Nacional host defending Primeira Liga champions Sporting Lisbon in Saturday's gameweek two clash at Estadio da Madeira.
The newly promoted team, returning to the top flight after a three-year hiatus, will face a tough test in their first home match against Ruben Amorim's side.
Match preview
![Ruben Amorim during Supertaca Candido de Oliveira 2024 game between teams of Sporting CP and FC Porto at Estadio Municipal de Aveiro, Portugal on August 3, 2024 [on August 7, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/ruben-amorim.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Ruben Amorim during Supertaca Candido de Oliveira 2024 game between teams of Sporting CP and FC Porto at Estadio Municipal de Aveiro, Portugal on August 3, 2024 [on August 7, 2024]")
© Imago
Nacional face the daunting proposition of playing Sporting in their first home fixture since regaining promotion to the top flight after three seasons away.
The second-placed side in the second division returned with a 1-1 draw with fellow new boys and debutants AVS last time out and seek to get maximum points on board this time.
However, the precedent is completely against them, underscored by their failure to claim a win in this fixture in 20 tries in all competitions, losing five on the trot.
While they did go nine matches without losing (seven wins) in Madeira to close out last season, it remains to be seen if Tiago Margarido's troops keep that run going against a higher calibre of opponent in the Primeira Liga.
Facing the defending league champions is the ultimate test for Alvinegros, and coming through without losing will boost the new boys' confidence ahead of a lengthy season.
As for Sporting, they seek to extend their one-sided results against this weekend's opponent, keen to maintain their 100% start to their title defence.
Amorim's men bounced back from a 4-3 Portuguese Super Cup loss to Porto by defeating Rio Ave last time out, and they head into Saturday's fixture aiming for a sixth straight triumph over their hosts.
Leoes' recent two visits to Madeira have seen them notch 1-0 and 2-0 victories, with the previous meeting between both clubs in Lisbon ending 2-0, and last season's champions could make it four straight wins against Nacional without conceding.
Sporting ended last season by claiming five away wins in six (one draw) with only a 2-2 tie with Porto in late April preventing six consecutive triumphs, and they aim to extend an 11-game undefeated road run.
Having seen four of their six clean sheets during that sequence come in their last six away fixtures, Amorim will back his players to prevent Nacional from scoring in this campaign's first road match.
Team News
© Reuters
Jesus Ramirez (17) and Gustavo Silva (11) were Nacional's leading goalscorers last season, but both have departed after loan spells, leaving the hosts to find new solutions.
Margarido's men came out unscathed against AVS last week, meaning the new boys could name an unchanged side on Saturday.
Despite scoring last weekend, Viktor Gyokeres was outshone by Pedro Goncalves's brace against Rio Ave, even if last season's 29-goal striker remains Sporting's leading forward.
While Marcus Edwards could push for a start over Francisco Trincao in attack, Amorim could also name the same side that dispatched Rio Ave in gameweek one.
Nacional possible starting lineup:
Franca; Garcia, Ulisses, Vitor, Gomes; Esteves, Dias, Baeza; Thomas, Butzke, Appiah
Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Kovacevic; Quaresma, Diomande, Inacio; Quenda, Hjulmand, Morita, Catamo; Trincao, Gyokeres, Goncalves
We say: Nacional 0-2 Sporting Lisbon
Sporting, undefeated in their last 11 league away matches, are expected to extend their streak with a comfortable win against newly-promoted Nacional to continue their 100% start in 2024-25 and claim a sixth straight win in this fixture.
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