Facing one of their favourite opponents in the Primera Liga, league leaders Sporting Lisbon welcome Nacional to Estadio Jose Alvalade on Saturday evening for matchday 19.
The Lions approach the weekend after a 2-1 defeat to RB Leipzig in the Champions League, just three days after Martin Lasarte's men edged past AVS at Gran Parque Central.
Match preview
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Needing an away win to draw level on points with teams in the top eight, Sporting, who had fallen behind to a 19th-minute strike from Benjamin Sesko, must have sensed an opportunity when Viktor Gyokeres beat Willi Orban and drilled in an equaliser in the 75th minute, but that hope was short-lived as a Yussuf Poulsen winner three minutes later dealt them a third consecutive defeat.
Former boss Ruben Amorim left an enormous void, one too big for Joao Pereira, who initially impressed with a 6-0 demolition of fourth-tier Amarante in the Taca de Portugal, but that resounding victory was followed by a string of losses (4).
Despite going the next three games unbeaten, Pereira was dismissed on December 25, having managed just three wins, one draw and four defeats in his eight matches in charge, with his departure paving the way for Rui Borges's appointment the following day.
Now six games into his tenure, Borges has recorded three victories and two stalemates — though one ended in a penalty defeat to Benfica in the League Cup — with his only regulation-time loss coming against Leipzig in midweek.
Three of those matches came in the top flight — a 1-0 triumph over Benfica, followed by a thrilling 4-4 result against Vitoria Guimaraes and an emphatic 3-0 victory over Rio Ave — results that saw them retain the top spot with 44 points, three clear of the Eagles in second place.
Sporting will be more than confident of taking all three points on Saturday as they welcome Nacional, a side they have defeated in each of their last seven meetings across all competitions.
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Meanwhile, a 3-1 result against AVS saw the visitors secure back-to-back victories for the first time this season, having first stunned Porto with a 2-0 triumph.
Before that, the Tricolor had managed just as many wins in their previous 12 league matches, and stretching back, only three in 15.
Nacional's recent resurgence has propelled them to 13th, with 19 points from 18 games, comprising five wins, four draws and nine defeats.
Bolso have struggled on their travels in the top flight, failing to secure victory in any of their nine encounters, managing just three draws while suffering six defeats, a return that leaves them with the second-worst away record in the division.
Team News
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Sporting will be without Matheus Reis (thigh) and Eduardo Quaresma (muscle), both sidelined until February, while Pedro Goncalves and Nuno Santos remain out for the season with cruciate ligament injuries.
Gyokeres came off the bench in the defeat to Leipzig to net Sporting's only goal, bringing his tally to 34 goals this season, including 22 in the Primera Liga, and he could return to the starting XI on Saturday.
For Nacional, Nigel Thomas (knee) and Lucas Oliveira (muscle) remain unavailable, while Miguel Baeza is doubtful due to a muscle issue.
Djibril Soumare is also out, having received one too many bookings following his yellow card in the previous outing, opening the door for Chiheb Labidi as a potential midfield replacement.
Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Silva; Debast, Inacio, Diomande; Araujo, Hjulmand, Trincao, Fresneda; Catamo, Quenda, Gyokeres
Nacional possible starting lineup:
Franca; Garcia, Vítor, Ulisses, Gomes; Labidi, Esteves, Costa; Penha, Isaac, Teodora
We say: Sporting Lisbon 3-1 Nacional
Despite still finding their feet under new manager Borges, Sporting have shown encouraging form in the league recently, winning two of their last three matches, and this, coupled with the visitors' dismal away record, suggests a home victory is on the cards.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
