Moreirense will host Sporting Lisbon in the Primeira Liga on Monday. As they presently rank sixth in the league standings, Moreirense is having an amazing comeback to the top flight. The visitors are in second place and have a game remaining against league leaders Benfica.
Preview (Moreirense vs. Sporting Lisbon)
With 10 wins, 5 draws, and only 6 losses in their first 21 games, Moreirense’s 2023–24 season could conceivably not have gone much better up to this point. They could still have a say in the competition for the European qualification spots. In a season that has seen them attract a lot of new supporters. After defeating relegation favorites Chaves 1-0 at this location last weekend. Rui Borges’s team picked up three more points. They cut the difference between them and the top five teams to only five points.
With that result, Moreirense’s home record now stands at 3 wins out of 4 games. Their only loss during that stretch came against Casa Pia. The team’s two home losses this season came against Porto and Braga. However, they managed to hold their own against some of the top teams in the league. The hosts were comfortably defeated 3-0 at Estadio Jose Alvalade in the rematch. It demonstrated that they were no match for Sporting. Sporting is the sole championship candidate playing away from home in gameweek 22. They had the most difficult matchup this weekend out of the top four teams in the Primeira Liga.
Sporting’s victory against this rival in September was The Lions’ 15th straight game without a loss versus Moreirense, a record that stretches back to April 2015. Sporting is playing in incredible form right now—possibly the finest under Ruben Amorim—having defeated Braga, the winners of the Allianz Cup, 5-0 the previous weekend and Young Boys, 3-1, in the first leg of the Europa League knockout phase playoff midweek. Amorim’s team is currently enjoying a seven-game winning streak in the league.
Team News
After a prolonged absence from the field, Hernani was added back to the squad last weekend against Chaves. He should be eligible for selection this week, though it might still be too soon to start him right away. Alhassane Sylla has not played in any games this season and is anticipated to miss most of the ones that remain, while Fabio has been sidelined for the last five games due to injury and won’t be back for a few weeks. Hidemasa Morita’s return from the Asian Cup gave Sporting a lift, and they anticipate the return of Ousmane Diomande, the winner of the Africa Cup of Nations, in time for this match.
Due to an injury sustained against Braga the previous weekend, Sebastian Coates was unable to play in the midweek game and is still doubtful for this one. Meanwhile, Jerry St Juste (muscle) and Paulinho (tendon) will not be available until the following month. One of the most popular players in Europe right now, Viktor Gyokeres, has already scored 16 goals for The Lions this season and is nearly expected to start at the front once more.
Moreirense 1-4 Sporting Lisbon
For more football previews, click here
