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Sporting CP will be aiming to climb into first place in the Portuguese Primeira Liga standings when they play host to Nacional at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Saturday. While Nacional will look to secure their first away win of the campaign, history suggests a tough challenge awaits this weekend, with the Alvinegros failing to win their last 26 games against the hosts since February 2011.
Read our Sporting CP vs Nacional preview, prediction and betting tips below, while you can also find more of our expert predictions on today's betting tips page.
Sporting CP vs Nacional key stats
- Nacional are without a clean sheet in 11 straight games against Sporting, a run stretching back to October 2016, when they played out a goalless draw at the Estadio da Madeira.
- Sporting CP have won their last four Primeira Liga home matches, scoring 14 goals and conceding four since a 2-2 stalemate against Tondela on April 29.
- Nacional have conceded the opening goal in seven of their last nine games against Sporting, with both teams scoring in five of their most recent six encounters.
Sporting CP vs Nacional: Can Alvinegros snap unwanted 15-year streak this weekend?
Sporting CP vs Nacional — Tale of the Tape
| Sporting CP | vs | Nacional |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd | Position | 10th |
| 10 | Points | 4 |
| 12 | Goals For | 6 |
| 5 | Goals Against | 6 |
| 1 | Clean Sheets | 1 |
| 3rd | Home / Away Rank | 13th |
Sporting CP turned in another dominant team performance last Friday when they steamrolled Rio Ave 4-0 at the Estadio dos Arcos to make it three consecutive victories since their shaky opening-day outing.
In a clinical first-half display, goals from Flavio Goncalves, Geny Catamo and a brace from striker Javier Luis Suarez saw the visitors cruise to a seventh consecutive victory over Rio Ave since a 3-3 stalemate in February 2024.
Prior to that, Sporting CP kicked off the season with a somewhat disappointing 2-2 draw against Estrela Amadora at the Estadio Jose Gomes on August 8, before bouncing back with back-to-back home victories over Vitoria de Guimaraes and Alverca.
Rui Borges’s men sit second in the Primeira Liga standings, just two points behind first-placed Porto, and this solid start to the campaign has been owing to their lethal attack, with the Leoes netting a league-high 12 goals while allowing five at the opposite end of the pitch.
On the other hand, Nacional were on the wrong end of a five-goal thriller against Estrela last Sunday when they fell to a 3-2 defeat at the Estadio da Madeira, a result which saw head coach Joao Giao relieved of his role at the helm of affairs.
Ianis Stoica and Abraham Marcus found the back of the net to cancel out Wesley Gasolina’s third-minute opener, and after Pablo Messias Cardozo restored parity for the hosts in the 66th minute, striker Leandro Antonetti struck in the 83rd minute to hand Estrela all three points.
This followed a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Vitoria de Guimaraes on August 23, ending their unbeaten start to the season, having played out a 2-2 stalemate with Santa Clara in the curtain-raiser on August 10, six days before edging out Estoril Praia at the Estadio da Madeira.
Next up for the Alvinegros is the daunting challenge of an opposing side whom they have failed to get the better of in their last 26 meetings across all competitions, losing 19 and claiming seven draws since a 1-0 victory in February 2011.
While Nacional will be aiming to end their 15-year hoodoo against Sporting, results on the road offer little optimism, having managed just one win from 15 Primeira Liga away games since September 2025.
Sporting CP vs Nacional form guide & betting tips
| Sporting CP | vs | Nacional |
|---|---|---|
DWWW |
Primeira Liga Form | DWLL |
| 10 | Points | 4 |
| 12 | Goals For | 6 |
| 5 | Goals Against | 6 |
Whispers’ prediction: Sporting CP 2-1 Nacional
Unbeaten in the last 26 meetings between the two teams, Sporting CP will be licking their lips as they take on a floundering Nacional side who have struggled to steady their ship this season.
At 19/100 (1.19), the bookmakers have Sporting CP as clear favourites for the win here, and while we are siding with the bookies, our first pick of the game is over 2.5 goals at 2/5 (1.40).
Five of their last six meetings have seen both sides score, and BTTS – Yes at 9/10 (1.90) is our second pick, while Luis Javier Suarez to score at 4/5 (1.80) is a low-risk option.
Sporting to win + BTTS – Yes currently sits at 8/5 (2.60), which is our value bet here, while the correct score market has a correct score of 2-1 priced at 17/2 (9.50).
> Luis Javier Suarez to score – Yes at 4/5 (1.80) | Likelihood: Possible
> Sporting to win + BTTS – Yes at 8/5 (2.60) | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct score: 2-1 at 17/2 (9.50) | Likelihood: Outsider