Preview: AVS vs Sporting Lisbon – prediction, team news, lineups

Making the journey to already-relegated AVS this weekend presents Sporting Lisbon with a possibility to return to successful methods and breathe life into their faltering title cost.

The Lions are with out victory in every of their final three outings throughout all competitions (D2, L1), a run that has seen them slip to 3rd within the First League tablethough they did safe development to the Taca de Portugal last throughout that stretch.

Match preview

Sporting have endured a difficult spell of late, with the Lions’ solely win throughout their final 5 matches in all competitions (D2, L2) coming in a 1-0 success at Estrela Amadora on matchday 29, when hopes of closing in on the summit had been nonetheless very a lot alive.

However, a final-gasp 2-1 defeat to Benfica in final weekend’s Lisbon derby at Estadio Jose Alvalade has dented that ambition, leaving Rui Borges‘ facet one level behind the second-positioned Eagles and eight adrift of the summit, albeit with a recreation in hand.

With 5 matches left to overturn that deficit, hopes of repeating final season’s league and cup double have taken a major hit, though Sporting can at the very least take encouragement from reaching one other Taca de Portugal last.

Having secured a 1-0 victory within the first leg of their semi-last in March, Borges’ men held Porto to a goalless draw at Estadio do Dragao in midweek to sign development, organising a last in opposition to second-tier Torreense.

Despite advancing, that end result underlined a dip in attacking output, with Sporting failing to attain in three of their final 5 matches – together with the goalless draw at Arsenal that accomplished their Champions League exit – managing simply two objectives throughout that interval.

However, having netted a league-excessive 74 instances this season, the Lions’ attacking struggles seem extra a short lived blip, and dealing with an AVS facet that has conceded probably the most objectives within the division (64) Sunday’s journey gives a perfect likelihood to reply as Lisbon guests purpose to maintain their title hopes alive.

Aside from defensive frailties, AVS have additionally struggled in different areas, scoring the joint-fewest objectives within the league (21), registering the least variety of victories (one), whereas their 19 defeats is the very best tally within the division.

Winless of their final eight matches (D5, L3), the Vila das Aves outfit have at the very least proven some resilience in latest weeks, following their draw in opposition to Vitoria de Guimaraes with a 2-2 result at Rio Ave last weekend.

After falling behind, AVS turned the competition round by efforts from Tomane and Pedro Lima both facet of the interval, solely to concede an equalizer 11 minutes from regulation time, a end result that finally confirmed the tip of their two-yr keep within the prime flight.

With 4 video games remaining, Joao Henriques‘ facet sit backside of the desk and 13 factors adrift of the playoff spot, which means they head into Sunday’s conflict taking part in just for pleasure in a bid to finish the marketing campaign on a constructive observe.

However, dropping 9 of their 15 residence league matches (W1, D5) this season suggests AVS may wrestle once more, though a 2-2 draw of their solely earlier assembly with Sporting at Estadio do CD Aves gives some encouragement.

Meanwhile, this season’s reverse fixture led to a 6-0 defeat for the Vila das Aves membership, who can be trying to keep away from a primary league double on this matchup.

AVS Primeira Liga type:

Sporting Lisbon Primeira Liga type:

Sporting Lisbon type (all competitions):

Team News

© Imago

Wednesday’s conflict with Porto introduced contemporary issues for Sporting, with centre-again Goncalo Inacio and captain Morten Hjulmand each compelled off injured, leaving them uncertain for this weekend’s journey.

Maxi Araujo additionally picked up a knock in that encounter, and it stays to be seen whether or not he can be risked or rested, with Ricardo Mangas a dependable choice at left-again.

Ivan Fresneda continues his restoration from a muscle drawback, whereas Fotis Ioannidis stays sidelined with a knee damage, though Nuno Santos is again accessible after lacking the final 5 matches on account of health points.

Leading the Golden Boot race with 24 objectives, Luis Suarez stays Sporting’s major attacking choice, though it might not be a shock if the Colombian had been rested right here, probably permitting Rafael Nel to begin upfront.

For AVS, Antoine Baroan seems to be the one participant within the remedy room, with the ahead nonetheless recovering from the damage he sustained within the Taca de Portugal conflict with Sporting earlier this yr.

Meanwhile, the hosts can even be with out Tomane, who scored final day out however is suspended on account of an accumulation of bookings.

AVS attainable beginning lineup:

Adriel; Pivo, Devenish, Vitor, Rivas; Mendonca, Roni, Lima; Akinsola, Duarte, Perea

Sporting Lisbon attainable beginning lineup:

Silva; Vagiannidis, Diamonde, Debast, Mangas; Braganca, Morita; Quende, Trincao, Pote; Nel

We say: AVS 1-3 Sporting Lisbon

Coming off a demanding run of fixtures, Sporting could possibly be considerably fatigued on Sunday, with a number of key gamers additionally carrying health issues, which can make this contest tougher than it seems on paper.

Nevertheless, we anticipate the Lions to grind out a end result right here, realizing that any slip-up would all however finish their title hopes whereas additionally putting their prime-two ambitions in jeopardy.

For information evaluation of the almost certainly outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.