Preview: Boavista vs. Sporting Lisbon
The historic Primeira Liga triumph of the 2020-21 season, when Sporting Lisbon ended Porto and Benfica’s near two-decade domination, could be repeated as Ruben Amorim’s side have soared in the early stages of the new season and sit top of the league table.
The Primeira Liga leaders go into Monday’s game on the back of a 1-1 draw with Rakow Czestochowa in the Europa League, while Boavista did not have a European game last week but progressed to the next round of the Portuguese Cup after a 3-1 away win over Oliveirense.
Boavista reached the next round of the Portuguese Cup last Sunday, with two first-half goals effectively deciding the game in an eventual 3-1 victory that will send them into Monday’s match against the league leaders in good spirits.
The victory ended a three-game winless streak that saw them lose 4-1 away to Braga and draw twice against Moreirense and Famalicao, finishing two of those games with only 10 men, raising some question marks over their disciplinary issues.
The defeat to Braga was their first and only one of the Primeira Liga season and ended a run of five unbeaten games in which they won four out of a possible five.
Boavista are even more successful at home, with two wins and two draws in four games, making them one of only four teams still unbeaten on home soil this season.
With a win on Monday night, Petit’s men could climb into the top four if Braga and Vitoria de Guimaraes fail to win their respective matches.
Sporting Lisbon, on the other hand, will be looking to forget the disappointment of Thursday’s 1-1 draw in Poland, when Amorim’s side led 1-0 for more than an hour despite star striker Viktor Gyokeres being sent off after only eight minutes.
European affairs aside, Sporting Lisbon have been in outstanding form this Primeira Liga season, with seven wins from a possible eight games and just one draw against Braga in early September.
The Green and Whites remain the only team in the league without a single defeat, but even such a magnificent start to the season leaves them with little breathing room, with strong rivals Benfica and Porto breathing down their necks and only a few points difference between the three teams.
Sporting Lisbon have played two fewer away games this season, therefore the key statistical metrics suggest that the team are somewhat less dangerous in attack compared to their home record, but six goals in three games is still a more than respectable figure when playing away.
Boavista Primeira Liga form:
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Boavista form (all competitions):
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Sporting Lisbon Primeira Liga form:
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Sporting Lisbon form (all competitions):
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We say: Boavista 1-2 Sporting Lisbon
Boavista are still unbeaten at home this season, but the visit of league leaders Sporting Lisbon will be a very different challenge, which they have not had before.
The visitors will do everything they can to maintain their excellent record in the league and continue to challenge for the title.