Sporting Lisbon vs. Tondela – News and Probable Lineups

With their aspirations for the Primeira Liga title hanging by a thread, Sporting Lisbon returns to the pitch on Wednesday, facing off against Tondela, who currently sit at the bottom of the league, at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

While the minimum objective for the Leoes is to ensure automatic qualification for the Champions League, Tondela is striving to secure their safety from relegation as they find themselves at the lower end of the table, eager to initiate their escape from the danger zone.

Match overview

Sporting Lisbon, who had a stellar run with 11 unbeaten matches from January 16 to April 3, appears to have lost momentum at a critical time, not winning five of their last six fixtures, which has led to a downward spiral in their season.

Despite a commendable effort, Rui Borges’s squad was eliminated from the Champions League two weeks ago after losing 1-0 on aggregate to Premier League rivals Arsenal, closing the chapter on their pursuit of a first European trophy since winning the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1964.

Domestically, while Sporting Lisbon managed to secure a 1-0 aggregate victory over Porto on April 22 to reach the Taca de Portugal final, they have acquired only one point from their last two Primeira Liga matches, effectively extinguishing their title aspirations.

Their remarkable 24-match unbeaten streak in the league was halted on April 19 with a 2-1 loss to city rivals Benfica in the heated Derby de Lisboa, followed by a disappointing 1-1 draw against last-placed AVS last Sunday.

After a scoreless first half at the Estadio do CD das Aves, Rafael Nel found the net two minutes after the restart, putting the visitors in a favorable position for a much-needed victory, but Pedro Lima equalized for AVS from the penalty spot in the 66th minute, leading to a share of the points.

This decline in form has dropped Borges’s team to third place in the Primeira Liga, trailing league leaders Porto by 10 points and sitting three points behind second-place Benfica, who occupy the other automatic Champions League qualifying position, even though they have one game in hand.

To have any chance of emerging as champions and successfully defending their title for the third consecutive season, Sporting Lisbon must not only achieve victories in their final four matches but also require favorable outcomes in other league games.

On the other side of the table, Tondela recognizes that anything less than a favorable outcome at the Estadio Jose Alvalade could effectively spell the end of their hopes for survival as they head into their remaining four matches while being in the automatic relegation zone.

The Gold and Green came away empty-handed again last Saturday, suffering a 2-0 defeat to a revitalized Nacional side during their encounter at the Estadio Joao Cardoso.

Just a week after a 2-0 defeat against Porto at the Estadio do Dragoes, Tondela fell behind again when Jesus Ramirez scored in the 22nd minute to give Nacional the lead, followed by a 31st-minute own goal from Brayan Medina, extending the visitors’ advantage.

Goncalo Feio’s squad has not won in their last seven fixtures, recording four losses and three draws, having only managed one victory in 14 matches since starting the new year with a 3-1 home win over Arouca on January 3.

After gaining promotion from the Segunda Liga last season, Tondela now finds itself in serious jeopardy of relegation, sitting 17th in the Primeira Liga standings with 21 points from 30 matches, seven points adrift of safety, although with one game still to play.

Looking to end their poor run on Wednesday and begin their climb from the bottom, they will face the tough challenge of a Sporting Lisbon team that has triumphed in each of their last eight head-to-head meetings, a streak that dates back to November 2019 when they fell 1-0 at the Estadio Joao Cardoso.

Team News

Sporting Lisbon is coping with an injury crisis as they navigate the crucial final stretch of the season, with Ivan Fresnada (muscle), Fotis Ioannidis (knee), and Nuno Santos (hamstring) all sidelined.

Young midfielder Joao Simoes has recently experienced a metatarsal fracture and is likely out until June, while key players Morten Hjulmand and defender Goncalo Inacio are injury concerns, missing the last fixture against AVS.

On the Tondela side, Feio will be without 26-year-old defender Tiago Manso, who is set to serve a one-match suspension after accumulating too many yellow cards, receiving a booking against Nacional last weekend.

In terms of injuries, Rodrigo Conceicao had to leave the field mid-way through the first half against Nacional and will also be unavailable for the trip to the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

He is joined on the injury list by Cicero, who has been sidelined since suffering a muscle injury in March, while Spanish midfielder Xabier Huarte has also remained unavailable since his injury earlier in March.

Sporting Lisbon possible starting XI:

Silva; Quaresma, Diomande, Debast, Araujo; Kochorashvili, Morita, Catamo; Trincao, Goncalves, Suarez

Tondela probable starting XI:

Bernardo; Maviram, Medina, Silva, Bebeto; Van der Heide, Rodriguez, Hodge; Ouattara, Lopes, Siebatcheu

Both Sporting Lisbon and Tondela are in dire need of a victory on Wednesday, with the Leoes aiming to maintain their slim chances of clinching the title, while the visitors strive to escape the relegation zone, setting the stage for an exciting clash at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Despite their injury challenges, Sporting Lisbon still possesses a superior squad on paper, and considering their historical dominance in this matchup, they are favored to secure all three points unscathed.