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

The Arouquenses, meanwhile, head into the weekend seeking to pick up a third consecutive league win for the first time this season and strengthen their stake for a place in Europe.

Match preview

Sporting Lisbon were dealt a blow in their quest for a first-ever Europa League title as they fell to a 1-0 loss against Juventus in the first leg of their quarter-final clash on Thursday.

Despite seeing the bulk of the chances and being on the front foot for most of the game, the Portuguese side were left empty handed as Federico Gatti netted in the 73rd minute to hand the hosts the win.

Sporting Lisbon now return to the Primeira Liga, where they picked up a pulsating 4-3 win over a dogged Casa Pia side last Sunday to keep their race for a Champions League qualification spot alive.

In a seven-goal thriller at the Estadio Pina Manique, former Barcelona man Fransico Trincao turned in a performance of the highest quality as he grabbed a hat-trick, including the match-winner in the 85th minute.

Ruben Amorim's side head into the weekend unbeaten in each of their last seven league outings, picking up six wins and one draw while scoring 16 goals and keeping five clean sheets since February's 2-0 loss against Porto.

With 57 points from 27 games, Sporting are currently fourth in the Primeira Liga standings, five points behind Braga and seven off second-placed Porto in the automatic Champions League qualification spot.

Arouca, on the other hand, continued their pursuit for a place in next season's Conference League as they picked up a hard-earned 1-0 win over league strugglers Maritimo last Friday.

In a cagey affair at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca, Spanish striker Rafa Mujica delivered the goods once again as he netted his fifth goal in six matches to hand the hosts all three points.

Armando Evangelista's men have now gone six consecutive games without defeat, claiming four wins and two draws since a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Braga on February 19.

This impressive run has been owing to their defensive resilience as Arouca have kept five clean sheets and conceded just one goal in their six games since their loss to Artur Jorge's side.

The Arouquenses have now picked up 12 wins, eight draws and lost seven of their 27 games so far to collect 44 points and sit fifth in the league table, three points above sixth-placed Vitoria de Guimaraes outside the Conference League qualifying places.

While Arouca set out to make it three away wins on the bounce, they face the stern challenge of a Sporting Lisbon side who have won 13 of the last 14 meetings between the teams since August 2013.

Sporting Lisbon Primeira Liga form:

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Sporting Lisbon form (all competitions):

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Arouca Primeira Liga form:

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Team News

Sporting Lisbon remain without the Portuguese duo of striker Paulinho and midfielder Daniel Braganca, who are currently recuperating from muscle and knee injuries respectively.

Real Valladolid loanee Jovane Cabral has been sidelined since the start of April through a muscle problem and the 24-year-old is out of contention for the Leoes.

Former Feyenoord and Mainz full-back Jeremiah St. Juste was forced off midway through Wednesday's defeat against Juventus and is a major doubt for this weekend's clash.

Should Juste fail to shake off the injury, Ousmane Diomande could be handed his second league start since joining from Danish outfit Midtjylland in the January window.

Oday Dabbagh, who has seven league goals for Arouca this season, is ruled out of the trip to the Estadio Jose Alvalade after picking up a muscle injury in February.

The 24-year-old is the second attacker on the Arouquenses injury table as Vitinho continues his long journey to full fitness after suffering a knee problem back in October.

Evangelista will also be unable to call upon the services of Ivory Coast midfielder Ismailia Soro, who is set to sit out his third consecutive game through a muscle problem.

Mujica has been pivotal in Arouca's race for a place in Europe, and we expect the former Las Palmas striker, who has scored five goals in his last six games, to lead the Arouquenses' attack once again.

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:

Adan; Diomande, Coates, Reis; Esgaio, Morita, Goncalves, Santos; Edwards, Chermiti, Trincao

Arouca possible starting lineup:

Arruabarrena; Esgaio, Basso, Galovic, Correia; Simao, Busquets; Antony, Ruiz, Sylla; Mujica

We say: Sporting Lisbon 2-1 Arouca

Following Wednesday's narrow defeat, Sporting Lisbon will be looking to restore some pride and bounce back in time for the next week's return leg. Amorim's side have been near impenetrable at home in the league, and while we expect the visitors to put up a fight, we are backing them to come away with all three points.

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