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

Still licking their wounds from their Champions League exit, Sporting Lisbon visit the Parque de Jogos Comendador Joaquim de Almeida Freitas on Monday to face Moreirense as round 26 of the Primeira Liga comes to an end.

Os verdes e brancos, on the other hand, head into the game winless in each of the last 19 meetings between the sides since 2012 and will be seeking to snap this dire run.

Match preview

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Moreirense failed to push clear of the relegation places as they fell to a 1-0 defeat for the second home game on the trot as Maritimo narrowly came out victorious when the sides locked horns last Sunday.

In a game where clear-cut chances were at a premium for both sides, Brazilian defender Matheus Costa scored on the half-hour mark to take his goal tally to four for the season and hand the visitors all three points.

Ricardo Sa Pinto's men, who have won just two games since the turn of the year, have now failed to taste victory in any of their last four games, managing just one draw and losing three while shipping eight goals and scoring one in that time.

This poor run has been down to their toothless display at the attacking end of the pitch where they have scored just six goals in their most recent eight games, with four coming in a 4-1 victory over fellow relegation battlers Belenenses on February 7.

Moreirense have won four, drawn eight and lost 13 of their 25 games so far to collect 20 points and sit 17th in the Primeira Liga standings, four points above rock-bottom Belenenses and two adrift of Arouca just outside the relegation paces.

While Os verdes e brancos will be looking to leapfrog the Arouquenses and move out of the drop zone, standing in their way is an opposing side who they have failed to defeat in any of the last 19 meetings between the teams, losing 12 and picking up seven draws since 2012.

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Meanwhile, after a humbling 5-0 defeat against Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 clash, one would have expected another steamrolling as Sporting Lisbon jet out to the Etihad for the return leg last Wednesday.

However, manager Ruben Amorim will be impressed with his side's resilient and spirited display as they kept their heads high and held the English champions to a goalless draw.

The Leoes now turn their attention to the Primeira Liga where they are currently on a six-game unbeaten run, claiming two draws and four wins, including a 2-0 victory over Arouca last weekend.

With 61 points from 25 games, Sporting Lisbon are currently second in the league standings, three points above third-placed Benfica and six off rivals Porto at the top of the pile.

The Primeira Liga champions will now look to extend their dominance in the history of this fixture and complete a league double over Monday's hosts after grinding out a 1-0 victory back in October's reverse fixture courtesy of a 16th-minute strike from Sebastian Coates.

Team News

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Veteran midfielder Fabio Pacheco is once again available for selection after the 33-year-old missed the game against Maritimo last time out through a one-match suspension for receiving his marching orders versus Arouca on February 26.

While Walterson Silva made his return from a two-game injury lay-off against O Maior das Ilhas, Guinea-Bissau international Sori Mane continues his spell on the sidelines through a groin problem.

Sporting Lisbon, meanwhile, will have to make do with the absence of Portuguese star Pedro Goncalves, who suffered a muscle problem in February's game against Estoril Praia.

Fellow countryman Daniel Braganca is also out of contention for Amorim's side after the 22-year-old midfielder picked up an injury in the Taca de Portugal game against Porto on March 2.

Joao Palhinha, who has made 19 league appearances this season, adds to the Leoes midfield crisis as the 26-year-old is set to sit out his fifth consecutive game through injury.

Moreirense possible starting lineup:
Pasinato; Rosic, P Santos, Jorge; Jefferson, Camara, Lacerda, Amador; Y Santos, Luis, Martins

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Adan; Inacio, Neto, Feddal; Porro, Nunes, Ugarte, Reis; Paulinho, Slimani, Sarabia

We say: Moreirense 0-3 Sporting Lisbon

Fresh off the back of holding Manchester City to a goalless draw, Sporting Lisbon will head into Monday's game in sky-high confidence. Looking at past results between the sides, and the gulf in class and quality in their squads, we are backing Sporting Lisbon to cruise to a comfortable win.

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