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Sporting return to action after the international break, aiming to keep pace in the Primeira Liga title race as they host Santa Clara at Estadio Jose Alvalade on Friday.
The Lions sit second with seven games remaining, seven points off the summit but with a game in hand, while Santa Clara are 13th and six points clear of the relegation playoff place.
Victory on Friday would see Sporting move within four points of leaders Porto, who face Famalicao a day later, while taking something from this encounter would strengthen Santa Clara’s survival hopes.
In addition to our Sporting vs Santa Clara prediction below, check out the rest of our Primeira Liga bettings.
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Sporting vs Santa Clara key stats
- Sporting have won every league game this season against sides currently outside the top five.
- Luis Suarez has found the net in seven of his last eight appearances for Sporting.
- Santa Clara have won just one of their last 13 away games inside regulation time (D6, L6).
- Sporting have scored at least three goals in 10 of their last 15 home games.
Sporting vs Santa Clara preview: Lions chasing title momentum
| Sporting Lisbon | vs | Santa Clara |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd | Position | 13th |
| 65 | Points | 28 |
| 68 | Goals For | 24 |
| 15 | Goals Against | 31 |
| 13 | Clean Sheets | 8 |
| 3rd | Home Rank | 11th |
| 2nd | Away Rank | 12th |
Sporting are chasing a third consecutive Primeira Liga title, but the Lions have played catch-up to leaders Porto for much of the campaign.
The defending champions saw their matchday 26 clash with Tondela postponed, allowing the gap to widen, yet they remained firmly in contention before the break with a convincing 4-1 victory at Alverca.
Sporting have won each of their last 15 home matches.
Rui Borges’s side have now secured back-to-back wins, having also booked a historic Champions League quarter-final berth after overcoming Bodo/Glimt despite trailing by three goals from the first leg.
That result underlines Sporting’s dominance at home, a trend they will look to continue this weekend in a bid to apply pressure on Porto, and the Lisbon giants enter this encounter without any fresh concerns following the international window.
At one stage Santa Clara went 11 league matches without victory and 12 across all competitions, but results have improved under Petit, who took charge in early February.
The Azoreans have won each of their last three games, a run built on defensive solidity, having kept clean sheets in all three outings, including a 1-0 victory over Gil Vicente just before the international break.
Three of Santa Clara’s last four meetings with Sporting have witnessed goals at both ends.
However, it remains to be seen how much Santa Clara’s renewed resilience can hold up against a Sporting side that has averaged three goals across 12 home league matches this season.
The visitors have proved difficult opponents in recent trips to Jose Alvalade, though they suffered a 2-1 defeat when both sides met in the reverse at the Azores earlier in the campaign.
Sporting vs Santa Clara form guide & betting tips
| Sporting Lisbon | vs | Santa Clara |
|---|---|---|
| W-W-W-D-W | League Form | W-W-W-D-D |
| 13 | Points | 11 |
| 1st | Form Table | 5th |
| 13 | Goals For | 7 |
| 3 | Goals Against | 3 |
| W-D-L-W-W | Form (all comps) | W-W-W-D-D |
Whispers predicts: Sporting 3-1 Santa Clara
Sporting’s attacking strength and formidable home record make them clear favourites heading into this encounter, so it is unsurprising that they are priced around 1.22 for a win, with Santa Clara available at 12.00 odds.
To be fair to the Azoreans, they have reason to believe they can compete given their recent form and the fact they have avoided defeat in regulation time in their last two visits to Jose Alvalade.
However, both teams to score at 2.37 looks appealing given how several recent meetings have unfolded, while over 2.5 goals at 1.80 also stands out considering Sporting’s attacking output.
Sporting to win and over 2.5 goals is worth backing at 2.00, with the hosts to score at least three times offering greater value at 2.37
Luis Suarez to score anytime also looks attractive at 1.61, while a 3-1 correct score in favour of Sporting fits the overall pattern.
> Anytime goalscorer – Luis Suarez at 1.66 | Likelihood: Probable
> Total goals – Over 2.5 at 1.80 | Likelihood: Probable
> BTTS – Yes at 2.37 | Likelihood: Possible
> Sporting to win & over 2.5 goals at 2.00 | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct score – Sporting 3-1 Santa Clara at 12.00| Likelihood: Outsider