Sporting CP vs FC Porto – 12/02/2023
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Portugal’s Primeira Liga dishes up the Dragões vs. Leões derby this weekend, with FC Porto facing Sporting CP at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Sunday.
The two rivals are separated by seven points in the table, with second-placed Porto leading fourth-placed Sporting.
With both sides heading into Sunday’s showdown in strong form, this is destined to be an exciting clash between two old foes.
Let’s start by looking at the hosts, Sporting, who are currently enjoying a four-game unbeaten run in the league, having drawn with Benfica before notching three straight wins.
When you look at the bigger picture, the Lions have lost just two of their previous 12 league outings – picking up nine wins in the process.
Sporting have been especially strong on home soil of late, winning each of their last seven Primeira Liga clashes at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
That said, the hosts could struggle to deal with Porto this weekend, as the Dragons have also been in fine form of late.
Indeed, Porto have avoided defeat in each of their past nine league matches – securing seven wins and two draws along the way.
After notching a three-game winning streak before the turn of the year, the Dragons head into this clash on a run of four successive victories.
It is also worth noting that Porto have lost just two of their 19 Primeira Liga outings this term, securing 14 wins and three draws to keep pace with Benfica.
Boasting the best defensive record (11) and the second-best offensive record (45) in the division, the Dragons will fancy their chances of seeing off Sporting.
Head-to-head: Porto are currently enjoying a seven-match unbeaten run against Sporting across all competitions, having claimed four wins and three draws.
The Dragons have kept a clean sheet in each of their previous three meetings with the Lions, winning on every occasion.
Team news: Sporting look set to be without the midfield pair of Daniel Braganca and Dario Essugo due to injury this weekend.
Porto have multiple injury absentees at the moment, with Otavio, Stephen Eustaquio, Marko Grujic and Gabriel Veron on the sidelines.
Given that Porto have the best defensive record in the league, the visitors are expected to extend their impressive run against Sporting on Sunday.
Forebet predicts that Porto will score over 1.5 goals and keep a clean sheet en route to dispatching Sporting.
