It is a classic David versus Goliath clash in round six of the Portuguese Primeira Liga as reigning champions Sporting Lisbon play host to newly-promoted AVS at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Sunday.
While Ruben Amorim's men will be looking to continue from where they left off in the Champions League, the Vila das Aves outfit will head into the weekend seeking to end their run of two back-to-back away defeats and secure one of their biggest results of the season.
Match preview
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Sporting Lisbon picked up a dream start to the 2024-25 Champions League campaign as they cruised to a 2-0 victory over Ligue 1 outfit Lille at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday.
In a game where Angel Gomes received his marching orders, the home side made use of their numerical advantage as Viktor Gyokeres and Zeno Debast found the back of the net to condemn Lille to an opening-day defeat.
This was in keeping with their fine run of results in the Primeira Liga, where the Leoes have kicked off their title defence on a high, picking up five wins from their opening five matches while scoring 19 goals and conceding just twice so far.
Sporting Lisbon head into the weekend unbeaten in each of their last 26 league matches, picking up 24 wins and two draws since a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Vitoria de Guimaraes on December 9.
AVS, on the other hand, turned in an impressive team performance last Saturday as they picked up a 1-0 victory over Rio Ave when the two sides squared off at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves.
With nothing to separate the two sides at half time, Cape Verde international Vasco Lopes came up clutch for the hosts as he struck in the 72nd minute to hand Rio Ave their third defeat of the season.
The Vila das Aves outfit have now picked up two wins and one draw from their opening five matches to collect seven points from the first 15 available to sit ninth in the table, level on points with eighth-placed Moreirense.
Having secured promotion from the Segunda Liga last season via the playoffs, head coach Vitor Campelos will be delighted with his side's performance in the big leagues, considering that they were formed into the Portuguese Segunda Liga just last year, following the demise of UD Vilafranquense.
Next up for AVS is a trip to the Estadio Jose Alvalade, where Sporting Lisbon finished with a 100% record in the Primeira Liga last season and have won 19 straight league matches, stretching back to a 2-2 draw against Benfica in May 2023.
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Team News
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Goncalo Inacio picked up a game-ending ankle injury against Lille in midweek and the Portugal international, who has played every single minute for Sporting Lisbon this season, is ruled out of Sunday's clash.
He is joined on the Leoes' injury table by Eduardo Quaresma (ankle), Jerry St. Juste (muscle) and Bosnian goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic (ankle), who all continue their spells on the sidelines.
Gyokeres has hit the ground running this season and the Swedish striker, who has 17 goal contributions in the first nine games for club and county, will be one to keep an eye on.
AVS will have to cope without Brazilian goalkeeper Lucas Moura, who continues his lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a severe shoulder injury back in March.
Portuguese full-back Kiki Afonso came off with a late injury against Rio Ave last time out and the 29-year-old could be replaced by Benfica loanee Rafael Rodrigues in the starting XI this weekend.
Veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made his debut in the aforementioned game, and after successfully keeping the clean sheet, we expect the Mexico international to retain his role between the sticks.
Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Israel; Debast, Reis, Reis; Quenda, Braganca, Hjulmand, Santos; Trincao, Goncalves; Gyokeres
AVS possible starting lineup:
Ochoa; Fonseca, Devenish, Roux, Afonso; Assuncao, Grau; Mercado, Piazon, Kamate; Ribeiro
We say: Sporting Lisbon 4-0 AVS
While early signs have shown that AVS have what it takes to compete in the big leagues, they are in for a tough 90 minutes against a high-flying Sporting Lisbon side. Given the gulf in quality and experience between the two sides, we predict that Amorim's men will come away with all three points unscathed.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
