Pacos de Ferreira make a trip to the Estadio Jose Alvalade to face Sporting Lisbon on Sunday as they will be looking for their third win in a row for the first time this season.
The hosts head into the game unbeaten in each of their eight most recent Primeira Liga matches and aim to keep that run rolling.
Sporting Lisbon ensured they remain within touching distance with Porto at the top of the Primeira Liga standings when they secured a 3-1 victory at Vitoria de Guimaraes two Saturdays ago.
After falling behind through Oscar Estupinan’s 23rd-minute opener, Pablo Sarabia restored parity from the penalty spot on the stroke of half time before Paulinho and Marcus Edwards scored second-half goals to close the game.
Ruben Amorim’s side have won 21, drawn four and lost two of their 27 games to collect 67 points and sit second, six points adrift of Porto at the top of the standings.
After a slow start to the season, Cesar Peixoto will be impressed with his side’s recent upturn in form as they have climbed to ninth in the table after collecting 33 points from 27 games.
The Pacenses picked up a second consecutive win for just the third time this season when they defeated Moreirense 2-1 on home soil last time out.
In the contest at the Estadio Capital do Movel, newly-signed forward Adrian Butzke and Uilton scored either side of Yan Santo’s 50th-minute leveller to secure all three points for the hosts.
They have now won four of their five most recent matches, scoring nine goals and keeping two clean sheets.
While they will aim to keep this fine run going, next up is an opposing side who have won each of the last 12 meetings between the sides since a 1-1 draw back in 2015.
Sporting Lisbon vs Pacos de Ferreira head to head
The two sides have previously met on 44 occasions in all competitions, where Sporting have taken 29 victories while Pacos Ferreira have won eight, with seven draws. Sporting have scored 77 goals and conceded 33 in the process. In their last meeting in the league, Sporting secured a 2-0 away victory.
Sporting Lisbon 1-0 Pacos Ferreira 12/06/20
Pacos Ferreira 0-2 Sporting Lisbon 27/09/20
Sporting Lisbon 3-0 Pacos Ferreira 12/12/20
Sporting Lisbon 2-0 Pacos Ferreira 15/02/21
Pacos Ferreira 0-2 Sporting Lisbon 07/11/21
Sporting Lisbon latest home form
Sporting Lisbon have recently been on a relatively good form at home, as they have lost only two of their six most recent matches. They lost 2-1 to Porto in the Taca de Portugal on March 2. In their last five matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded seven.
Sporting Lisbon 2-0 Famalicao 06/02/22
Sporting Lisbon 0-5 Manchester City 15/02/22
Sporting Lisbon 3-0 Estoril 20/02/22
Sporitng Lisbon 1-2 Porto 02/03/22
Sporting Lisbon 2-0 Arouca 05/03/22
Sporting Lisbon latest away form
Sporting Lisbon have recently been on a good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their seven most recent matches. They drew 0-0 with Manchester City in the Champions League on March 9. In their last five away matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded four.
Porto 2-2 Sporting Lisbon 11/02/22
Maritimo 1-1 Sporting Lisbon 26/02/22
Manchester City 0-0 Sporting Lisbon 09/03/22
Moreirense 0-2 Sporting Lisbon 14/03/22
Vitoria Guimaraes 1-3 Sporting Lisbon 19/03/22
Pacos de Ferreira latest home form
Pacos Ferreira have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost only one of their six most recent matches. In their last home game, they managed to defeat Moreirense 2-1 in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded eight.
Pacos Ferreira 1-1 Boavista 22/01/22
Pacos Ferreira 1-1 Portimonense 05/02/22
Pacos Ferreira 2-1 Vizela 19/02/22
Pacos Ferreira 2-4 Porto 06/03/22
Pacos Ferreira 2-1 Moreirense 20/03/22
Pacos Ferreira latest away form
Pacos Ferreira have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost only one of their five most recent matches. In their last away game, they managed to defeat Arouca 1-0 in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded two.
Famalicao 0-0 Pacos Ferreira 16/01/22
Estoril 0-0 Pacos Ferreira 31/01/22
Sporting Braga 2-1 Pacos Ferreira 12/02/22
Belenenses 0-2 Pacos Ferreira 25/02/22
Arouca 0-1 Pacos Ferreira 12/03/22
Sporting Lisbon news
Sarabia carried his fine form into the international break, scoring twice for Spain against Iceland last Tuesday and he is expected to lead the attack once again.
He should be supported by Islam Slimani who has four goals and one assist in seven appearances since joining the club back in January.
Pacos de Ferreira news
Peixoto will be unable to call upon the services of Brazilian defender Flavio Ramos, who picked up a muscle injury in November’s game against Maritimo.
He is joined on the Pacenses injury table by defender Joao Vigario and 25-year-old Jorge Silva, who are recuperating from knee and ankle injuries respectively.
Prediction and Odds
Pacos Ferreira head into the game as underdogs but are sure to put up a fight to try and defeat a side who have won each of their last 12 encounters.
However, Sporting Lisbon are a stronger side who aim to keep their title chase running. So, we expect a home win.
Odds: 1 1.60 X 2.20 2 2.40
Probable outcomes
Sporting Lisbon 2-0 Pacos Ferreira
Sporting Lisbon 2-1 Pacos Ferreira
Sporting Lisbon 3-1 Pacos Ferreira
Sporting Lisbon 3-2 Pacos Ferreira
Sporting Lisbon 4-2 Pacos Ferreira
