Santa Clara vs Sporting Lisbon: Prediction, Team News, Lineups Preview
In an exciting Primeira Liga clash, Santa Clara is set to face reigning champions Sporting Lisbon this weekend. The match will take place in the Azores on matchday 11 of the league. Sporting Lisbon aims to maintain its momentum after a series of positive performances.
Match Preview
Sporting Lisbon has shown remarkable resilience since the departure of former manager Ruben Amorim. Under coach Rui Borges, the team secured a domestic double in the 2024-25 season, winning both the Primeira Liga and the Taca de Portugal. Currently, Sporting sits second in the league, trailing leaders Porto by three points.
The Lions are coming off a 1-1 draw against Juventus in the Champions League, leaving them just two points shy of an automatic qualification spot. They have not lost in their last seven matches across all competitions, with five of those resulting in victories.
Current Standings
| Position | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Porto | 24 |
| 2 | Sporting Lisbon | 21 |
| 8 | Santa Clara | 11 |
Santa Clara’s Struggles
Santa Clara has had a challenging start to the season, losing four of their last six games across all competitions. Their recent 1-0 defeat to Gil Vicente only adds to their woes. With only three wins in ten league matches, they currently sit in eighth place, seven points adrift compared to last season’s performance.
The team has struggled offensively, netting just eight goals this season; only the bottom two teams have scored fewer. In contrast, they have conceded 11 goals. As they prepare for the match against Sporting, they hope to capitalize on their recent improvement at home, where they’ve scored five goals in their last three matches.
Team News
Santa Clara is nearly at full strength. However, midfielder MT and forward Anthony Carter are expected to miss the match. The goal-scoring efforts will rely heavily on Vinicius Lopes, who has three goals this season. Wendel is anticipated to lead the attack once again.
Sporting Lisbon will see the return of key players, including striker Luis Suarez, who has seven league goals this season. Their defensive lineup should remain steady, featuring Inacio and Diomande, while Georgios Vagiannidis is likely to fill in at right-back.
Expected Lineups
- Santa Clara: Batista; Venancio, Lima, Rocha; Pereira, Firmino, Serginho, Soares; Brenner, Wendel, Lopes
- Sporting Lisbon: Silva; Araujo, Inacio, Diomande, Vagiannidis; Hjulmand, Simoes; Trincao, Pote, Quenda; Suarez
Match Prediction
Given the current form, Sporting Lisbon is favored to secure a victory against Santa Clara. Despite potential fatigue from recent fixtures, Sporting’s quality should prevail. A predicted scoreline of 2-1 in favor of Sporting reflects their superior performance so far this season.
