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Sporting Lisbon
Primeira Liga | Gameweek 5
Sep 17, 2023 at 8.30pm UK
CGD Stadium Aurelio Pereira
Moreirense

Sporting Lisbon
3 - 0
Moreirense

Hjulmand (55'), Gyokeres (61'), Diomande (90+6')
Inacio (4'), Santos (35'), Hjulmand (69')
FT(HT: 0-0)

de Brito Gonzaga (20'), Marcelo (49')
de Brito Gonzaga (88')

Preview: Sporting Lisbon vs. Moreirense - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Primeira Liga clash between Sporting Lisbon and Moreirense, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Sporting Lisbon welcome newly-promoted Moreirense to the Estadio Jose Alvalade in the Primeira Liga on Sunday night.

The hosts have arguably made the best start in the division and enter the weekend level on points with Boavista and Porto at the top.


Match preview

Sporting Lisbon's Paulinho celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates on August 12, 2023© Reuters

Sporting return after the international break as one of three teams tied on 10 points so far.

An opening trio of victories over Vizela, Casa Pia and Famalicao put them in great shape before a challenging looking clash with Braga.

The side that beat them to the final Champions League spot last season would snatch a draw off them late on too, but it keeps Sporting well in the mix at the top.

A kind run of fixtures to come, intertwined with their Europa League schedule, provides Sporting with a great opportunity to maintain their position near the summit.

Their next notable tough test comes with a trip to Lisbon rivals Benfica in mid-November, by which point they will already have played four of their European group matches.

Seven of Sporting's next 11 games are here at the Alvalade, with their league fixtures pitting them against Moreirense next, before clashes with Rio Ave, Arouca and Estrela - all games they will expect to win comfortably.

If they can go into the Derby de Lisboa still ahead of Benfica, who are one point behind them, then it should give Ruben Amorim's men huge confidence.

However, football is not won on paper, and Rui Borges's Moreirense will hope to spoil Sporting's strong start here.

Moreirense's Joao Camacho in action on August 14, 2023© Reuters

The second-tier champions have not made a good start back in the Primeira Liga though.

Going out to Farense in the Taca da Liga and not scoring a single goal in pre-season was not the preparation Borges would have hoped for.

Porto provided the daunting opening day test, and despite taking the lead, Moreirense went on to lose.

Borges's side were then unable to beat 10-man Famalicao the following week, but a win over struggling Chaves saw them record their first win of the campaign.

In a rescheduled encounter with a weakened Braga side during the international break, Moreirense looked for long periods like they were going to make it back-to-back wins, but they inexplicably threw away a 2-1 lead in the final eight minutes to lose.

With just one point separating Moreirense in 10th and Estoril in 16th, an expected defeat here could cause them to slide quite rapidly, with some sides below them guaranteed to take points this weekend.

Sporting Lisbon Primeira Liga form:
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • D

Moreirense Primeira Liga form:


Moreirense form (all competitions):
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • L



Team News

Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring their first goal on August 12, 2023© Reuters

Sporting will be without Dutch defender Jerry St Juste as he recovers from a muscular problem in their only injury concern.

Buying Viktor Gyokeres and providing competition for Paulinho in attack has seemingly breathed life into the latter.

Paulinho has never quite hit the ground running at Sporting, but he has made a remarkable start, scoring four league goals in just 242 minutes of action so far, placing him top of the scoring charts at present.

Gyokeres had a mixed week with Sweden too, scoring against Estonia but suffering defeat in a crunch encounter with Austria, but he should still be preferred in the centre.

Elsewhere last week, Goncalo Inacio got off the mark for Portugal, with the promising defender scoring twice in their 9-0 demolition of Luxembourg, while Hidemasa Morita was part of the Japan side which thrashed Germany 4-1.

A head injury for Dinis Pinto is set to be the only issue facing Borges and his Moreirense squad ahead of their trip to the capital.

Lawrence Ofori will need to watch his step, as four bookings in four games so far this season means he is already one away from a suspension.

Kobamelo Kodisang was the only Moreirense player away on international duty last week and missed the defeat to Braga.

With the South African available again, he has a fight on to reclaim his spot, given that Madson deputised and scored in the 3-2 defeat last Saturday.

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Adan; Diomande, Coates, Goncalo Inacio; Ricardo Esgaio, Morita, Pedro Goncalves, Nuno Santos; Edwards, Gyokeres, Paulinho

Moreirense possible starting lineup:
Kewin; Fabiano Silva, Marcelo, Maracas, Frimpong; Franco, Ofori, Alanzinho; Madson, Andre Luis, Joao Camacho


SM words green background

We say: Sporting Lisbon 3-0 Moreirense

With in-form attackers in the side and the team still unbeaten this season, Amorim will expect his side to comfortably get the better of Moreirense here.

The visitors gave Braga a huge scare last week, but their inability to hold out for even a draw points towards another defeat here.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Sporting Lisbon vs Moreirense

Sporting Lisbon
81.5%
Draw
11.1%
Moreirense
7.4%
27
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CSporting Lisbon33283293296487
2Benfica33254476274979
3Braga33215771492268
4Porto32206660263466
5Vitoria de GuimaraesGuimaraes33186949371260
6MoreirenseMoreirense33157113434052
7AroucaArouca33137135347646
8FamalicaoFamalicao331012113639-342
9SC FarenseFarense33107164548-337
10Rio AveRio Ave3361893742-536
11Gil Vicente3399154251-936
12Casa Pia3398163649-1335
13Estoril PraiaEstoril3396184856-833
14BoavistaBoavista32710153658-2231
15Estrela Amadora33612153253-2130
16PortimonensePortimonense3378183671-3529
RVizela33510183464-3025
RChavesChaves3358203169-3823


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