With the new Premier League campaign now just a week away, Wolverhampton Wanderers conclude their pre-season schedule in Portugal, with the first of a weekend double-header seeing them face Sporting Lisbon on Saturday.
The sides meet at Estadio Algarve, with Wolves having enjoyed a busy summer so far, while their Primeira Liga counterparts have experienced a mixed run of results.
Match preview
© Reuters
Having returned from their training camp in Alicante, where they defeated both Deportivo Alaves and Besiktas, now a Wolves squad featuring a sizeable Portuguese contingent travel to the Algarve to complete preparations for another assault on the Premier League.
Saturday's encounter with Sporting will serve as something of a dress rehearsal for next weekend's opener against Leeds United, before several fringe players are employed in a friendly match versus local side SC Farense on Sunday.
The clock continues to tick down to their competitive debut for the 2022-23 season at Elland Road, so Wolves - who also lost behind-closed-doors meetings with Levante and Villarreal B, but comfortably beat both Burnley and Forest Green Rovers - will be keen to impress.
Head coach Bruno Lage, of course, had a spell in charge of Sporting's city rivals Benfica during the 2019-20 campaign, while veteran midfielder Joao Moutinho started out on his long and successful career by coming through the Lions' academy, and they both renew old acquaintances this weekend.
On their subsequent return to the West Midlands, Wolves will wrap up a hectic pre-season programme and - having secured the services of Hwang Hee-chan on a permanent deal and signed Republic of Ireland defender Nathan Collins - will then be aiming for a third top-half finish in four years.
© Reuters
Though their crown slipped last season, Sporting remain a resurgent force in Portuguese football, and the 2020-21 champions will be seeking an improvement on their runners-up placing this term.
Under expensively-acquired coach Ruben Amorim, the Lions lost only three times in the league, but still finished six points adrift of a relentless Porto side; winning the Taca da Liga final against arch-rivals Benfica by way of a consolation prize.
Meanwhile, in the Champions League, they managed to negotiate their way out of the group stage before being dismantled by Manchester City in the last 16.
Sporting's preparations for the new campaign began earlier this month, with successive draws against Union Saint-Gilloise and Villarreal, before getting the better of Jose Mourinho's Roma and then losing to Sevilla and Primeira Liga rivals Portimonense.
Having added Dutch defender Jeremiah St Juste, former Manchester City full-back Pedro Porro and Barcelona winger Francisco Trincao to his ranks over the summer break - with the latter joining after a loan spell in Wolverhampton - Amorim will be keen to take his team further in the coming months.
Midfielder Matheus Nunes is reportedly set to stay put in Lisbon, amid strong interest from the Premier League - including Wolves - so regardless of the result on Saturday, Sporting have every right to feel confident when tackling Braga in next week's season opener.
- D
- D
- W
- L
- L
- W
- W
- W
- L
- W
- L
Team News
© Reuters
Facing something of a crisis up front, Wolves boss Bruno Lage will at least have first-choice goalkeeper Jose Sa back in the fold for the trip to Portugal, following a knee injury.
Lage is expected to deploy a 4-3-3 formation again, but still has only two full-backs available, so Jonny Castro Otto and Rayan Ait-Nouri should start on either flank - Nelson Semedo will resume training next week, after recovering from a hamstring problem. Should Wolves stick with a back four, captain Conor Coady, Max Kilman and new signing Nathan Collins will battle it out for two spots in the centre.
As Raul Jimenez was forced off during the 3-0 victory over Besiktas, and could now be out of action until September, Wolves are without their only recognised centre-forward; Fabio Silva having been previously loaned to Anderlecht.
Due to an ongoing hip problem, Hwang Hee-chan is yet to make an appearance this summer, so playmaker Daniel Podence could start as a 'false nine' against his former club.
Meanwhile, Sporting will be without left-back Ruben Vinagre, who has joined Everton on a season-long loan with an option to buy. Vinagre only recently signed permanently after spending last season on loan from Saturday's opponents, but has made an immediate return to the Premier League.
Joao Palhinha has already left for Fulham, so Manuel Ugarte could join Matheus Nunes in central midfield, with Pedro Goncalves and ex-Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards potentially featuring up front.
Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Adan; Neto, Coates, St Juste; Porro, Nunes, Ugarte, Reis; Goncalves, Edwards; Paulinho
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Sa; Jonny, Kilman, Coady, Ait-Nouri; Dendoncker, Moutinho, Neves; Gibbs-White, Podence, Neto
We say: Sporting Lisbon 1-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
The continuing problem of producing goals seems set to haunt Wolves again at the start of the new season, and penalty-box potency could be lacking in the Algarve. Expect a well-drilled Sporting side to capitalise, winning by a one-goal margin.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
