Sporting Lisbon vs Viseu – News and Probable Lineups

Sporting Lisbon aims to recover from their recent European setback as they prepare to face newly promoted Academico de Viseu at the Estadio Jose Alvalade this Sunday night for the ninth round of the Portuguese top division.

After eight league games, Rui Borges’s team remains unbeaten and currently occupies the third place in the Primeira Liga standings, while their opponents have surpassed expectations since their return to the top flight, now sitting in seventh position.

Match overview

Sporting has secured victories in five of their first eight league fixtures, yet their performance has left them trailing in the title race, with a point behind city rivals Benfica and six points adrift of leaders Porto, who boast a perfect record of eight wins from eight league matches.

The Lions finished last season in the runner-up position and were unable to defend their title for the third consecutive year, though they bounced back in the Primeira Liga with a 3-1 win over Braga, breaking a streak of successive draws against Famalicao and Arouca.

Despite this, Borges’s squad faced a setback on Wednesday, losing 3-2 at home to LASK Linz, who were making their Champions League debut, after initially taking the lead with a goal from Luis Suarez, who also netted their second goal in a match that marked the end of Sporting’s unbeaten run across all competitions.

This outcome further underscored their challenges in maintaining leads, having dropped six points from winning situations in the Primeira Liga thus far this season, a problem that could be detrimental as they aim to narrow the gap to Porto.

One notable instance of this was their 2-2 draw against Arouca, where Sporting relinquished a two-goal lead, although this remains their only dropped points in four home league matches so far.

On the other hand, Academico de Viseu has made an impressive comeback to the Primeira Liga, amassing 14 points from eight matches in their first top-flight season since 1988-89 following their promotion from the second tier last season.

Bruno Pinheiro’s team has recorded four straight league wins, defeating Gil Vicente, Vitoria de Guimaraes, and Estrela Amadora before Soufiane Messeguem netted a last-minute winner in a 2-1 victory over Estoril Praia in their latest league fixture.

This current success marks a significant turnaround after Viseu went winless in their opening four league outings, where they drew 2-2 away to Benfica and Maritimo, while succumbing to defeats against Santa Clara and Porto.

However, Academico’s momentum was halted in the Taca de Portugal last weekend as they suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to lower-division Fatima, prompting Pinheiro’s squad to refocus on the league and the chance to maintain their strong start.

With eight points garnered from their four away league matches this term, Academico’s tally is second only to Porto, Santa Clara, and Benfica, providing further encouragement that they can pose a challenge to Sporting despite the vast disparity in resources.

While encounters between the teams have been limited in recent years, Academico de Viseu has recorded three losses in their last four matches against Sporting. Nonetheless, their memorable 1-0 triumph at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in 1981 serves as a reminder of their past success in Lisbon.

Team News

Sporting is expected to be without Rodrigo Zalazar, who is dealing with a thigh injury, while Nuno Santos continues to recuperate from a serious knee issue.

Zeno Debast is also a questionable inclusion after having missed the past two matches due to fitness concerns, although he may not feature regardless due to a suspension following a red card received against Arouca.

Suarez is anticipated to spearhead the attack after finding the net in his last ten appearances for Sporting, including seven Primeira Liga goals during that streak.

Academico de Viseu, meanwhile, faces no major injury updates, enabling Pinheiro to reinstate several key players after rotating his squad for the Taca de Portugal clash.

Cihan Kahraman and Messeguem, both of whom scored in the recent league win over Estoril Praia, are likely to be reinstated in the starting lineup, with Kahraman directly contributing to four goals across his last four league starts.

Andrea Clovis is also expected to lead the front line after appearing only as a substitute in the cup game, as he currently heads Viseu’s scoring charts with four league goals.

Sporting Lisbon probable starting XI:

Rui Silva; Fresneda, Quaresma, Inacio, M. Araujo; Simoes, Altimirida, Doumbia; Catamo, Suarez, Irankunda

Academico de Viseu probable starting XI:

Ewerton; Ribeiro, Correia, Michelis, Brau; Kahrahman, Silva; Joao Guilherme, Messeguem, Gohi; Clovis

Viseu’s unbeaten record away from home alongside their four-match league winning streak indicates they could create troubles for Sporting, especially if the hosts find it challenging to rebound from their European disappointment on Wednesday.

Nonetheless, the Lions have superior attacking talent and have proven to be reliable on home soil in the league, positioning them as favorites to claim all three points despite the visitors’ promising start to the season.