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

Maritimo go in search of their first win in five games when they visit the Estadio Jose Alvalade to take on defending champions Sporting Lisbon on Friday.

The hosts, meanwhile, returned to winning ways last Sunday when they faced newly-promoted Estoril Praia and will look to keep the juggernaut rolling.

Match preview

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Sporting Lisbon ended their run of three games without a win across all competitions when they narrowly edged out Estoril Praia 1-0 last Sunday.

The newly-promoted side put in a solid defensive performance to keep the scores goalless heading into the break, but Pedro Porro converted his penalty midway through the second half to hand the Leoes all three points.

Ruben Amorim's men failed to taste victory in the three games leading up to the win, picking up consecutive draws against Famalicao and Porto in the league before falling to a humbling 5-1 defeat at the hands of Ajax in their Champions League Group C opener.

With four wins and two draws from their opening six games in the Primeira Liga, Sporting Lisbon have started their title defence on a good note and will be seeking to close the gap on league leaders Benfica, who remain the only side with a 100% record in the division.

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On the other hand, Maritimo's poor start to the season continued last weekend as they played out an uneventful goalless draw against league strugglers Famalicao.

Despite controlling proceedings for most of the game, the Famalicenses failed to break the deadlock due to the wasteful finishing of their frontmen alongside an inspired Paulo Victor in goal, who made several saves to keep the scores level.

That was the second draw on the spin for O Maior das Ilhas, who were also involved in a share of the spoils when they took on newly-promoted Arouca last Monday.

Maritimo are now winless in six of their seven competitive games this season, including five in the league, where they have picked up three draws and lost two of their first six games.

For all their early struggles, Julio Velazquez's men are currently 11th in the Primeira Liga standings, level on six points with Vizela and will fancy their chances of rising into the top half of the table this weekend.

However, they face the stern test of taking on the reigning champions, who are unbeaten in seven of the last eight meetings between the sides since 2018, claiming five wins and two draws.

Team News

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Portuguese talisman Pedro Goncalves, who has already hit three goals this season, is out of contention for Friday's game after sustaining an injury.

He is joined on the Sporting Lisbon injury table by fellow countryman Goncalo Inacio, who missed the trip to Estoril Praia last time out after coming off injured against Ajax in the Champions League.

Maritimo, on the other hand, will take to the pitch without the services of Stefano Beltrame, who fractured his collarbone back in the last meeting between the sides.

Cameroonian forward Joel Tagueu is also out of contention for the game after hobbling off the pitch with a 19th-minute injury against Braga in this season's curtain-raiser.

Diogo Mendes is a doubt for the game after picking up an injury against Famalicao last weekend, meaning Ivan Rossi could make his return to the starting XI.

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Adan; Neto, Coates, Reis; Porro, Palhinha, Nunes, Vinagre; Cabral, Paulinho, Santos

Maritimo possible starting lineup:
Victor; China, Leo, Junior, Winck; Rossi, Pelagio; Mendes; Xadas, Alipour; Ricardinho

We say: Sporting Lisbon 2-0 Maritimo

Maritimo have struggled to get going this season, picking up just one win from their opening six games and they go up against a Sporting Lisbon side who currently find themselves in the higher echelons of the table after a solid start to their title defence.

Given the gulf in quality between the two sides, we predict the Leoes will claim all three points and extend their winning streak in this fixture to three.