Fresh off the back of suffering their first defeat of the new Primeira Liga campaign, Sporting Lisbon play host to Chaves at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Saturday.
Vitor Campelos's side will head into the weekend looking to get one over the home side, having lost each of the last five meetings between the teams since 2017.
Match preview
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Sporting Lisbon failed to end their five-game winless streak against Porto when the sides squared off last weekend as they fell to a 3-0 thrashing against the reigning champions away from home.
In a game where Pedro Porro received his marching orders, Evanilson, Matheus Uribe and Wanderson Galeno all found the target to hand Sergio Conceicao's side all three points at the Estadio do Dragao.
Ruben Amorim's men were previously on a run of 10 consecutive away games without a defeat in the league, claiming seven wins and three draws since a 2-1 loss at Santa Clara on January 7.
Having played out a 3-3 draw with Braga and claimed a 3-0 win over newly-promoted Rio Ave in their opening two games of the new Primeira Liga campaign, Sporting Lisbon have managed five points from a possible nine this season.
However, the Leoes will fancy their chances of returning to winning ways and closing the gap on the sides at the top of the standings as they return home where they are currently on a three-game winning streak in the league and have won four of their last eight games since the start of February.
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Elsewhere, Chaves were denied their first set of consecutive wins this season as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Vizela when the sides met at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira last Saturday.
In a game where Joao Teixeira and Andres Sarmiento both saw red for either side, Hector Hernandez broke the deadlock in the eighth minute to hand the hosts the lead but Kevin Zohi struck five minutes before half time to restore parity.
Prior to that, Campelos's men, who saw off Moreirense 2-1 on aggregate in the promotion playoff final back in May, kicked off their top-flight campaign with a 1-0 loss against Vitoria de Guimaraes on August 7 before claiming a 2-1 victory at Maritimo a fortnight ago.
While Chaves will look to return to winning ways, standing in their way is an opposing side who are currently on a five-game winning streak in this fixture and are unbeaten in six of their last seven encounters since January 2017.
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Team News
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Sporting Lisbon will take to the pitch without Spain international Pedro Porro, who picked up a straight red in the game against Porto last weekend.
In his absence, former Braga man Ricardo Esgaio, who made 27 appearances last season, should take up the right wing-back role in what will be his first league start of the 2022-23 campaign.
On the injury front, the Leoes will have to make do without the services of 23-year-old midfielder Daniel Braganca, who has been out of action since May through an ACL injury.
Meanwhile, Chaves recently snapped up Copenhagen man Luther Singh on loan and the 25-year-old forward could be handed his debut this weekend.
Club captain Teixeira is currently suspended after receiving his marching orders against Vizela last time out and Villarreal loanee Jony Arriba could be thrown into the mix on Saturday.
Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Adan; Neto, Coates, Inacio; Esgaio, Morita, Ugarte, Reis; Edwards, Trincao, Goncalves
Chaves possible starting lineup:
Fagundes; Correia, Vitoria, Monte, Langa; Arriba, Guimaraes, Mendes; Batxi, Hernandez, Sousa
We say: Sporting Lisbon 3-1 Chaves
Sporting Lisbon have staggered into the new season and find themselves five points off rivals Porto at the top of the standings. However, they return home where they are currently on a run of seven wins from their last eight games, and we are backing them to extend their dominance against this weekend's visitors.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
