Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Primeira Liga clash between Estoril Praia and Sporting Lisbon, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Threatened with relegation Estoril-Praia take on the recently crowned champions Sporting Lisbon Saturday, at the Antonio Coimbra da Mota stadium, on the penultimate day of the Primeira Liga season.
While the visitors clinched the title with a victory last time out, the hosts are still looking to ensure their safety with two points from the remaining games enough to ensure their survival.
Match Preview
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Estoril have found themselves in the relegation zone on several occasions this season but are now on the brink of safety as they hold a five-point lead over 16th-placed Portimonense with just two matches remaining.
This leaves Vasco SeabraThe Portimonense men need two points to secure their place in the division next season, while the points lost by Portimonense will also ensure their survival.
After several difficult spells throughout the campaign that put Estoril in the drop zone, including winning just one of their first nine league matches and a top 10 finish at the start of 2024, Seabra deserves plenty of credit for guiding his team towards a promising future. survival position.
One of the main reasons for Estoril’s rise to safety is the positive home record which has seen them collect the sixth highest number of points of any team in the league when playing in front of their supporters, taking 25 points in 16 games.
They now head into this home game against champions Sporting Lisbon having lost just one of their last four outings at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota, winning the other three by a score of 1-0.
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As for the visitors, they won the league title last weekend after second-placed Benfica suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to lowly Famalicao in a game they needed to win, having seen Sporting Lisbon lose closer to glory with a 3-0. defeat Portimonense earlier in the weekend.
After a second part of the season which saw boss Ruben Amorim Regularly linked with departures – notably to Liverpool and West Ham United – the in-demand manager has pledged to stay with the new champions after leading them to a second league title, ending the distracting speculation which led to moment of him issuing a public apology for having discussions with the Hammers.
The next immediate challenge for Amorim will be to ensure their players can finish the season strong, and on Saturday they will look to extend their current 17-match unbeaten run in domestic competition, having only lost one of their last 21 games overall. competitions.
Sporting Lisbon will certainly be confident of registering another victory in this match after winning the last five meetings between these two.
Viktor Gyokeres is likely to play a part in any potential victory for the visitors with the striker currently on 27 league goals, and the Swede hoping to become the first player to score 30 times in the Primeira Liga since Jonah scored 34 in 2017-18.
Estoril-Praia Primeira Liga form:
Sporting Lisbon Primeira Liga form:
Team News
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Both teams will likely be without four players for the penultimate league match of the campaign.
The guests will be without Erick Cabaco, Jordan Holsgrove And Nemanja Jovic due to injury.
Mateus Fernandes is also not available for this match as the midfielder is not eligible to play against his parent club.
Amorim will be without his two first-choice goalkeeping options, as both Antonio Adan And Franco Israel miss due to injury, leaving Diogo Pinto likely to make his first start in the Primeira Liga.
Matheus Reis returned to the bench for the match against Portimonense and should remain a substitute in this one.
Marcus Edwards is the last player unavailable for this one as he serves the second of his two-match suspension.
Estoril-Praia possible starting lineup:
Carné; Basso, Alvaro, Vital; Pina, Zanocelo, Michel, Gomes; Andrade, Cassiano, Marques
Possible starting lineup for Sporting Lisbon:
Pinto; Quaresma, Coates, Inacio; Catamo, Hjulmand, Morita, Santos; Trincão, Gyokeres, Pote
We say: Estoril Praia 1-3 Sporting Lisbon
Estoril’s home form may have been their greatest strength this season, but Sporting Lisbon are the far superior team and will be very confident after being crowned champions last weekend, leading us to believe that visitors will be victorious in this one.
For data analysis of most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.
