Sporting Lisbon will be desperate for a win at the José Alvalade Stadium this weekend as they host Moreirense following on from their commendable 0-0 draw with Manchester City in the Champions League just as the away side aim to get out of the relegation zone.
It has been a strange few weeks for Sporting who were fighting in three competitions, but have now found themselves in a pickle in the Taca de Portugal and out of the Champions League.
📸 About last night ✨ #UCL #SportingCP pic.twitter.com/6gJvwbsq8h— Sporting CP English 🏆 (@SportingCP_en) March 10, 2022
📸 About last night ✨ #UCL #SportingCP pic.twitter.com/6gJvwbsq8h
On the other hand, following on from being smashed 5-0 on home soil to City, the club’s 0-0 draw with the Premier League champions in midweek will give them a bit of hope, as it also avoided complete embarrassment.
However, with a 2-1 loss to Porto also coming in the cup, Sporting must get the win here to keep up the fight in the league which may end up being their only chance at a trophy this season.
Even then, though, they have to make up a five-point gap on the league leaders Porto to defend their Primeira Liga crown.
What has been the difference for Sporting has been the club’s excellent defensive form. In fact, they remain one of Europe’s best teams on the defensive front with only 16 goals conceded in 25 games.
However, with only 49 goals scored from 25, which is 14 less than Porto and 16 fewer than Benfica, there is still a bit of work to be done for the champions here.
Against a Moreirense side who are in the drop zone though, this should be the perfect chance to rack up another win for Sporting.
Moreirense are sitting 17th in the table and have registered only four wins in the division this season - only Belenenses SAD have won fewer.
At the same time, it's now four games without a win for them, where they've conceded eight goals and scored only once and now it does look like a tough objective to overturn the two-point gap that keeps them in the relegation zone ahead of this game.
Sporting should get the result here as there is simply too much separating both clubs right now. Moreirense are seemingly doomed for the drop into Portugal’s second tier unless things change for them here, while the Lions are still in there in attempting to defend their title.
Forebet predicts a relatively easy win for Sporting here, and the game to see under 2.5 goals.