Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Sporting Lisbonvs.Nacional

sportsmole.co.uk, 27 October 2024, 23:53
A place in the semi-finals of the Taca da Liga will be up for grabs on Tuesday when Sporting Lisbon and Nacional go head to head at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

This will be the second meeting between the two teams this season, with the Leoes storming to a 6-1 victory in their Primeira Liga clash at the Estadio da Madeira on August 17.

Match preview

Sporting Lisbon opened up a six-point lead at the top of the Primeira Liga standings when they picked up a 3-0 victory over Famalicao at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao on Saturday.

While Famalicao managed to keep the visitors quiet in the first half, Viktor Gyokeres finished off a well-worked team goal to break the deadlock in the 57th minute before Geovany Quenda and Goncalo Inacio added to the scoreline to cap off a dominant display.

Prior to that, the Leoes picked up two comfortable cup wins, seeing off Portimonense in the third round of the Taca de Portugal on October 18, four days before securing a 2-0 victory over Sturm Graz in the Champions League, where they have picked up seven points from their three matches so far.

With the weekend result over Famalicao, Sporting Lisbon have now won each of their nine Primeira Liga matches this season to sit top of the league standings, six points above second-placed Porto, who have one game in hand.

Ruben Amorim's men now turn their focus to the Taca de Portugal, where they will be looking to surpass their semi-final finish last season, when they to a 1-0 defeat against Braga at the Estadio Braga Municipal in Hanuaeg.

Sporting Lisbon, unbeaten in their 18 competitive home games since the turn of the year, head into Tuesday's clash as the second-most decorated side in the cup competition with four titles since their debut in 2008.

Nacional, on the other hand, were left empty handed yet again as they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Casa Pia in their Primeira Ligan clash at the Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior last Friday.

Dutch defender Ruben Kluivert grabbed the headlines for Casa Pia as he netted the only goal of the game nine minutes after the half-hour mark to hand them their third win of the campaign.

This followed a disappointing 2-1 loss against Segunda Liga outfit Uniao Leiria at the Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa on October 20, a result which saw their Taca de Portugal campaign come to an end in the third round.

Nacional have now gone five back-to-back games without a win across all competitions — losing four and claiming one draw — a run which has seen them plunge to 17th-place in the Primeira Liga table, just one point above rock-bottom Farense.

While Tiago Margarido's men will look to stop the rot and kick off their Taca da Liga campaign on a high, they face the daunting challenge of taking on an opposing side whom they have failed to get the better of in 20 straight encounters, including six defeats in the last six meetings between the two teams.

Sporting Lisbon form (all competitions):

W

D

W

W

W

W

Nacional form (all competitions):

W

L

L

D

L

L

Team News

Sporting Lisbon will take to the pitch without the services of Eduardo Quaresma and English forward Marcus Edwards, who are currently recuperating from muscle and thigh injuries.

Nuno Santos was forced off injured at half time against Famalicao at the weekend and the experienced full-back is ruled out of Tuesday's clash, meaning Uruguayan international Maximiliano Araujo could be given the nod.

We expect Amorim to rest some of his heavy hitters on Tuesday, with the likes of Pedro Goncalves, Ousmane Diomande and in-form marksman Gyokeres, who has 25 goal contributions for club and country this season, dropping to the bench.

Nacional, on the other hand, remain without the services of 20-year-old defender Chico Goncalves, who has been sidelined since coming off injured in August.

Brazilian forward Dudu is yet to feature this season after picking up a severe injury in the game against Mafra on May 19 and the 25-year-old is also out of contention for Tuesday's clash.

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:

Kovacevic; Ramos, Debast, Inacio; Araujo, Hjulmand, Braganca, Esgaio; Trincao, Quenda, Harder

Nacional possible starting lineup:

Franca; Garcia, Rocha, Ze Vitor, Gomes; Penha, Dias, Esteves; Macedo, Aguiar, Thomas

We say: Sporting Lisbon 3-0 Nacional

Sporting Lisbon are currently firing on all cylinders under Amorim and will be kicking their lips as they take on an out-of-sorts Nacional side who have struggled for results this season.

While we expect Amorim to ring several changes, the Leoes boast the firepower needed to get the job done and we are backing them to come away with the desired result.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Southampton defender Jan Bednarek should be fit to start Wednesday's Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace at St Mary's. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Manchester United may struggle to fund their proposed new stadium, according to football finance expert Stefan Borson. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hosts Arsenal's faint hopes of winning the Premier League title could be all but extinguished should they lose against eighth-placed Fulham at the Emirates on Tuesday. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are said to have received a £67m offer from Serie A side Napoli for winger Alejandro Garnacho, casting further doubt on his future at the club. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona attacker Raphinha could return to the starting lineup for Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk A place in the Copa del Rey final will be on the line when Barcelona and Atletico Madrid face off in Wednesday's semi-final second leg at the Metropolitano. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic have reportedly identified Augsburg midfielder Elvis Rexhbecaj as an 'ideal successor' to captain Callum McGregor. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim has revealed that Luke Shaw will not be available for selection for Manchester United's clash against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Tuesday. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is set to make several changes to his side for Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Barcelona at the Metropolitano. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Eintracht Frankfurt have reportedly enquired about the availability of Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo amidst speculation that he will be allowed to leave in the summer. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola will miss Manchester City's Premier League clash against relegation-threatened Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Wrexham have revealed a club record turnover in their latest financial results. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will lock horns with Barcelona in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at the Metropolitano. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole that the "breakout performance" of Nico O'Reilly against Bournemouth is one that manager Pep Guardiola will find "impossible to ignore". 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With eight games to save their second-tier status, a resurgent Derby County will welcome Preston North End to Pride Park for a Championship battle on Wednesday night. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica can move level at the top of the Primeira Liga when they host relegation-threatened SC Farense at Estadio da Luz on Wednesday in round 27. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk After securing their place in the FA Cup semi-finals, Crystal Palace will turn their focus back to Premier League action for Wednesday's meeting with Southampton at St Mary's. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Daniel Levy has told Tottenham fans the club must spend within its means amid calls for them to spend more in the transfer window. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk History could be in the making on Wednesday night when fourth-tier AS Cannes welcome Reims to the Stade Pierre-de-Coubertin in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Viktor Gyokeres is a complete striker who will guarantee Arsenal goals in abundance - something fellow target Benjamin Sesko cannot offer. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha has taken to social media to declare his immediate commitment to the Premier League club. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool and Everton will both be out for more than just bragging rights in the second Merseyside derby of the season this midweek. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has provided a positive fitness update on Chris Wood ahead of Tuesday's Premier League fixture against Manchester United. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur will look to make amends for the disappointing defeat they suffered at Fulham before the international break when they make another trip across London to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Thursday night. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Andoni Iraola hasn't 'done enough' to justify leaving Bournemouth for the manager hotseat at Tottenham. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers will be bidding to avoid ending a 103-year streak in Tuesday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka is available following a hamstring injury. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton are set to remain without wide pair Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil for the short trip across Stanley Park to face Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday night. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool could be forced to start Jarell Quansah at right-back once again when they welcome Everton to Anfield for the Merseyside derby in the Premier League on Wednesday night. 31 March 2025 talksport.com A brand new football competition is here as some of the sport's legends combine with famous faces for six-a-side action.
Fri 04 Apr, 18:45
A
Genoa Genoa
-
sch
Udinese Udinese