Sporting Lisbon vs Estoril – News and Probable Lineups

Second-placed Sporting Lisbon faces the possibility of falling further behind the Primeira Liga leaders before they host Estoril Praia in the second match of Friday’s matchday 24.

The Lions are currently four points behind Porto, the leaders, who will be playing Arouca earlier that evening, while the Canaries are seventh, trailing the top four by nine points and Gil Vicente in fifth by seven points.

Match overview

A stellar second half allowed Sporting to claim a 3–0 win against Moreirense last weekend, with goals from Francisco Trincao, Geny Catamo, and Luis Suarez all coming after the break, marking Rui Borges’s side’s most impressive victory in recent times.

Consequently, the Lions are unbeaten in nine matches across all competitions (W8, D1) since their exit from the Taca da Liga semi-final, a streak that has seen them qualify directly for the Champions League round of 16 and progress to the Portuguese Cup semi-finals.

With their Taca de Portugal semi-final first leg against Porto set for next Tuesday at Estadio Jose Alvalade, Friday’s match offers Sporting a chance to gain even more momentum, while also aiming to extend their impressive 19-match unbeaten run (W15, D4) in the Primeira Liga and keep pace at the top.

Though the Lions hope for Porto to slip in their own matchday 24 clash earlier in the evening, they are expected to manage their own affairs well, having secured maximum points from all 18 previous league games against teams currently outside the top five.

This includes a 1–0 away victory against Estoril in September, which means Sporting has now triumphed in their last nine encounters, and such dominance may continue on Friday, given that the Lisbon side has been victorious in their last 13 home matches across all competitions.

Hoping to break their losing streak in this fixture, Estoril arrives in the capital with renewed confidence following a 3–1 win over Gil Vicente at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota last weekend.

After recovering from an early penalty score against their visitors from Barcelos, Ian Cathro’s team bounced back strong, with Felix Bacher equalizing shortly thereafter, followed by a second-half brace from Yanis Begraoui that clinched all three points for the home side.

Estoril has secured six wins in their last nine league outings (D1, L2), scoring three or more goals in five of these victories, which positions the Canaries with the third-best attacking record in the league, totaling 46 Primeira Liga goals—two more than leaders Porto.

While their offensive play has thrived, Cathro’s squad has struggled defensively, allowing 39 goals, prompting concerns over their ability to hold up on Friday against a Sporting team that has netted a league-high 59 goals.

Estoril has also shown weakness on the road, losing six out of their 11 Primeira Liga away fixtures this season, with four of those defeats coming in their last six away games (W2).

Team News

Sporting will be without centre-back Zeno Debast, who is dealing with a ligament injury, while midfielder Giorgi Kochorashvili is set to miss his fourth consecutive match due to injury.

Additionally, Chelsea-bound winger Geovany Quenda is still rehabilitating in London following foot surgery, having been out of action since early December.

On a brighter note, midfielder Pedro Goncalves is back in action after missing the previous match due to suspension from accumulated bookings.

Suarez, who returned from his own one-match suspension in that match, scored his 20th goal of the season, tying him with Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis, and he will be eager to pull ahead as the race for the Golden Boot intensifies.

Just behind the aforementioned pair in the scoring standings, Begraoui is having an excellent season; his brace last weekend raised his league total to 17 goals, and he is expected to be a key figure for Estoril in attack.

The visitors might once again be without centre-back Kevin Boma and midfielder Nodar Lominadze, both of whom have been absent from recent squads, while left-back Pedro Amaral remains doubtful after missing the last match.

Long-term injury absentee Or Israelov, sidelined since September, is likely to continue being unavailable, and winger Andre Lacximicant could miss his ninth consecutive match.

Sporting Lisbon probable starting XI:

Silva; Fresneda, Diomande, Inacio, Araujo; Hjulmand, Morita; Catamo, Trincao, Goncalves; Suarez

Estoril Praia probable starting XI:

Robles; Ferro, Bacher, Tsoungui; Sanchez, Orellana, Holsgrove, G Costa; J Carvalho, Marques, Begraoui

With both teams showcasing robust attacking firepower, this encounter promises to deliver numerous goals, though Sporting’s greater attacking strength is likely to be the pivotal factor in the outcome.

This perspective is bolstered by Estoril’s defensive weaknesses, having conceded at least three goals in three of their last five away matches, each of those high-scoring defeats concluding in a loss.