Sporting Lisbon vs Alverca – News and Probable Lineups

Sporting Lisbon is yet to showcase their full potential at the start of a new Primeira Liga season as they prepare to greet a winless Alverca this Saturday at Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Currently, the Lions have amassed four points from their first two outings, placing them sixth in the league table, whereas Alverca finds themselves in 13th with only a single point from their two games.

Match overview

A troubling trend has surfaced for Rui Borges’s squad over the initial weeks of the season, as Sporting has taken significant leads in their matches only to finish them in a shaky manner.

In their first match at Estrela Amadora, the Lions held a 2-0 advantage but let it slip, conceding twice and settling for a draw, a pattern that repeated itself in last week’s game against Vitoria de Guimaraes.

With Fotis Ioannidis leading the charge, Sporting took a commanding 3-0 lead in the first half of that encounter at Alvalade, only for their visitors from Guimaraes to claw back two quick goals after the hour mark, forcing Borges’s side to cling on for a tight 3-2 victory.

This disappointing start to the season is a cause for concern for the Lions, who aim to move past last season’s frustrations of finishing second and without a trophy, trailing Porto by six points.

Nonetheless, Sporting has a favorable record against a team they have triumphed over in their last five league encounters, four of which were by a margin of multiple goals, including last season’s 2-0 home and 4-1 away wins.

Conversely, Alverca arrives at Alvalade having displayed resilience, albeit without gaining rewards, following an opening match defeat to reigning champions Porto and a spirited draw at home with Estrela Amadora.

Sergio Ferreira’s team led 2-1 thanks to goals from Ian Luccas and Vivaldo Semedo after initially trailing to a Leandro Antonetti strike in the second half, but they conceded an equalizer in the 69th minute before Chiquinho’s red card shortly after dashed any hopes of a late winner.

The current difficulties facing Alverca evoke memories of their challenging return to the top tier last season when they went winless in their first four matches. Nevertheless, the Ribatejo club managed to perform admirably, finishing in 11th place under Custodio Castro, who has since left the club.

Ferreira faces the tough task of motivating a side that has lost their last four league away games without scoring, a streak that includes three matches from last season, as he seeks his first competitive win since taking over in June.

Team News

Sporting is set to be without Joao Simoes after his foot surgery, while Nuno Santos is still gradually recovering from a serious knee injury. However, Georgios Vagiannidis is expected to make his return this weekend after a scare last time out.

There may, however, be a need for a change in the attack, as Ioannidis is dealing with a lower back issue, casting doubt on his availability to start despite his contributions of a goal and two assists in last week’s win against Vitoria.

Consequently, Luis Suarez, last season’s Primeira Liga Golden Boot winner, might get his first start of the season following the slow beginning where Ioannidis had been favored in the center-forward role over the Colombian.

On the other hand, summer signing Sergi Altimira, who netted his first goal for the club in last weekend’s match, is anticipated to retain his midfield position this Saturday.

Alverca will be missing Chiquinho due to suspension, making Marco Essimi the likely replacement on the left flank, although Ikker Julian and Cedric Nuozzi are also viable options.

Defender Bastien Meupiyou had to leave the last match due to injury, leaving uncertainty regarding his status for Saturday’s match at Alvalade.

If ruled out, Meupiyou would join Julian Martinez and Sabit Abdulai in the treatment room, as both are undergoing long-term recoveries from knee injuries that have sidelined them since earlier in the year.

Sporting Lisbon probable starting XI:

Silva; Vagiannidis, Ignatius, Lent, Fresneda; Altimira, Doumbia; Catamo, Zalazar, F Goncalves; Suarez

Alverca probable starting XI:

Mendes; Baseya, Bojang, Meupiyou; Touaizi, D Gui, Ian Luccas, I James; Essimi, Figueiredo; Semedo

Sporting’s lapses in concentration have raised genuine concerns in their initial fixtures; however, the disparity in quality between the squads should prove critical here, particularly considering Alverca’s difficulties away from home.

Having lost their last four league matches on the road, extending back to the previous season, a controlled victory for the Lisbon side seems a plausible outcome.