Title-chasing Sporting Lisbon will be looking to open up a four-point lead at the top of the table when they take on Arouca at the Estadio Municipal de Arouca in round 25 of the Primeira Liga on Sunday.
Off the back of a somewhat disappointing 1-1 draw with Atalanta BC in the first leg of their Europa League round-of-16 clash, the Leoes will head into the weekend in search of a morale-boosting result ahead of next Thursday's journey to Italy.
Match preview
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Arouca turned in another five-star team display last Friday as they fought back from behind to secure an emphatic 5-1 victory over Chaves when the sides met at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira.
Raphael Guzzo opened the scoring in the 16th minute to put the Flavienses in front, but goals from Cristo Gonzalez, Jason, Morlaye Sylla and a brace from Rafa Mujica saw the visitors turn the game on its head in style.
Having suffered back-to-back defeats against Benfica and Vitoria de Guimaraes in their first two games this year, Arouca have now won six of their subsequent seven outings — with a 1-0 loss at Casa Pia on February 18 being the exception.
This upturn in form has been owing to the solid job done at the attacking end of the pitch, where Daniel Sousa's men have netted 20 goals in their last seven matches and now boast the division's fifth-highest number of goals scored (43).
The Arouquenses have now won 10 of their 24 Primeira Liga matches so far while losing 10 and claiming four draws to collect 34 points and sit seventh in the table, 15 points adrift of the European qualifying places.
While Arouca look to strengthen their position in the top half of the table, next up is the daunting challenge of taking on a Sporting Lisbon side who are unbeaten in 15 of the last 16 meetings between the teams, picking up 14 wins and one draw since August 2013.
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Everything is still to play for in Sporting Lisbon's Europa League last-16 clash against Atalanta next Thursday after they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with the Italian outfit in midweek.
Veteran striker Paulinho opened the scoring with a 17th-minute effort at the Estadio Jose Alvalade to give the hosts a dream start to the tie, but Gianluca Scamacca scored in the 39th minute to pull Atalanta level.
Back home, Sporting Lisbon have enjoyed a superb campaign and are on course to clinch their 20th Primeira Liga title as they sit at the top of the table, one point above second-placed Benfica with one game in hand.
Ruben Amorim's men picked up their 19th win in 23 league matches last Sunday when they narrowly edged out a resilient Farense side 3-2 courtesy of goals from Daniel Braganca, Pedro Goncalves and in-form striker Viktor Gyokeres.
With that result, Sporting Lisbon have now gone 10 consecutive Primeira Liga matches without defeat, picking up nine wins and one draw since a 3-2 loss to Vitoria de Guimaraes at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques on December 9.
Key in the Leoes title charge has been their superb record at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, where they have won each of their 12 league games so far, and their free-scoring form, as they have netted the highest number of goals so far (66).
Team News
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Arouca will take to the pitch without the services of Brazilian forward Vitinho, who has been sidelined since sustaining an injury in December's game against Gil Vicente.
Uruguayan defender Matias Rocha has missed the Arouquenses' last two matches through a minor injury and is also a doubt for Sunday's clash.
With his brace against Chaves, Mujica now has 16 goals and two assists in 24 league appearances so far and the 25-year-old striker will certainly be one to keep an eye on.
With a crunch Europa League clash against Atalanta on the horizon, Amorim could rest a few key players this weekend, with the likes of Goncalves and Gyokeres dropping to the bench.
On the injury front, Sporting Lisbon remain without 22-year-old Goncalo Inacio, who has missed the last three matches since coming off with a muscle problem against Rio Ave on February 25.
He is joined on the club's injury table by first-choice goalkeeper Antonio Adan, who is currently recuperating from a thigh problem, meaning that Franco Israel will start between the sticks once again.
Arouca possible starting lineup:
Arruabarrena; Esgaio, Bambu, Montero, Weverson; Simao, Santos; Jason, Gonzalez, Sylla; Mujica
Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Israel; Diomande, St. Juste, Reis; Santos, Hjulmand, Braganca, Esgaio; Edwards, Trincao; Paulinho
We say: Arouca 1-3 Sporting Lisbon
After a shaky start to the year, Arouca have upped the ante in recent weeks and will head into Sunday's clash brimming with confidence. However, Sporting Lisbon boast the firepower needed to get the job done and we are tipping them to extend their dominance in this fixture.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
