Sporting Lisbon will be looking to open up a four-point lead at the top of the Primeira Liga when they visit the Estadio Jose Gomes to take on Estrela Amadora on Friday.
Having lost each of the last three meetings between the two sides, the Tricolores will head into the weekend seeking to get one over the visitors and extend their unbeaten home run to four games.
Match preview
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Estrela Anadora were denied consecutive Primeira Liga wins for the first time since October as they were held to a goalless draw by Famalicao in their last outing before the international break.
This came just one week after they secured a 3-1 victory over Casa Pia in a superb attacking display at the Estadio Jose Gomes on March 8 to end their three-game winless run.
With 26 points from 26 matches, Sergio Vieira's men are currently 13th in the Primeira Liga standings, just three points above 16th-placed Portimonense in the relegation playoff spot with eight games left to play.
Estrela now return home where they are unbeaten in each of their last three matches, picking up victories over Portimonense and Casa Pia, with a 1-1 draw against Chaves on February 24 sandwiched between the two wins.
Sporting Lisbon, on the other hand, turned in a performance of the highest quality last time out when they fought back from behind to secure a stunning 6-1 victory over Boavista at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Gaiuas Makouta opened the scoring inside the opening three minutes to put Boavista in front, but a hat-trick from in-form striker Viktor Gyokeres inspired the hosts to a remarkable comeback.
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Prior to that, Ruben Amorim's men were dumped out of the Europa League on March 14, when they fell to a 2-1 second-leg defeat against Atalanta BC at the Gewiss Stadium, one week after playing out a 1-1 draw with the Italian outfit in the reverse leg.
With the result against Boavista a fortnight ago, Sporting Lisbon have won all but one of their last 12 Primeira Liga matches, with a 3-3 draw against Rio Ave at the Estadio dos Arcos on February 25 being the exception.
Sporting Lisbon's last league defeat came at the hands of Vitoria de Guimaraes on December 9, when Tiago Silva, Andre Silva and Daniel Silva all hit the target to hand Os Vimaranenses a 3-2 victory at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques.
With 65 points from 25 matches, the Leoes currently sit at the top of the Primeira Liga table, one point above second-placed Benfica, albeit with one game in hand.
Sporting Lisbon's impressive campaign has been owing to their outstanding performance on home turf as Amorim's side have won each of their 13 Primeira Liga matches at the Estadio Jose Alvalade this season.
Team News
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Estrela Amadora will take to the pitch without the Brazilian duo of Gustavo Henrique and 32-year-old midfielder Rodrigo Pinho, who continue their spells on the sidelines.
Veteran striker Joao Reis has missed the last five matches since picking up an injury against Portimonense in February and is also out of contention for the Tricolores.
Twenty-one-year-old Manuel Keliano has been sidelined since sustaining an injury while in action for Angola at the Africa Cup of Nations in January and will also play no part in Friday's matchup.
Sporting Lisbon remain without midfielder Pedro Goncalves, who has been sidelined since coming off injured midway through the Europa League game against Atalanta on March 14.
He is joined on the Leoes' injury table by Spanish goalkeeper Antonio Adan, who has missed each of the last six matches through a thigh problem.
Marcus Edwards, who has four goals and three assists in the league, missed the game against Boavista through a slight injury and the English winger is a doubt for Friday's game.
Gyokeres turned in another performance of the highest quality against Boavista last time out and the 25-year-old, who has 22 league goals this season, will be one to keep an eye on.
Estrela Amadora possible starting lineup:
Brigido; Fonseca, Gaspar, Lima; Lopes, Cordeiro, Souza, Nanu; N'Do, Kikas, Jaba
Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Israel; Diomande, Coates, Reis; Catamo, Hjulmand, Morita, Paulinho; Trincao, Gyokeres, Santos
We say: Estrela Amadora 0-3 Sporting Lisbon
Estrela have shown their mettle on home turf in recent weeks, but other than frustrating their opponents to a point, we believe that Sporting will have enough firepower to come away with the desired result at the Estadio Jose Gomes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
