Sporting Lisbon vs Porto Prediction & Betting Tips - Liga Portugal

Prediction published on 15/10/2020, 15:51  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 15/10/2020 at 15:59 in Liga Portugal Predictions

Sporting Club Portugal will be at home to take on FC Porto in the Primeira Liga this Sunday as action in the league resumes after the international break. Sporting have so far played two matches and won both, placing them fourth on the standings with six points, similar to third placed Porto, who have played a game more. By virtue of goal difference, FC Porto are above Sporting. Going to this game, Sporting are one of three sides yet to concede a goal in the league. In their opening league game, they saw off Pacos de Ferreira 2-0 and followed that with another 2-0 win over Portimonense. In between the two league matches they lost 4-1 to LASK in the Europa League, but that is behind them now, and will be glad to turn all focus on domestic action. They have three clean sheets in their four matches so far in the season and will be very confident they can extend this going to the weekend game. Having scored in each of the four matches also adds to their impetus as they seek a first win in eight league meetings with Porto. Their last league win over Porto was way back in 2016; last season they lost home and away and the most recent, a 2-0 win for Porto, was the only time in five meetings that Sporting had failed to score. Playing at home, Sporting have been good in their recent matches; they head here unbeaten in nine straight league games at home. They have six clean sheets in the last seven home league matches and having scored twice in five of the last eight matches they will be very confident. After playing their opening two matches away from home, Sporting will hope they can carry their good home run here, having scored in 13 of their last 15 league games at home.

FC Porto, on the other hand, troop to this game on the back of a loss just before the international break. They were second best in their game at home to Maritimo and went on to lose 3-2, breaking their run after winning the opening two matches. Porto have been further weakened with the departure on Alex Telles to Manchester United, with the defender having already scored twice this season. They however have good quality to cover, and also have capable forwards including Moussa Marega and Sergio Oliveira, who have four goals between them and these should be able to open up Sporting’s defence. One characteristic in their matches so far, Porto have struggled to settle in and that could be attributed to their loss to Maritimo. They are a better team in the second half though and that is well captured in the number of goals they have scored in the second half. Seven of their 10 goals so far this season have come in the second half. In their 5-0 win over Boavista on Match Day 2, Porto scored all goals in the second half and in their three matches, they have scored a goal in the final two minutes. Meanwhile, Sporting have shown a different characteristic; they settle in matches really fast and in all their four matches so far, they have scored first half goals. In the 2-0 win over Portimonense, they had the two goals by the 12th minute and of the six goals they have scored so far, five have come in the first half. Meanwhile, Sporting have won all matches after taking the lead, while Porto have trailed twice in their last three matches but turned one around to win.