Sporting Lisbon vs Porto Prediction & Betting Tips - League Cup

Prediction published on 18/01/2021, 08:49  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 18/01/2021 at 08:53 in Football Predictions

Sporting has been the best team in Portugal so far this season but they are going through what would pass as their toughest period, ahead of the League Cup clash with FC Porto. In the last two matches, Sporting have failed to win. They haven’t had another such period this season. In that period, they have been eliminated from the Portuguese Cup after losing 2-0 to Maritimo, and dropped points in the 1-1 draw with Rio Ave. It could get worse for them as they face Porto in the semis but going by their form in the season, this is a game they can handle. These two sides have already met in the league this season, and it ended 2-2. The loss to Maritimo is Sporting’s only defeat in 17 matches, and they have lost just twice in the 20 played this season. It will cause some worries though, that both of Sporting’s losses have come in cup games – against Maritimo, and earlier against LASK in the Europa League playoffs. Both defeats led to elimination and should they have jitters here it would be understandable. Good defending and a sharp attack have really lifted Sporting; in their 14 league matches, they have conceded nine goals, making them the best defensive side in the league. In terms of attack, they have scored in 19 of their 20 matches this season and going to this game, Sporting has scored twice in seven of their last 10 matches.

Porto’s form should complete the equation for the most anticipated semi final, with Sporting Braga and Benfica playing in the other. Porto are unbeaten in the last 17 matches, winning 15 of them and have no outright loss to Sporting in the last seven meetings. Three times they have lost through post match penalties. Porto can match Sporting in attack; they have scored in all their last five matches and netted three goals or more in four. However, they only have one clean sheet in the five matches. This is a game that pits the two best scoring teams in the Portuguese top flight. Porto have 36 goals and Sporting 31, but Sporting edges Porto in the fact that Porto have conceded 17 goals – almost twice the tally Sporting have conceded. Porto have three scorers among the top seven in the league with Sergio Oliveira having seven, while Moussa Marega and Mehdi Taremi have six each. Sporting on the other hand, have the league’s top scorer – Pedro Gonçalves, who has 12 goals. All these players are expected to feature in the game, making it a very interesting clash to look out for.