Sporting Lisbon vs Vitoria de Guimaraes - prediction, team news, lineups

Faltering Sporting Lisbon look to instrumentality to winning ways erstwhile they invited Vitoria de Guimaraes to Estadio Jose Alvalade connected Sunday evening.

In the abstraction of 2 weeks, the Lions person seen their rubric propulsion slice into a conflict to unafraid Champions League qualification, portion the Conquerors person recovered renewed momentum successful their pursuit of a top-half finish.

Match preview

Only a fortnight ago, Sporting’s hopes of winning a 3rd successive Primeira Liga crown were inactive alive, with the Lions sitting 2nd and 5 points down leaders Porto, who had played a crippled more.

However, a last-gasp decision successful the Derby de Lisboa allowed Benfica to leapfrog Rui Borges’ broadside into 2nd earlier further points were dropped successful a gully astatine bottom-placed AVS and a 2-2 stalemate astatine location to 17th-placed Tondela successful their rescheduled fixture successful midweek.

Sporting had moved 2 goals wide done Luis Suarez’s 62nd-minute opener and a Joao Silva ain goal, and it appeared they were acceptable for maximum points aft goalkeeper Rui Silva saved a stoppage-time penalty, lone for the hosts to concede doubly afterwards, 1 of which came via Salvador Blopa inadvertently turning the shot into his ain net.

That effect leaves Borges’ men without a triumph successful their past 5 matches crossed each competitions (D4, L1), a spell that besides confirmed their Champions League elimination successful the quarter-finals, though they did publication their spot successful the Taca de Portugal last during that run.

Currently 3rd successful the Primeira Liga table with 3 games remaining, the Lions are nary longer mathematically successful the rubric race, fixed they are 9 points down leaders Porto, who besides clasp the superior head-to-head record.

Sporting are besides 2 points adrift of second-placed Benfica, meaning Borges’ men tin ill-afford different gaffe present arsenic they pursuit Champions League qualification, though their location grounds offers encouragement aft 11 wins from 15 league matches astatine Alvalade this play (D2, L2).

Currently enjoying their strongest league spell since lifting the Taca da Liga successful January, Vitoria person collected 10 points from the past 12 available, astir precocious beating Rio Ave 2-0 successful Guimaraes courtesy of second-half goals from Samu and Tony Strata.

That triumph leaves Gil Lameiras’ men seventh successful the standings, 9 points down fifth-placed Famalicao, who besides clasp the superior head-to-head advantage, confirming that the Conquerors volition miss retired connected continental qualification for a 2nd consecutive season.  

Even so, Vitoria volition beryllium keen to decorativeness strongly, and the Conquerors marque this weekend's travel to Lisbon buoyed by the information that the Little Whites person avoided decision successful their past 2 distant matches – drafting astatine AVS earlier winning 1-0 astatine Gil Vicente – aft antecedently losing 5 successive league games connected the road.

The Guimaraes broadside person besides tightened up defensively, conceding lone erstwhile successful their past 4 outings, and it remains to beryllium seen however that backline copes against a Sporting squad that has scored a league-high 77 goals.

Vitoria person besides held their ain successful caller meetings, winning 2 of the past six clashes betwixt the sides (D1, L3), including a 2-1 triumph successful their astir caller brushwood with the Lions successful the Taca da Liga semi-final.

Sporting Lisbon Primeira Liga form:

Sporting Lisbon signifier (all competitions):

Vitoria de Guimaraes Primeira Liga form:

Team News

Sporting’s midweek gully with Tondela saw Geny Catamo forced disconnected precocious on, leaving the Mozambique winger a large uncertainty for this weekend.

Meanwhile, Ivan Fresneda, Morten Hjulmand, Goncalo Inacio, Fotis Ioannidis and Joao Simoes are each expected to stay sidelined arsenic they proceed recovering from their respective injuries.

Suarez’s onslaught past clip retired was his 25th Primeira Liga extremity of the campaign, leaving him 4 wide of Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis successful the Golden Boot race.

Meanwhile, Vitoria could again beryllium without midfielder Alioune Ndoye, who has missed each of the past 4 matchday squads.

Gustavo Sa was forced disconnected injured successful the erstwhile outing, making the attacker a uncertainty here, and if ruled out, seasoned guardant Nelson Oliveira could pb the line.

Sporting Lisbon imaginable starting lineup:

Silva; Vangiannidis, Quaresma, Debast, Araujo; Braganca, Morita; Goncalves,Trincao, Quenda; Suarez

Vitoria de Guimaraes imaginable starting lineup:

Charles; Maga, Rivas, Balieiro, Mendes; Sousa, Beni; Camara, Samu, Saviolo; Oliveira

We say: Sporting Lisbon 2-1 Vitoria de Guimaraes

Sporting person looked susceptible successful caller weeks, but they cognize different slip-up would earnestly harm their hopes of securing Champions League football.

With that urgency successful mind, the Lions should find a mode to borderline this contest, though an in-form Vitoria broadside are apt to marque beingness hard for the hosts.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.