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

Famalicao will look to maintain their unbeaten start to the Primeira Liga season after picking up four points from their first two games.

Match preview

After finishing in fourth place and 13 points adrift of league winners Benfica last season, Sporting are determined to show a significant improvement this time around, as they look to mount a title challenge.

While their opening two results may not be convincing, Sporting have managed to start their Primeira Liga campaign with consecutive victories.

After beating Vizela 3-2 in their league opener, courtesy of Paulinho's 99th-minute winner, the Lions recorded another narrow victory in their away meeting with Casa Pia on Matchday Two.

Paulinho was once again the hero, scoring either side of a Clayton strike to guide Sporting to a 2-1 win — a result which extends the club's unbeaten league run to 16 matches.

Ruben Amorim will be pleased with the club's positive start to the campaign, but after conceding against Vizela and Casa Pia, they have now gone five top-flight games without a clean sheet, something the Sporting boss will look to rectify this weekend.

Despite finishing in the top half of the Primeira Liga table in each of the last five seasons, Famalicao will go into Sunday's encounter as massive underdogs.

The visitors will certainly carry some momentum into the contest, having picked up four points from their opening two games against Braga and Moreirense.

After coming from a goal down to claim a 2-1 away victory over Braga on the opening weekend of the season, Famalicao held out for a goalless draw against Moreirense last weekend, despite playing the entire second half with 10 men following Pablo's red card.

Joao Pedro Sousa knows that his side will need to produce another strong defensive display if they are to trouble Sporting, having lost their last four competitive meetings.

While Famalicao will be targeting a point, if they can pull off a surprise win, it would represent their first away victory over Sporting since September 2019.

Sporting Lisbon Primeira Liga form:

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D

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Sporting Lisbon form (all competitions):

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Famalicao Primeira Liga form:

L

D

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Famalicao form (all competitions):

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Team News

Jerry St Juste has been sidelined since April, and the Dutch defender is unlikely to feature for the hosts in Saturday's contest.

Paulinho has scored three goals in the opening two league games, and the in-form forward will retain his place in the side, with Amorim expected to name an unchanged lineup.

Recent addition Morten Hjulmand will provide the hosts with an option off the bench after making his Sporting debut as a substitute last weekend.

As for the visitors, they are still unable to call upon long-term absentee Theo Fonseca, while Ivan Jaime is unlikely to feature after missing the opening two league matches through injury.

With Pablo set to serve a one-match suspension, Sousa could present Romania international Alexandru Dobre with a starting opportunity.

After coming off the bench at half time last weekend, summer signing Mirko Topic is in line to make his first league start for Famalicao.

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:

Adan; Diomande, Coates, Inacio; Esgaio, Morita, Goncalves, Santos; Edwards, Paulinho, Gyokeres

Famalicao possible starting lineup:

Junior; Aguirregabiria, Riccieli, Otavio, Moura; Youssouf, Topic, Assuncao; Dobre, Aranda, Cadiz

We say: Sporting Lisbon 2-1 Famalicao

Sporting have shown some defensive fragility in their opening two games, which is why we believe Famalicao will trouble the scorers on Sunday.

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