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

All eyes will be on the headline clash of Primeira Liga’s matchday four as Sporting Lisbon welcome Porto to Estadio Jose Alvalade on Saturday evening.

Both teams have begun the campaign with a flawless run of three victories each, so at least one of these title contenders’ perfect records will be dented here.

Match preview

Sporting have launched their title defence in commanding fashion, winning all three fixtures while scoring 12 times and conceding just once in that run.

Last weekend’s 4-1 victory over Nacional was emphatic, though perhaps not as straightforward as the scoreline suggested, especially considering the Lions had dismantled Arouca 6-0 in the match before.

Rui Borges’s side were shocked just three minutes in at Estadio da Madeira, and it took until eight minutes past the restart before the goals started flowing for the reigning champions, who already held a numerical advantage after Pablo Ruan’s red card in the 37th minute.

Next up is a high-stakes clash against a side sitting just behind them in the standings, with only goal difference separating the pair, so Sporting will look to capitalise on home advantage to take maximum points and tighten their grip at the top.

The fixture has favoured the Lions in recent times, having gone unbeaten in their last seven meetings against Porto across all competitions, while they have also triumphed in their previous two home league games against the Dragons.

Adding further confidence is their formidable record at Jose Alvalade, where Sporting have won six of their last seven Primeira Liga matches dating back to last season, keeping that venue something of a fortress.

Porto, meanwhile, have carried their momentum from 2024-25 into this campaign, stringing together six consecutive league wins.

After finishing a disappointing third last term, the Dragons under Francesco Farioli have burst out of the traps with victories over Vitoria de Guimaraes (3-0), Gil Vicente (2-0) and last weekend’s ruthless 4-0 dismantling of Casa Pia.

Their success has been built not only on a watertight back line, which is one of just three yet to concede in the division, but also on explosive starts, having led at the interval in all three games, including racing to a three-goal cushion before the break last time out before Borja Sainz wrapped things up with his second of the contest.

For all of their resurgent form, Porto approach this clash with a sense of caution, given they lost all three of their away encounters against last season’s top four, meaning even a point here against the champions would feel significant.

Sporting Lisbon Primeira Liga form:

Sporting Lisbon form (all competitions):

Porto Primeira Liga form:

Porto form (all competitions):

Team News

With Ousmane Diomande a doubt, Goncalo Inacio and Zeno Debast should once again anchor the heart of Sporting’s defence as they did in the previous two fixtures.

Matheus Reis is available again after serving a lengthy suspension, but Borges is unlikely to displace Ricardo Mangas, who has impressed at left-back so far this season.

Pedro Goncalves was the standout performer last weekend, netting a hat-trick, and will take plenty of confidence into this one as he seeks to extend his fine form.

Daniel Braganca, Nuno Santos and Maximiliano Araujo are all ruled out for the hosts as they continue to recover from injuries.

Porto also have fitness concerns, with Martim Fernandez sidelined while Pepe and Samu Omorodion remain doubtful.

As a result, William Gomes could retain his place on the wing after scoring last time out, while Luuk de Jong will once again spearhead the attack as he looks to open his account for the club.

Sainz, fresh from his brace against Casa Pia, should keep his place out wide, while new signing Pablo Rosario, brought in during midweek, could make his debut from the bench.

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:

Silva; Mangas, Inacio, Debast, Fresneda; Hjulmand, Morita; Trincao, Pote, Catamo; Suarez

Porto possible starting lineup:

D Costa; Moura, Perez, Bednarek, A Costa; Veiga, Varela, Froholdt; Gomes, Jong, Sainz

We say: Sporting Lisbon 1-1 Porto

This is as evenly poised as they come, with both sides flying out of the blocks, so a share of the spoils looks the most likely outcome, with goals expected at both ends.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.