Sporting Lisbon vs Farense Prediction & Betting Tips - Liga Portugal

Prediction published on 17/12/2020, 20:36  by James | Modified on 17/12/2020 at 21:36 in Liga Portugal Predictions

Portuguese Primeira Liga leaders Sporting Lisbon are at home this weekend for a match against Farense in Liga NOS. Clear at the top of the table by two points, Sporting are chasing their first title since 2002, a colossal drought for a club considered part of the Big Three clubs of Portugal, the others being Benfica and Porto. Farense arrive in Lisbon 14th in the table with eight points from nine games. They take on a side that has only lost one of their 14 games in all competitions this season. Sporting are in excellent form at home, where they have won their last five matches, keeping clean sheets in three of those outings. A club with a storied history of brilliant midfielders, Sporting fans were worried that the sale of Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United would leave a massive hole in their team. While they are a weaker team without Fernandes, summer signing Pote softened the blow of his absence. A midfield playmaker like Fernandes, Pote leads the goal charts nine games into the season with ten goals. Farense have a clear standout player of their own in Ryan Gauld. The titchy Scottish midfielder was the best player in the Portuguese second tier last season, and he's followed it up by showing his class in the top flight, leading the assist charts with four.

Whether Gauld can stop his former team is another matter though. Farense are yet to win away this season, losing three of their four league matches on the road. Sporting have won eight of their last nine games against Farense in all competitions. We expect them to shackle their old player Gauld on the way to a victory with a clean sheet.