Sporting CP are expected to reach the fifth round of the Taca de Portugal when they welcome second-tier Varzim SC to Estadio Jose Alvalade on Thursday.
Sporting are unbeaten in the Primeira Liga this season and find themselves second in the top flight – level with first-place Porto on 29 points.
𝙈𝙤𝙙𝙤 Taça de Portugal 🔛🏃🏻#SportingCP pic.twitter.com/60SSiN6CMq— Sporting Clube de Portugal 🏆 (@Sporting_CP) November 15, 2021
𝙈𝙤𝙙𝙤 Taça de Portugal 🔛🏃🏻#SportingCP pic.twitter.com/60SSiN6CMq
Down in Portugal’s second tier, Varzim sit second from bottom in the standings – five points ahead of last-place Academica.
Sporting booked their place in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal with an easy 4-0 win over OS Belenenses last month.
That victory came near the beginning of an eight-game winning streak for the club, which has seen Sporting secure victories in three separate competitions.
Along with back-to-back Champions League wins over Turkish side Besiktas, Sporting have been unstoppable in the Primeira Liga of late.
Sporting have won nine and drawn two of their 11 league outings this term, avoiding a league defeat up to now.
They have also conceded a measly four goals this season, meaning they boast the best defensive record in the division.
On the flip side, Varzim have only managed to win one of their 11 league matches this season – recording four draws and six losses in the process.
Not only are they the fourth lowest scorers in the second tier, but they also have to joint-worst defensive record.
Varzim head into Thursday’s clash on a four-game winless streak, having registered one draw and three losses since their last victory.
Their most recent win came in the Taca de Portugal last month as they secured a penalty-shootout victory over Maritimo.
Head-to-head: Since 2001, Varzim haven’t been able to beat Sporting. In that time, Sporting have claimed four wins and two draws.
It is worth pointing out that Sporting have kept four clean sheets in their last six meetings with Varzim, netting ten goals along the way.
Team news: Sporting will be without injured trio Tiago Tomas, Pedro Porro and Sebastian Coates on Thursday.
As for Varzim, they have no injury worries as they prepare for their trip to Lisbon. Still, it should be difficult for them to compete with the hosts.
With Sporting flying high at the Primeira Liga summit and Varzim languishing at the bottom of the second tier, all the signs point towards a home win on Thursday.
For that reason, Forebet predicts that Sporting will keep a clean sheet on their way to seeing off Varzim.