Preview: Sporting Lisbon vs. Porto - prediction, team news, lineups

Two of the "Big Three" in the Primeira Liga face off in a highly-anticipated round five fixture as Sporting Lisbon host Porto at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Saturday.

The tie has all the makings of a proper contest as both sides are currently level on points at the upper echelons of the league standings.

Match preview

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Sporting Lisbon were denied a fourth win on the spin two Saturdays ago when they played out a surprise 1-1 draw against Famalicao at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao.

Despite being on the front foot for most of the game, an own goal from Nuno Mendes put the Famalicenses ahead in the 68th minute, but 26-year-old midfielder Joao Palhinha scored with eight minutes remaining on the clock to force a share of the spoils.

Prior to that, Ruben Amorim's side were on a blistering seven-game winning streak across all competitions, including a 2-1 win over Braga in the Supertaca final on July 31.

Sporting Lisbon, alongside Porto, are one of four sides unbeaten in the opening four games and have started their title defence on a good note.

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Meanwhile, Saturday's visitors returned to winning ways in style as they cruised to a 3-0 victory over Arouca at the Estadio do Dragao last time out.

Sergio Conceicao's men raced to a two-goal lead inside the first 34 minutes through Mateus Uribe and Mehdi Taremi before Ivan Marcano completed the rout shortly after the hour mark.

This followed a disappointing 1-1 draw against Maritimo where Bruno Xadas cancelled out Luis Diaz's 35th-minute opener to end Porto's three-game winning streak.

Porto have now avoided defeat in their last 17 games across all competitions, picking up 13 wins and four draws since their 2-0 loss against Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-finals.

While the Dragoes will look to keep the juggernaut rolling, they face the stern test of squaring up against the reigning champions who they have failed to beat in their last three attempts, including the Taca da Liga final where they lost 2-1.

Next up for Porto is a highly-anticipated Champions League Group C curtain-raiser away to Atletico Madrid, while Sporting Lisbon welcome reigning Eredivisie champions Ajax.

Team News

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Promising full-back Nuno Mendes, who made 29 appearances for Sporting Lisbon last term, completed a deadline-day move to Ligue 1 heavyweight Paris Saint Germain in a deal which saw Spanish midfielder Pablo Sarabia head the other way.

Zouhair Feddal replaced Luis Neto in the back three last time out and we expect the Moroccan to keep his place in the starting XI, meaning he could team up with Sebastian Coates and Goncalo Inacio for the third game this season.

Meanwhile, Porto will once again take to the pitch without the services of first-choice goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin, who recently underwent surgery for a meniscus injury.

In his absence, Diogo Costa has been in decent form between the sticks for the Dragoes, making four saves and keeping two clean sheets in the opening four games.

Serbian midfielder Marko Grujic, who recently completed a permanent switch to the Estadio do Dragao, will also sit out the game after sustaining a muscle injury against Lyon back in May.

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:

Adan; Feddal, Coates, Inacio; Vinagre, Nunes, Palhinha, Esgaio; Goncalves, Cabral; Paulinho

Porto possible starting lineup:

D Costa; Mario, Pepe, Mbemba, Marcano; Otavio, B Costa, Uribe, Diaz; Taremi, Martinez

We say: Sporting Lisbon 2-2 Porto

Saturday's game sees two Portuguese heavyweights go toe to toe and we can expect a thrilling and riveting contest between the sides. Both sides head into the game in blistering form and we anticipate they will settle for a share of the spoils to maintain their fine run of games.