FC Porto vs Sporting Lisbon Prediction, Betting Tips and Match Preview. Check the match preview, betting tips, useful info and football predictions for the match between FC Porto vs Sporting Lisbon in the Semi-finals of Taça de Portugal.
FC Porto vs Sporting Lisbon Match Preview
This is the third clash between these two Portuguese heavyweights this season, in different competitions. While the previous two ended goalless, there are high hopes that this FC Porto vs Sporting Lisbon Taca de Portugal game will not disappoint the fans. The first leg will be played at the Estadio Do Dragao in Porto on Wednesday, February 7, so check out our FC Porto vs Sporting prediction and betting tips.
Porto
Porto will come into this fixture on high spirits after seeing off the threat of Sporting Braga in the last weekend’s Primeira Liga clash. That gave Porto a cushion of two points at the top of the table (52 pts from 20 matches) with one game in hand over their rivals Benfica and Sporting. Their form is pristine coming into this FC Porto vs Sporting Lisbon encounter, as Porto have lost only once in their last 22 competitive fixtures (W16, D5, L1). Even that loss was on penalties to Sporting in the Taca de Portugal semi-final, so the hosts would be gunning for a payback. With the two-legged tie set to be a close encounter with fewer goals, Porto will look to keep things tight in this match.
Sporting
Sporting didn’t have a good weekend in the Primeira Liga, as they crashed to a 2-0 loss at Estoril. That dropped them to third in the standings (50 pts from 21 matches). Although there is a lot to play for in the title race, Sporting know that their chances depend on other results. That could mean more emphasis from the visitors on this FC Porto vs Sporting Lisbon first-leg encounter as they try to make a fist of their season. Their top scorer Bas Dost has missed the weekend loss and is questionable for this semi-final fixture. Sporting’s hopes of progression could hinge on finding an away goal.
FC Porto vs Sporting Lisbon H2H
Sporting have lost only once in their last six encounters against Porto (W3, D2, L1) in all competitions. However, Porto have won eight of their last ten home encounters against sporting, losing twice, in all competitions.
FC Porto vs Sporting Lisbon Team News
Porto will miss the services of Danilo Pereira, Andre Andre, and Ivan Marcano for this encounter.
Sporting will continue to be without their key performers in the final third, Bas Dost and Gelson Martins for this clash.
FC Porto vs Sporting Lisbon Probable Line-ups
FC Porto XI: Casillas (GK), Pereira, Felipe, Reyes, Telles, Herrera, Oliveira, Paulinho, Marega, Aboubakar, Brahimi.
Sporting Lisbon XI: Patricio (GK), Piccini, Coates, Mathieu, Coentrao, Carvalho, Battaglia, Ribeiro, Fernandes, Acuna, Montero.
FC Porto vs Sporting Lisbon Prediction
The absence of Dost and Martins for Sporting in this crucial encounter could be difficult for Sporting to fill. Also, they had a very poor weekend where they lost against a side that is fighting a relegation battle. This match will also be a tight encounter, like the last two clashes, and Porto will do well to keep a clean sheet. That is our main betting prediction and we are also gunning for a home win, but we believe that the best betting tip is that both teams will not score on this game.