Preview: Sporting Lisbon vs Santa Clara - prediction, team news, lineups

Sporting Lisbon return from the international break hoping a victory over Santa Clara at Estadio Jose Alvalade on Friday proves significant in their pursuit of a third consecutive top-flight title.

With seven matchdays remaining, the second-placed Lions sit seven points adrift of the Primeira Liga summit, albeit with a game in hand, while the Azorean visitors occupy 13th place with a six-point cushion above the relegation playoff spot.

Match preview

The postponement of Sporting’s matchday 26 clash with Tondela allowed leaders Porto to extend their advantage, while third-placed Benfica also drew level on points with the two-time defending champions during that period.

Gameweek 27 changed little at the top, with all three sides collecting maximum points, including the Lions’ 4-1 victory at Alverca, where Pedro Goncalves opened and closed the scoring to secure full spoils for Rui Borges’s men.

That result made it wins in back-to-back games for Sporting, who had secured a dramatic second-leg comeback against Bodo/Glimt in the match prior, with the result sealing a historic Champions League quarter-final berth against Arsenal, which serves as a reunion with former talisman Vitor Gyokeres, who joined the London club last summer.

Luis Suarez has nevertheless stepped up impressively, with the Colombian leading the Primeira Liga scoring charts with 24 goals and keeping the Lisbon giants in contention on multiple fronts, including the Taca de Portugal, where they hold the upper hand in their semi-final tie with Porto.

That being said, victory on Friday would temporarily cut the gap to four points ahead of the league leaders’ trip to Famalicao on Saturday, and Borges will be confident given his side have won each of their last 15 home matches.

Santa Clara, however, arrive in encouraging form, going five games unbeaten (W3, D2) as results have improved under Petit, who took charge in early February.

The Azoreans had previously gone 11 league matches without success (D4, L7) between early December and March, a period that also included Taca de Portugal elimination by Sporting, though the recent turnaround has featured three straight wins.

Those successes were built on defensive solidity, with clean sheets recorded against Vitoria de Guimaraes (2-0), AVS (1-0) Gil Vicente (1-0), with the most recent success secured by a stoppage-time strike from Vinicius Lopes.

Seeking to widen the gap to danger, Santa Clara have further reason for optimism after avoiding defeat in their last three away matches (W1, D2), while they are unbeaten in regulation time in their previous two visits to Sporting.

Sporting Lisbon Primeira Liga form:

Sporting Lisbon form (all competitions):

Santa Clara Primeira Liga form:

Team News

Nuno Santos was forced off in the win over Alverca and remains doubtful, while midfielder Giorgi Kochorashvili continues to recover from an issue that has kept him out since early February.

Brazilian attacker Luis Guilherme is set to miss a third consecutive match due to an ankle problem, and Greek striker Fotis Ioannidis remains sidelined with a knee complaint, although Chelsea-bound winger Geovany Quenda is nearing a return from a foot injury.

Santa Clara, meanwhile, benefited from a quiet international window, leaving Petit with a largely fit and well-rested squad.

Left back Matheus Araujo remains unavailable with a cruciate ligament injury expected to keep him out for the rest of the campaign.

Petit has named the same starting XI in the last two outings and could retain that winning formula, with Welinton Torrao, Fernando and Gabriel Silva leading the line, though Lopes may earn a start after his decisive contribution last time out.

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:

Silva; Fresneda, Quaresma, Inacio, Mangas; Hjulmand, Morita; Catamo, Trincao, Goncalves; Suarez

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:

Batista; Soares, Da Silva, Lima, Romao; Serginho, Ferreira, Klismahn; Lopes, Fernando, G Silva

We say: Sporting Lisbon 3-1 Santa Clara

There is a clear gulf in quality between the teams, although Santa Clara’s defensive improvement suggests they should not be dismissed lightly.

However, containing a Sporting attack boasting a league-high 68 goals looks a daunting task, and with the reverse fixture ending 2-1, a similar but more comfortable home win appears likely, especially given the hosts have scored at least three times in 10 of their last 15 home matches.

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