The José Alvalade hosts an intriguing clash as Sporting Lisbon aim to maintain their perfect domestic record under new manager João Pereira against surprise package Santa Clara. The midweek Champions League defeat to Arsenal (5-1) ended Sporting’s three-month unbeaten run, adding extra significance to this encounter as Pereira seeks his first league win since replacing Manchester United-bound Rúben Amorim.
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The Lions’ stunning domestic form contrasts sharply with Tuesday’s European disappointment. Their last 6-0 cup win under Pereira suggests the Arsenal result may be an anomaly rather than a trend.
Despite their lofty position, recent away form suggests maintaining fourth place could prove challenging.
Key doubts:
Form players:
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Israel; St. Juste, Diomande, Inacio; Quenda, Morita, Hjulmand, Araujo; Trincao, Gyokeres, Catamo
Key absences:
Key performers:
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Batista; Venancio, Rocha, Ramos; Calila, Ferreira, Firmino, Pereira; Lopes, Safira, Almeida
Goal.mu/Mauri.bet predicts: Sporting 3-0 Santa Clara
Reasoning:
Despite the European setback, Sporting’s domestic dominance and Santa Clara’s away day struggles suggest a comfortable home win. The visitors’ surprising league position adds intrigue, but the combination of Sporting’s perfect domestic record, Gyökeres’s scoring form, and Santa Clara’s historical struggles in this fixture points to the Lions extending their impressive liga run.
The first goal will be crucial – an early Sporting strike could open the floodgates as they seek to put the Arsenal defeat behind them, while Santa Clara must stay organized to have any chance of causing an upset.
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