starting XI
Formation: 4-4-2
Diogo Costa; Joao Mario, Pepe, Marcano, Zaidu; Pepe, Grujic, Uribe, Galeno; Taremi, Evanilson
Match Facts
- Sporting CP is currently on a seven-game home winning streak.
- FC Porto is now unbeaten in 20 games.
- FC Porto has not lost a game in their last 12 road fixtures.
- The average number of goals scored in a match between Sporting CP and FC Porto is 2.4.
- When playing at home, Sporting CP averages 2.34 goals per game, while FC Porto averages 1.82 goals per game when playing away.
Head-To-Head
Sporting CP has won 14 of the last 59 meetings, FC Porto has won 24, and there have been 21 draws with a goal difference of 70–54 in favor of FC Porto.
Expert Betting Tips
With eight straight victories in all competitions to their credit, FC Porto comes into this game full of confidence. They will be poised to inflict another disappointing result against Ruben Amorim's team, whom they defeated 2:0 in the Taca de Liga finals, and they will be eager to replicate that result in the Primeira Liga to close the point gap between them and the league's leading team, Benfica.
With home advantage, Sporting CP will have the backing of their supporters. This time around, they'll be hoping for a more convincing victory over their opponent, prioritizing revenge for their Taca de Liga defeat while concentrating on their ultimate objective of title contention, which seems to be hanging by a thread.
We won't be picking a winner for this game because it could go either way, but it will undoubtedly be an entertaining match between these two heavyweights in the Primeira Liga. Since a clean sheet is highly improbable, we are choosing "both teams to score" as our first initial pick since six of their seven meetings with Sporting CP playing at home have resulted in both teams scoring.
- Both Teams To Score (Yes) for 1.77
- 1st Goal - FC Porto for 2.00
- Goals - Over 2.5 for 2.00
Other predictions
