Sporting Lisbon will visit Boavista in the Primera Liga as they look to extend their lead at the top of the table. The leaders of Primeira Liga enter Monday’s match fresh off a 1-1 Europa League stalemate against Rakow Czestochowa. Boavista advanced to the next round of the Portuguese Cup despite not playing in any European competition.
Preview (Boavista vs. Sporting Lisbon)
With two goals in the first half of the game that basically decided the contest, Boavista advanced to the next round of the Portuguese Cup last Sunday. They will be confident going into their meeting against the league leaders on Monday. The win snapped a three-match losing sequence during which they drew twice against Moreirense and Famalicao and lost 4-1 on the road at Braga. They played two of those games with just ten men, casting doubt on their disciplinary problems. Their run of five straight wins, in which they won four of five games. It came to a stop with their first and only Primeira Liga loss to Braga.
Boavista is one of just four teams remaining undefeated at home this season. They have won two and drawn two of their last four games at home. They have even more success there. Petit’s team has the opportunity to move up into the top four with a victory on Monday night. They need to hope that Braga and Vitoria de Guimaraes lose their respective games. On the other side, Sporting Lisbon will want to move over the humiliation of their 1-1 draw. They led 1-0 for over an hour despite star striker Viktor Gyokeres being sent off after just eight minutes. Aside from the situation in Europe, Sporting Lisbon has been dominant in the Primeira Liga this year. They winning seven of their eight games and only drawing with Braga.
The Green and Whites are still the only team in the league without a single loss. Despite their incredible start, they have little breathing room because Benfica and Porto. Six goals in three games is still a very acceptable total while playing away from home. Sporting Lisbon has played two fewer away games this season. The key statistical indicators indicate that the team is somewhat less dangerous in attack.
Team News
Due to injuries, Boavista is concerned going into this game because of the absence of Ibrahima Camara, Pedro Malheiro, Augusto Dabo, and Caesar, who will all help the team on Monday night. Due to Camara’s injury, Petit is anticipated to start Sebastian Perez, Miguel Reisinho, and Ilija Vukotic in the middle of the field. After serving his suspension, forward Tiago Morais is available to play on the left wing for Boavista and increase the attacking options. With five goals, Robert Bozenik is the team’s leading scorer and biggest threat, so the visiting defense will need to be on the lookout for him on Monday.
In an attempt to maintain the momentum in the Primeira Liga, Amorim and his side are unlikely to make many changes to the starting lineup following the away game in Poland, since they have had nearly four days to recuperate. The forward line-up of Gyokeres, Marcus Edwards, and Pedro Goncalves should cause problems. They have scored nine goals between them this Primeira Liga season. Boavista is yet to lose at home this season, but they will face a completely new task when league leaders Sporting Lisbon visits. The visitors will do every effort to preserve their stellar league record and keep up their title challenge.
Boavista 1 – 2 Sporting Lisbon
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