Preview: Sporting Lisbon vs Estoril Praia – prediction, team news, lineups

Second-placed Sporting Lisbon might see their deficit to the Primeira Liga summit improve quickly earlier than they play host to Estoril Praia within the second of Friday’s matchday 24 fixtures.

The Lions are at the moment 4 factors adrift of leaders Porto, who face Arouca earlier within the night, whereas the Canaries sit seventh, 9 factors off the highest 4 and 7 behind fifth-positioned Gil Vicente. 

Match preview

A dominant second-half show noticed Sporting safe a 3–0 victory at Moreirense final weekend, as Francisco Trincao, Geny Catamo and Luis Suarez all discovered the online after the interval handy Rui Borges’s facet their most convincing win of latest weeks.

As a outcome, the Lions are actually unbeaten in 9 matches throughout all competitions (W8, D1) since their elimination from the Taca da Liga semi-ultimate, a run that has included direct qualification for the Champions League final 16 and development to the final 4 of the Portuguese Cup.

With the primary leg of their Taca de Portugal semi-ultimate in opposition to Porto set for subsequent Tuesday at Estadio Jose Alvalade, Friday’s encounter presents a chance to construct additional momentum for Sporting, who will even look to increase their 19-recreation unbeaten run (W15, D4) within the Primeira Liga and hold tempo on the summit.

While the Lions will hope Porto stumble in their very own matchday 24 conflict earlier within the night, they are going to be assured of taking good care of their very own enterprise, having collected most factors from all 18 earlier league matches in opposition to sides at the moment exterior the highest 5.

That sequence features a 1–0 victory away to Estoril in September, which means Sporting have now gained every of their final 9 conferences, and that dominance might proceed on Friday, contemplating the Lisbon giants have prevailed of their final 13 house matches throughout all competitions.

© Imago / Ball Raw Images

Looking to finish their shedding run on this fixture, the Canaries journey to the capital buoyed by a morale-boosting 3–1 victory over Gil Vicente on the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota final weekend.

Bouncing again from a heavy defeat to AVS, Ian Cathro’s facet recovered from an early setback in opposition to their guests from Barcelos, having conceded from the penalty spot contained in the opening quarter-hour, however Felix Bacher restored parity moments later earlier than a second-half brace from Yanis Begraoui secured most factors for the hosts.

Estoril have now gained six of their final 9 league matches (D1, L2), scoring three or extra objectives in 5 of these victories, a return that leaves the Canaries with the third-finest attacking report within the division with 46 Primeira Liga strikes — two greater than leaders Porto.

While they’ve flourished within the ultimate third, Cathro’s males have struggled defensively, conceding 39 occasions, which raises questions as to whether or not they can cope on Friday in opposition to a Sporting facet that has scored a league-excessive 59 objectives.

Estoril have additionally been susceptible on their travels, shedding six of their 11 away Primeira Liga fixtures this season, with 4 of these defeats coming of their final six on the street (W2).

 

Sporting Lisbon Primeira Liga kind:

Sporting Lisbon kind (all competitions):

Estoril Praia Primeira Liga kind:

Team News

© Imago / Sports Press Photo

Sporting will stay with out centre-again Zeno Debast, who’s nursing a ligament problem, whereas midfielder Giorgi Kochorashvili is ready to overlook a fourth consecutive match by means of harm.

Meanwhile, Chelsea-bound winger Geovany Quenda remains to be in London recovering from foot surgical procedure, having been sidelined since early December.

On a extra constructive observe, midfielder Pedro Goncalves is obtainable once more after lacking the earlier encounter on account of suspension for an accumulation of bookings.

Suarez, who returned from his personal one-match ban in that fixture, netted his twentieth league purpose of the season to attract degree with Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis and can be eager to maneuver clear because the Golden Boot race intensifies.

Close behind the aforementioned duo within the scoring charts, Begraoui is having fun with an impressive marketing campaign, along with his brace final weekend taking his tally to 17 league objectives, and he’ll as soon as once more be relied upon by Estoril within the ultimate third.

The guests might once more be with out centre-again Kevin Boma and midfielder Nodar Lominadze, each of whom have missed latest matchday squads, with left-again Pedro Amaral additionally uncertain following his absence final day out.

Long-term absentee Or Israelov, sidelined since September, is more likely to stay unavailable, whereas winger Andre Lacximicant might miss a ninth successive outing.

 

Sporting Lisbon potential beginning lineup:

Silva; Fresneda, Diomande, Inacio, Araujo; Hjulmand, Morita; Catamo, Trincao, Goncalves; Suarez

Estoril Praia potential beginning lineup:

Robles; Ferro, Bacher, Tsoungui; Sanchez, Orellana, Holsgrove, G Costa; J Carvalho, Marques, Begraoui

We say: Sporting Lisbon 3-1 Estoril Praia

With either side boasting robust attacking information, this contest might produce loads of objectives, though Sporting’s superior firepower ought to finally show decisive.

That view is strengthened by Estoril’s defensive frailties, having conceded a minimum of 3 times in three of their final 5 away matches, with every of these excessive-scoring setbacks ending in defeat.

 

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