Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 8 March 2024, 23:54
Title-chasing Sporting Lisbon will be looking to open up a four-point lead at the top of the table when they take on Arouca at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca in round 25 of the Primeira Liga on Sunday.

Off the back of a somewhat disappointing 1-1 draw with Atalanta in the first leg of their Europa League round-of-16 clash, the Leoes will head into the weekend in search of a morale-boosting result ahead of next Thursday's journey to Italy.

Match preview

Arouca turned in another five-star team display last Friday as they fought back from behind to secure an emphatic 5-1 victory over Chaves when the sides met at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira.

Raphael Guzzo opened the scoring in the 16th minute to put the Flavienses in front, but goals from Cristo Gonzalez, Jason, Morlaye Sylla and a brace from Rafa Mujica saw the visitors turn the game on its head in strike.

Having suffered back-to-back defeats against Benfica and Vitoria de Guimaraes in their first two games this year, Arouca men have now won six of their subsequent seven outings — with a 1-0 loss at Casa Pia on February 18 being the exception.

This upturn in form has been owing to the solid job done at the attacking end of the pitch, where Daniel Sousa's men have netted 20 goals in their last seven matches and now boast the division's fifth-highest number of goals scored (43).

The Arouquenses have now won 10 of their 24 Primeira Liga matches so far while losing 10 and claiming four draws to collect 34 points and sit seventh in the table, 15 points adrift of the European qualifying places.

While Arouca look to strengthen their position in the top half of the table, next up is the daunting challenge of taking on a Sporting Lisbon side who are unbeaten in 15 of the last 16 meetings between the teams, picking up 14 wins and one draw since August 2013.

Everything is still to play for in Sporting Lisbon's Europa League last-16 clash against Atalanta next Thursday after they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Italian outfit in midweek.

Veteran striker Paulinho opened the scoring with a 17th-minute effort at the Estadio Jose Alvalade to give the hosts a dream start to the tie, but Gianluca Scamacca scored in the 39th minute to pull Atalanta level.

Back home, Sporting Lisbon have enjoyed a superb campaign and are on course to clinch their 20th Primeira Liga title as they sit at the top of the table, one point above second-placed Benfica with one game in hand.

Ruben Amorim's men picked up their 19th win in 23 league matches last Sunday when they narrowly edged out a resilient Farense side 3-2 courtesy of goals from Daniel Braganca, Pedro Goncalves and in-form striker Viktor Gyokeres.

With that result, Sporting Lisbon have now gone 10 consecutive Primeira Liga matches without defeat, picking up nine wins and one draw since a 3-2 loss to Vitoria de Guimaraes at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques on December 9.

Key in the Leoes title charge has been their superb record at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, where they have won each of their 12 league games so far, and their free-scoring form, as they have netted the highest number of goals so far (66).

Arouca Primeira Liga form:

W

W

W

L

W

W

Sporting Lisbon Primeira Liga form:

W

W

W

W

D

W

Sporting Lisbon form (all competitions):

W

D

D

W

W

D

Team News

Arouca will take to the pitch without the services of Brazilian forward Vitinho, who has been sidelined since sustaining an injury in December's game against Gil Vicente.

Uruguayan defender Matias Rocha has missed the Arouquenses' last two matches through a minor injury and is also a doubt for Sunday's clash.

With his brace against Chaves, Mujica now has 16 goals and two assists in 24 league appearances so far and the 25-year-old striker will certainly be one to keep an eye on.

With a crunch Europa League clash against Atalanta on the horizon, Amorim could rest a few key players this weekend, with the likes of Goncalves and Gyokeres dropping to the bench.

On the injury front, Sporting Lisbon remain without 22-year-old Goncalo Inacio, who has missed the last three matches since coming off with a muscle problem against Rio Ave on February 25.

He is joined in the club's injury table by first-choice goalkeeper Antonio Adan, who is currently recuperating from a thigh problem, meaning Franco Israel will start between the sticks once again.

Arouca possible starting lineup:

Arruabarrena; Esgaio, Bambu, Montero, Weverson; Simao, Santos; Jason, Gonzalez, Sylla; Mujica

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:

Israel; Diomande, St. Juste, Reis; Santos, Hjulmand, Braganca, Esgaio; Edwards, Trincao; Paulinho

We say: Arouca 1-3 Sporting Lisbon

Previews by email

Top News

22 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has reportedly not yet made a full recovery from the knock he suffered prior to the international break. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Xabi Alonso will hope that his Bayer Leverkusen side can return to winning ways when they welcome strugglers Heidenheim to BayArena in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney gives Romeo Montague a run for his money with wife Coleen revealing he writes her love poetry. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Six places separate Wolfsburg and Union Berlin in the Bundesliga table ahead of Saturday's gameweek 11 match at the Volkswagen Arena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund have already fallen behind in the title race and will at least aim to stay within touching distance of the Champions League qualifications spots when they welcome Freiburg to Signal Iduna Park on Saturday in their 11th Bundesliga game of the campaign. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A crunch clash at the bottom sees Heracles and RKC Waalwijk go head to head at the Asito Stadium on Saturday evening in gameweek 13 of the Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Stuttgart sit a disappointing 11th in the Bundesliga table before welcoming cellar-dwelling VfL Bochum in Saturday's gameweek 11 action at the MHPArena. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford boss Thomas Frank has confirmed that Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa will both be available for Saturday's Premier League away meeting with Everton. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica and Estrela Amadora return to action on Saturday when they go head to head at the Estadio da Luz in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal. 21 November 2024 talksport.com West Ham have sounded out former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic as a potential replacement for Julen Lopetegui, talkSPORT understands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to move back into the top six of the League One table, Huddersfield Town will welcome Charlton Athletic to the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT's Ally McCoist has opened up about living with Dupuytren's contracture, an incurable hereditary condition that affects the hands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luton Town will welcome Hull City to Kenilworth Road on Saturday for a crucial game at the bottom end of the Championship table. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Martin Odegaard is everything for Arsenal - he's at the heartbeat of everything positive they do. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to go top of the Championship table with a fifth straight victory, Sheffield United will travel to take on Coventry City on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig will aim to prevent the five-point gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich from extending by claiming all three points at Hoffenheim's PreZero Arena on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt will hope to maintain their five-point advantage over Werder Bremen after hosting them on Saturday at Deutsche Bank Park in their 11th Bundesliga outing of the season. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Newcastle defender Lewis Hall says his lack of game time in the first-team left him 'in a dark place' last season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who could really do with a victory kick off round 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Go Ahead Eagles welcome Almere City to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Promotion-chasing Barnsley are favourites heading into Saturday's gameweek 17 League One match at Oakwell. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord and Heerenveen will both be looking to pick up where they left off right before the international break in Saturday's meeting at De Kuip in matchday 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly set a £100m asking price for Enzo Fernandez amid interest from Real Madrid. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will be aiming to make it five straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign against Alaves at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Robert Lewandowski is a mesmerising goal scorer, but it turns out that's not his only talent. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace may be without two of their key creators when they kick off on Saturday afternoon, as an ailing Premier League campaign resumes away to Aston Villa.