After losing their first Primeira Liga game of the season to Belenenses on Saturday, Sporting Lisbon will look to get back on track in the Taca de Portugal against Leca on Tuesday with kickoff at 11:45 pm.
Leca, a fourth-tier side in Portugal, have enjoyed a thrilling cup run, knocking off two top-flight clubs, and look to keep the good times rolling as they attempt to pull off one of their biggest upsets of the competition.
Leca will be delighted with their strong performance in Group C of the Campeonato de Portugal, which sees them atop the table with 28 points from 11 outings.
Having done well in the league, the fourth-tier outfit continued its fine run in the Taca de Portugal, scoring eight goals and keeping three clean sheets to reach the quarter-finals.
After securing a hard-earned 1-0 win over Lusitania Lourosa in September, Leca saw off Primeira Liga sides Arouca and Gil Vicente respectively in their subsequent two games.
Meanwhile, Sporting Lisbon, who had gone into the game on the back of a 16-match unbeaten run in the Primeira Liga, were stunned 3-2 by relegation candidates Santa Clara at the Estadio de Sao Miguel last time out.
After Joao Palhinha and Jean Patric scored goals in the first half, Pablo Sarabia put Paris Saint-Germain ahead. Still, Santa Clara’s Lincoln scored quickly before Ricardinho completed a comeback win in the 78th minute.
Leca vs Sporting Lisbon Head to Head
Both sides are yet to face against each other and this marks their first encounter. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Alvarenga 0-1 Leca
- Leca 1-1 USC Paredes
- Leca 2-1 Espinho
- SC Leca 4-0 CD Gouveia
- Clube Uniano 1-3 Leca
Away
- CD Santra Ciara 3-2 Sporting CP
- Sporting CP 3-2 Portimonense
- Casa Pia 1-2 Sporting CP
- Gil Vicente 0-3 Sporting CP
- Penafiel 0-1 Sporting CP
Leca Team News
Nuno Barbosa has been instrumental in Leca’s cup run, netting three goals in six games. The 21-year-old forward is expected to lead the attack, alongside Nani and Miguel Lopes.
Sporting Lisbon
Meanwhile, Sporting Lisbon will again be without the services of 23-year-old Jovane Cabral, who has been sidelined since sustaining a muscle problem in November’s Cup Taca de Portugal game against Varzim.
Prediction and Odds
The Leca have thrilled fans with their incredible cup campaign. They’ll be delighted to have reached this stage of the competition.
- Sporting Lisbon Win
- Goals Over 2.5
- No Score: Home
