Sporting Lisbon vs Vitoria: Preview, Predictions, Team News, Lineups
Sporting Lisbon and Vitoria de Guimaraes are set to clash on Tuesday at the Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa. This match is crucial as it determines who advances to the Taca da Liga final. The competition maintains an eight-team format for the second consecutive year, with both teams taking different paths to reach the semi-finals.
Match Preview
The Taca da Liga features the top six teams from the previous season, along with two from the second division. Sporting Lisbon secured their position by winning the Primeira Liga title for the second consecutive year. In the quarter-finals, they faced Alverca, a second-division team, defeating them decisively with a 5-1 scoreline.
Although Sporting won the Taca da Liga four out of the last five seasons, their recent performance in this competition has been less consistent. They reached two finals but lost both, including a penalty shootout against Benfica last season. Following a draw against Gil Vicente, Sporting aims to regain their winning form as they face Vitoria.
Recent Form
- Sporting Lisbon: Recent form includes four straight wins before the draw, with significant scoring in each match.
- Vitoria de Guimaraes: They recently broke a three-match winless streak by defeating Nacional 2-1, moving up in the Primeira Liga standings.
Team News
Sporting will be without several key players, including Geny Catamo and Ousmane Diomande, who are participating in the Africa Cup of Nations. Additionally, injuries have sidelined Salvador Blopa, Ricardo Mangas, Geovany Quenda, Pedro Goncalves, and Nuno Santos. Goncalo Inacio is also suspended due to a red card.
On the other hand, Vitoria is missing forward Gustavo Sa and defender Oscar Rivas due to muscle injuries. Midfielder Beni Mukendi has returned and made an impact recently, while Noah Jose Saviolo is expected to continue in the lineup after a solid performance last weekend.
Predicted Lineups
| Sporting Lisbon | Vitoria de Guimaraes |
|---|---|
| Virginia | Castillo |
| Vagiannidis | Maga |
| Quaresma | Nobrega |
| M Ries | Abascal |
| Araujo | Mendes |
| Simoes | Nogueira |
| Morita | Mukendi |
| Trincao | Arcanjo |
| Ioannidis | Samu |
| A Santos | Saviolo |
| Suarez | Oliveira |
Conclusion and Predictions
Sporting Lisbon enters this match as the favored team based on historical performance and recent form. Vitoria de Guimaraes faces a significant challenge, as they have not progressed beyond this stage in their last attempts. Despite their recent victory, the likelihood is that Sporting Lisbon will win 2-1.
As both teams prepare for this important clash, the atmosphere at Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa is sure to be electric, with fans eager to see who will advance to the final of the Taca da Liga.
