Preview: Estrela Amadora vs Sporting Lisbon – prediction, team news, lineups

Looking to bounce again from their continental setback in midweek, Sporting Lisbon make the journey to Estrela Amadora on Saturday for matchday 29 of the Primeira Liga marketing campaign.

TO late Kai Havertz strike condemned the Lions to a 1-0 defeat within the first leg of their Champions League quarter ultimate tie in opposition to Arsenal on Tuesday, three days after the Tricolores suffered a 2-0 loss at Nacional.

Match preview

Despite having fun with much less possession, Sporting appeared the extra harmful facet going ahead in an encounter the place the Lisbon outfit restricted Arsenal to their second-lowest first-half xG of the season.

An impressed David Raya helped preserve the scoreline stage with a collection of spectacular saves, together with one which noticed Maxi Araujo’s strike tipped onto the crossbar, however the Lions’ spirited effort in the end proved in useless as Gabriel Martinelli delivered a elegant cross for Havertz to complete calmly from shut vary.

That outcome noticed Rui Borges‘s males fail to attain for simply the second time in 45 video games because the 2025-26 marketing campaign started correctly whereas additionally ending a 3-match successful run that included a 4-2 victory over Santa Clara of their most up-to-date league outing.

Sporting’s success in opposition to the Azoreans proved vital within the title race, with fellow contenders Porto and Benfica slipping up on the identical matchday, leaving the second-positioned Lions 5 factors off the Primeira Liga summit with a sport in hand and two away from third.

The guests will look to strengthen their standing with one other victory on Saturday and might take confidence from their away report, having gained 10 of 14 league matches on the street this season (D4), making them the second finest vacationers within the division.

That presents a frightening activity for Estrela, who has struggled for consistency of late, shedding 4 of their final seven matches (W1, D2) whereas recording simply two wins in 12 league outings because the flip of the yr (D5, L5).

Last weekend’s defeat in Madeira leaves the Tricolores 14th within the standings, three factors above the relegation playoff spot regardless of having performed a sport greater than sixteenth-positioned Casa Pia, rising the significance of choosing up one thing right here.

History additionally gives little encouragement, with Estrela shedding every of their final 12 aggressive conferences with Sporting, and the margin of defeat has been emphatic in current encounters, with the final three having all been by no less than three objectives.

That mentioned, the Tricolores’ kind on residence soil has been blended, though avoiding defeat in 9 of their 14 Primeira Liga matches on the Riboleira (W4, D5, L5) offers a level of optimism for the hosts.

Estrela Amadora Primeira Liga kind:

Sporting Lisbon Primeira Liga kind:

Sporting Lisbon kind (all competitions):

Team News

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Sporting are anticipated to stay with out Fotis Ioannidis and Nuno Santos, whereas Luis Guilherme may miss a fifth straight match with an ankle challenge.

Chelsea-bound attacker Geovany Quenda is closing in on a return from a foot damage that has stored him sidelined since early December.

Luis Suarez will likely be unavailable for subsequent week’s return leg in opposition to Arsenal because of an accumulation of bookings, however he returns to home rivalry after serving a suspension within the league in opposition to Santa Clara.

The Colombian ahead at present leads the Primeira Liga Golden Boot race with 24 objectives, three greater than Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis.

For Estrela, Stefan Lekovic is nearing full health and might be accessible this weekend, doubtlessly strengthening defensive choices for Nuno.

However, Paulo Moreira stays a significant doubt as he awaits medical clearance after lacking the final two outings by means of damage.

Estrela Amadora attainable beginning lineup:

Ribeiro; Scholze, Patrick, Schappo, Langa; Sola, Jansson, Robinho; Marcus, Pinho, Stoica

Sporting Lisbon attainable beginning lineup:

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

We say: Estrela Amadora 0-2 Sporting Lisbon

Sporting might have one eye on subsequent week’s journey to Arsenal, however they can’t afford to drop factors right here as they proceed to use strain on league leaders Porto.

Given their means to navigate a demanding run of fixtures and the struggles of their opponents, Borges’s males must be assured of securing victory, which may additionally present momentum forward of the conflict on the Emirates.

For knowledge evaluation of the most probably outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click here.