Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Primeira Liga clash between Sporting Lisbon and Casa Pia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sporting Lisbon‘s unbeaten run in the Primeira Liga will be put to the test when they face an in-form Casa Pia side at Estadio Jose Alvalade on Saturday.
Ruben Amorim‘s team have reeled off seven consecutive victories ahead of this weekend’s gameweek eight match-up against a side that have accrued eight points from their last 12.
Match preview
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Sporting’s eight-match winning streak in all competitions ended with a 1-1 Champions League draw with PSV on Tuesday, and they seek a return to winning ways on their return to league competition.
Amorim’s troops have defeated every opponent played in the Liga going into Saturday when they are favourites to notch an eighth straight top-flight success.
The defending league champions are expected to make light work of visiting Casa Pia, given an impressive winning run that has seen them outscore every Liga club whilst keeping clean sheets at the other end.
Leoes head into this weekend on the back of five shutouts in a row and will back themselves to record a sixth on the trot at Casapianos’ expense.
Further strengthening the home side’s optimism is their record in previous matches since the away side gained promotion, with four wins secured on the trot and a fifth anticipated this weekend.
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Although it was nearly nine months back, the away side must dread another visit to a side that hit them for eight in January to record a heavy defeat on Os Gansos.
Casa Pia headed into that fixture after consecutive road victories but could not resist Amorim’s men, who had three players score twice in that harrowing 8-0 defeat.
Even though Joao Pereira was not in situ at the turn of the year, the head coach takes his players to the Jose Alvalade keen to avoid a similar outcome against the division’s leading scorers.
The confidence is high following four points from the last available six in away games and eight points in the preceding four games, but facing Sporting is a different kettle of fish for any side in the division.
While they head into Saturday aiming to extend their undefeated four-match sequence, Casa Pia will do well to avoid another heavy loss to the title favourites.
Sporting Lisbon Primeira Liga form:
Sporting Lisbon form (all competitions):
Casa Pia Primeira Liga form:
Team News
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Ousmane Diomande was substituted against PSV on Tuesday and the defender joins a growing list of Sporting absentees that includes Jeremiah St. Juste and Vladan Kovacevic, while the Lions will assess Matheus Reis, Marcus Edwards and Pedro Goncalves.
Having fired blanks in consecutive games in all competitions, Viktor Gyokeres aims to rediscover the goalscoring touch as he seeks his 11th Liga goal in gameweek eight.
Jose Fonte‘s participation is uncertain for Casa Pia, although Duplexe Tchamba, Claudio Mendes and Kiki are not expected to feature in gameweek eight.
With only Cassiano finding the net more than once for the visitors this term, Pereira hopes his forward comes up trumps against one of the division’s best sides.
Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Israel; Debast, Quaresma, Inacio; Quenda, Braganca, Hjulmand, Catamo; Trincao, Harder; Gyokeres
Casa Pia possible starting lineup:
Sequeira; Zolotic, Goulart, Kluivert; Geraldes, Kraev, Brito, Lelo; Moreira, Cassiano, Blanco
We say: Sporting Lisbon 2-0 Casa Pia
Despite some injury concerns for Sporting, they are expected to continue their impressive form and secure another league victory against Casa Pia.
Amorim’s team have not dropped points in the Liga since late April, and their home advantage makes them strong favourites to claim an 11th consecutive triumph.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.