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

The hosts are currently in second place in the league standings in the early stages of the campaign, while the visitors are down in 13th and in desperate need of a victory.

Match preview

After only managing a fourth-placed finish last term, Sporting Lisbon have got the current season off to an excellent start and are currently on 13 points after the first five matches, level with Boavista at the top of the standings.

The Lions also got their Europa League campaign started with a win, beating Sturm Graz on the road in midweek when they showed their fighting spirit, coming from a goal down to claim a 2-1 win.

In their last league match, Morten Hjulmand, Viktor Gyokeres and Ousmane Diomande all got on the scoresheet to give Sporting their fourth win in five games this season while extending their unbeaten league record to 19.

The only points that the hosts have dropped so far this term came in a 1-1 draw against Braga in gameweek four, though the last time they suffered defeat in the Primeira Liga was in early February.

Ruben Amorim's side won the last encounter between these sides 1-0 last season and are unbeaten against this opponent in their last five meetings, winning three and drawing two.

Meanwhile, Rio Ave only managed a 14th-placed finish last season, and based on their form so far, they seem likely to struggle to break into the top half of the table again this season.

The visitors played out a 1-1 draw at home to Famalicao last weekend and were arguably a little fortunate to have come away with that point as they went 1-0 down inside the first 15 minutes and got their equaliser through a Mirko Topic own goal just after halftime.

That result extended their winless run in the league to four consecutive matches, including two draws and two losses, while their only win in the current campaign came in gameweek one when they beat Chaves 2-0 at home.

Luis Freire's side have not been the greatest on their travels, with a record of three wins in their last 20 matches, and they will be out to bring an end to a six-match winless run on the road in this one.

Sporting Lisbon Primeira Liga form:

Rio Ave Primeira Liga form:

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Team News

The hosts have one injury absentee, with Jerry St Juste struggling with a knock and expected to be sidelined for at least another month.

Diomande and Gyokeres have scored in each of the last two matches and should keep their places in the side, while Hidemasa Morita will hope for a starting 11 place alongside Diomande.

Freire also has only one injury absentee for this match in the form of goalkeeper Jhonatan, who is suffering from a thigh injury and is only expected to return next month.

Savio Alves, Aderllan Santos and Renato Pantalon have started the last three for the visitors are are likely to form the defensive trio with Guga in the pivot.

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:

Adan; Diomande, Coates, Inacio; Esgaio, Hjulmand, Morita, Santos; Pote, Gyokeres, Edwards

Rio Ave possible starting lineup:

Magrao; Pantalon, Santos, Savio; Costinha, Oudrhiri, Guga, Ronaldo; Joca, Pereira, Manuel

We say: Sporting Lisbon 2-1 Rio Ave

Sporting have been excellent in the early stages of the season, and their home record makes it difficult to back against them securing another win here. The visitors have failed to win any of their last four league games, and we expect that to extend to five in this one.

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