Seeking to pick up their second win in three home games this season, Estoril Praia welcome Sporting Lisbon to the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on Friday.
The Leoes, who were condemned to a second consecutive defeat last time, head into the weekend looking to find their feet and get their campaign up and running.
Match preview
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Estoril Praia returned to winning ways in style as they comfortably brushed aside Pacos de Ferreira 3-0 when the sides squared off at the Estadio Capital do Movel last Friday.
Brazilian striker Joao Carlos turned in a solid first-half shift as he scored twice to put the visitors two goals up before substitute James Lea Siliki struck in the 72nd minute to cap off a dominant team display.
Nelson Verissimo's men are now unbeaten in three of their opening four games of the new Primeira Liga campaign, picking up two wins and one draw — with a 1-0 loss away to Vitoria de Guimaraes on August 14 being the only exception.
The Canarinhos now return home, where they have picked up four points from a possible six this season and are unbeaten in their last five league games, claiming three wins and two draws since April's 2-1 loss against Vizela.
While Estoril Praia head into the weekend looking to pick up their first set of consecutive wins this season, standing in their way is a Sporting Lisbon side who are unbeaten in nine of the last 10 meetings between the teams since 2015, claiming eight wins and one draw in that time.
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Ruben Amorim's side picked up one of the shock results of the gameweek as they suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat against newly-promoted Chaves at the Estadio Jose Alvalade last Saturday.
Despite seeing less than 30% of the ball possession and being under the cosh for most of the game, Chaves found a way in the second half as Steven Vitoria broke the deadlock on the hour mark before Juninho made sure of the result three minutes later.
Having suffered a 3-0 thrashing at the hands of league champions Porto in their previous outing, Sporting Lisbon have now lost successive league games for the first time since May 2017, when they were beaten by Belenenses and Feirense respectively.
The Leoes have now managed just one win from their opening four games, picking up four points from a possible 12 to sit 13th in the Primeira Liga table, eight points off rivals Benfica, who have won each of their four games so far and sit top of the standings.
Sporting Lisbon will now head into the weekend desperate to return to winning ways and grab a morale-booster as they look to get their league campaign back on track and set the pace for their Champions League Group D curtain-raiser against Eintracht Frankfurt on September 7.
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Team News
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Verissimo watched his side outclass and outwit Pacos de Ferreira last time out and the 45-year-old could name a similar side this weekend, meaning that we could see a back four of Tiago Santos, Pedro Alvaro, Bernardo Vital and Joaozinho once again.
Carlos put the Pacenses to the sword with his brace and the Brazilian should handle business at the opposite end of the pitch, alongside Arthur Gomes and Benfica loanee Tiago Gouveia.
On the injury front, Estoril Praia will be without the services of 27-year-old defender Lucas Africo, who continues his long journey to recovery after suffering a severe knee injury last November.
As for Sporting Lisbon, Amorim will be unable to call upon Portuguese midfielder Daniel Braganca, who has been out of action since May through an ACL injury.
He is joined on the Leoes' injury table by fellow countryman Paulinho, who is set to sit out his fourth consecutive game after coming off injured in the league opener against Braga on August 7.
Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:
Figueira; Santos, Vital, Allvaro, Joaozinho; Siliki, Rosier; Gouveia, Geraldes, Gomes; Carlos
Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Adan; Neto, Coates, Inacio; Esgaio, Morita, Ugarte, Reis; Edwards, Trincao, Goncalves
We say: Estoril Praia 1-2 Sporting Lisbon
While Sporting Lisbon have stumbled into the new season, they possess the firepower needed to turn things around. Amorim's men have enjoyed the better of this fixture, and while Estoril Praia have proven to be a tough nut to crack this season, we are backing them to grind out a slender victory.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
