Maritimo and Sporting Lisbon will take to the pitch for the first time in the new year when they lock horns at the Estadio dos Barreiros on Sunday.
The hosts are currently winless in their last three outings in the league, while the visitors rounded off the year with a resounding 3-0 win over Pacos de Ferreira.
Match preview
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Andre Vidigal had Maritimo's only shot on target against Rio Ave last time out, but it proved to be vital as his strike earned O Maior das Ilhas a point away from home in a 1-1 draw.
Aderllan Santos's equaliser for the hosts denied Maritimo from earning their first victory since they defeated Pacos de Ferreira on October 28, but any point will do at this stage for Jose Manuel Gomes as his side currently sit in the relegation zone in the Primeira Liga.
Maritimo must now find a way to stop the rot, having picked up just seven points from a possible 42 so far this season, and they sit six points off Santa Clara just outside the relegation places.
O Maior das Ilhas' underwhelming campaign has been owing to their struggles in front of their own fans, where they are yet to win and have lost four of their six league matches there this season.
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Meanwhile, Sporting Lisbon ended 2022 on a high, enjoying a comfortable 3-0 win at home against Pacos de Ferreira, courtesy of goals from Pedro Porro, Nuno Santos and Paulinho.
That result means the Leoes enter 2023 in fourth place in the league, four points behind Porto after recording nine wins from the 14 games they have played so far this campaign.
Prior to that victory, Sporting Lisbon kept their quest for a third consecutive Taca da Liga title alive, as they cruised to a 5-0 victory over Braga in the quarter-finals.
Ruben Amorim's side enjoyed a stellar run in the group stages, where they won each of their three matches while scoring 13 goals and keeping three clean sheets to finish top of Group B.
The 19-time Portuguese champions have won their last two matches away from home across all competitions, although they have only picked up 10 points from a possible 21 on the road in the Primeira Liga.
The Leoes will fancy their chances here though, against a Maritimo side who they put five goals past recently in their Taca da Liga clash on December 13.
Team News
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The hosts will be without Geny Catamo due to a muscle injury he picked up back in October, and the 21-year-old remains out of contention for the clash against Sporting Lisbon this weekend.
However, Stefano Beltrame returned from injury against Rio Ave, playing 20 minutes, so he could be in contention to start on Sunday.
As for the visitors, off the back of a superb team display against Pacos de Ferreira, Amorim could name an unchanged XI on Sunday, meaning that we could see a front three of Marcus Edwards, Francisco Trincao and Paulinho.
On the injury front, Sporting Lisbon will take to the pitch without Portuguese midfielder Daniel Braganca, who suffered a cruciate ligament rupture back in May.
He is joined on the treatment table by Luis Neto, who has been out of action since September due to a knee injury, while Dario Essugo will be suspended for the trip to the Estadio dos Barreiros after his dismissal against Pacos de Ferreira last time out.
Maritimo possible starting lineup:
Silva; Winck, Junior, Mosquera, Costa; Xadas, Brito, Afonso, Vidigal; Moreno, Liza
Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Adan; Inacio, Coates, Reis; Porro, Goncalves, Ugarte, Santos; Trincao, Edwards, Paulinho
We say: Maritimo 0-2 Sporting Lisbon
The away side come into this clash in great form, while Maritimo's home record this season leaves a lot to be desired.
We think the hosts will struggle to contain Sporting Lisbon here, and the Leoes will have too much firepower for them.
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