SPORTING V MOREIRENSE – ESTÁDIO JOSÉ ALVALADE AT 18:00 (UTC/GMT)
Sporting will play host to Moreirense at Lisbon on Saturday, hoping to preserve their relatively good form in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.
The Lions were not betrayed by their standing in the Liga NOS with only four losses to be minded.
Last Saturday, Sporting shared a goalless draw with FC Porto, while earlier this month they lost 2-1 to Tondela but won 2-1 over Belenenses prior to that.
Latter in the previous month they were stunned 1-0 by Vitoria Guimaraes.
Prior to that lost to Guimaraes, they are enjoying a six-game winning streak in Primeira Liga, including an excellent 5-2 hammering of Nacional. They also won 4-1 against Desportivo Aves earlier in the previous month.
On the other hand, Moreirense are in excellent form lately with only one loss out of their last five games in the Portuguese Premier League.
In Friday last week, Moreirense lost 1-0 to a hot Vitoria Guimaraes.
Prior to that defeat though Moreirense have a 1-0 victory over Aves last week. They also have a 1-2 win against Rio Ave earlier this month.
In the middle part of the previous month, Moreirense also scored a 2-1 win over Boavista and a 1-2 victory over Chaves.
LATEST NEWS
– Rodrigo Battaglia and Fredy Montero are ruled out in Sporting’s Saturday match with Moreirense.
– While in a loan from Sporting, Ivanildo Fernandes will not be featured in Moreirense on Saturday due to the restriction in his loan agreement.
– Renan Ribeiro, Miguel Luis, and Diaby are expected to play in the starting XI due to Sporting’s tough match with Braga.
– Bilel was observed to be frequently featured in the starting XI of Moreirense in away games and is expected to appear in the starting line on Saturday.
– Sporting just signed Idrissa Doumbia this week but is not anticipated to debut on Saturday.
PROBABLE FORMATION AND STARTING XI
Sporting: 4-3-3
Renan Ribeiro, Marcos Acuña, Jeremy Mathieu, Sebastián Coates, Stefan Ristovski, Miguel Luís, Nemanja Gudelj, Bruno Fernandes, Nani, Bas Dost, Abdoulaye Diaby
Moreirense: 4-2-3-1
Nenê, Bilel Aouacheria, Chiquinho, Heriberto Tavares, Angelo Neto, Mamadou Loum Ndiaye, Anthony D’Alberto, Mohamed Abarhoune, Iago Santos, Rúben Lima, Jhonatan Luiz
KEY PLAYERS
Sporting
Bas Dost is Sporting’s most excellent player. Playing as centre-forward, Dost already scored 16 goals in 18 appearances in the current season. He has 10 goals in 11 appearances in the Primeira Liga, as well as four goals in three appearances in the Portuguese Cup.
Bruno Fernandes is one of the best players in Lions with 15 goals in his 29 appearances in the current season. Playing as attacking midfielder, he has six goals in his 16 appearances in Liga NOS, as well as four goals in four appearances in Taca de Portugal.
Moreirense
Heriberto Tavares is a loan from Benfica, but he is currently the highest goalscorer from Moreirense, with five goals across 20 appearances in the season. He has four goals in his 16 appearances in the Primeira Liga, as well as a goal in 3 plays in the Portuguese Cup.
Chiquinho is one of the most important goal scorers in Moreirense with three goals in his 21 plays in the season. He has one goal made in the current Primeira Liga season and two in the current Portuguese Cup season.
MATCH PREDICTION
Sporting 2-0 Moreirense
Sporting emerged victorious six of their last seven games with Moreirense. Clean sheets were also made in three of those wins over Moreirense. With top goalscorers Dost and Fernandes sure to appear in the field on Saturday, Sporting has a higher chance of scoring a goal. Meanwhile, Moreirense failed to goal in their 1-0 loss to Guimaraes last week. Clear edge is also attributable to Marcel Keizer’s company as they are enjoying an eight-game winning streak in the season before that unexpected loss to Vitoria SC.
MATCH BETTING ODDS
*Prices are correct at the time of writing
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