The first weekend of Primeira Liga action in 2024 will get underway at Estadio Jose Alvalade, where Sporting Lisbon will play host to Estoril Praia on Friday evening.
The hosts ended last year in pole position in the league standings, with 37 points after 15 matches, while the visitors are in ninth place with 17 points over the same period.
Match preview
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Sporting wrapped up 2023 in great shape, sitting atop the league standings, still alive in both domestic cup competitions and having secured a place in the knockout stages of the Europa League, where they will face Young Boys in mid-February.
The Lions' final match of the year ended in a 2-1 victory over Portimonense and extended their impressive recent record to four wins in a row in all competitions.
Ruben Amorim's side has been particularly good in attack this season and is the second-highest-scoring team with 32 goals in their 15 league games, including two or more scored in each of their last six.
Viktor Gyokeres has been a standout performer for Sporting this season, leading the team with 11 goals, which is the second-most of any player in the top flight. It will be interesting to see if Amorim can retain his services in the January transfer market, with several clubs across Europe showing interest in the striker.
The hosts have all the momentum coming into this one and have been the better side in this contest in recent years, winning each of their last four encounters against this opponent and outscoring them 8-0 during that time.
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While Sporting have much to be pleased about from their 2023 performance, Estoril have plenty of reason to pat themselves on the back for their output over the first five months of the campaign.
The Canaries will start the year in the top half of the league standings and, like their opponents, are still in both domestic cups, including having got past Porto to book their place in the final four of the Taca da Liga.
Vasco Seabra's side extended their solid run of results to four matches unbeaten in all competitions, which included three wins and a draw, with a comprehensive 4-0 thrashing of Farense at home last weekend.
Estoril have now scored four goals in three of their last five league games, although each of those matches were on home soil. In contrast, they have only managed to score one in each of their last three on the road.
Team News
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Sporting could welcome back Jerry St Juste from injury in this match, though it may have come a little too soon to see him tossed straight back into the starting 11.
Sebastian Coates (muscle) and Ivan Fresneda (shoulder) are still a few weeks away from returning to first-team action, while Hidemasa Morita, Geny Catamo and Ousmane Diomande are all away on international duty.
For the visitors, Erick Cabaco has resumed training with the squad and could feature on the bench in this one if he is passed fit by the team's medical staff.
Joao Marques scored twice to take his tally to five goals this season in the win over Farense last week, and he should continue in the front three alongside Rafik Guitane and Cassiano.
Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Adan; Neto, Matheus, Quaresma; Goncalves, Trincao, Braganca, Santos, Paulinho, Edwards; Gyokeres
Estoril Praia possible starting lineup:
Carne; Parra, Vital, Alvaro; Gomes, Holsgrove, Fernandes, Araujo; Guitane, Cassiano, Marques
We say: Sporting Lisbon 2-1 Estoril Praia
Sporting have been flawless at Estadio Jose Alvalade in the league this season, winning all eight matches and scoring two or more goals in seven of those games. While Estoril have shown improvement in attack lately, we feel the hosts will outscore them in this one.
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Devesh Jaganath
