Desportivo Aves vs Sporting Lisbon Prediction & Betting Tips - Taca de Portugal

Prediction published on 17/05/2018, 09:29  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 21/05/2018 at 03:58 in Football Predictions

Sporting Lisbon finished third in the Portuguese Primeria league and missed out on Champions League qualification. They bid for some compensation with their first win in the Taça de Portugal final as they take on Desportivo Aves. Sporting have won this trophy 20 times but their last win was back in 2008 so a win is overdue. Their route to the final has seen them beat just one Primeria league side but that was Porto who won the title by seven points. The two sides met in the two-legged semi-final and after a 1-0 loss away, they won the second leg 1-0 and went through after a penalty shoot-out. Sporting ended their league season with a draw against second placed Benfica before losing 2-1 at Maritimo but had been unbeaten in their previous six league and cup games including a win over Atletico Madrid in the Europa League.

Their opponents spent most of the season battling relegation and ended the season 13th just four points above the drop zone. Two wins in their last three league games helped them survive but the victories were against sides below them in the table including bottom side Estoril.  Two league games against Sporting this season ended in 2-0 and 3-0 defeats so they need to up their game here to have any chance of lifting the trophy. On their way to this final, they did beat Rio Ave, who finished fifth in the Primeria League but 24 points behind the team above them. Go for Sporting to win this game.