Porto vs Sporting Lisbon
9 February 2015hrs
Football – Portugal – Premeira Liga
Pick Over 2.5 goals
Bookmaker Boylesports
Odds: 10/11 odds taken 2000 GMT, Thursday 11 February
The top two in Portugal meet on Friday evening and visitors Sporting Lisbon know they have to close the gap on leaders Porto who currently have a six point advantage.
Table of Contents
Porto Preview – Will unbeaten Porto reel off a 17th consecutive win to take firm control of the title race?
You have to go back to October 2020 for the last time Porto suffered defeat in the Primeira Liga. A full 16 months ago now, and if they avoid defeat on Friday it would be a total of 50 matches unbeaten. It is an incredible feat for Sergio Conceicao’s men but they know there is still work to do if they are to win the title following a second place finish last season. Porto are six points clear coming into this game having taken 59 points from a possible 63.
One of those games where they have dropped points was against Sporting in Lisbon back in September whilst they drew away to Maritimo a couple of games beforehand. It means Porto are on a 16 match winning run in the league.
It also means they have won all their home games in the league this season and extending it back into the previous campaign they have won 16 matches in a row here. The last time they dropped points was just under a year ago, ironically a goalless draw against Sporting.
Following Luis Diaz’ move to Liverpool last month there is some concern as to how Porto react to that loss and this will be the first test of that.
Sporting Lisbon Preview – Can Sporting win to half the deficit at the top and improve their chance of retaining the title?
It was a memorable title triumph for Sporting Lisbon last season, their first in 19 years and supporters would have been hoping that it was the start of a sustained run of success. For long spells of this season they have been at the top of the league and looking to retain the title. However, a couple of slips to begin this year have now left them up against it and probably needing to win this game if they are to win successive titles for the first time since 1954.
Sporting have lost two of their last five games, one away to Santa Clara and more recently at home to Sporting Braga.
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Before that, Sporting had been on a winning run of their own of 11 straight victories having earlier only dropped points in two draws at the early stages of the season – one of which was of course against Porto. Ruben Amorim knows he has a big challenge on his hands to not only the reduce the gap but over turn it.
Pote had an incredible campaign last season scoring 23 and finishing top scorer in the Primeira Liga but he has not had quite the same impact this time around, managing just six, only two of them coming in the last 10 games.
Porto vs Sporting Lisbon Betting Advice
Due to how dominant Porto have been this season and dropping points in just a couple of games, a six point lead is more significant than it may seem. Sporting will now that and will believe they have to get a victory otherwise it will be a huge uphill battle for them.
The hosts will hope to be nine points clear come full time but a draw wouldn’t be the worst result for them either so a repeat of the 1-1 draw the teams played out in September would be seen as decent.
Key Facts – Porto vs Sporting Lisbon Betting Tip
- Porto’s last defeat in the domestic league was in October 2020 (49 matches ago)
- Sporting have lost two of their last five league games to concede ground in the title race
- There was nothing to separate the teams in the first meeting, playing out a 1-1 draw in Lisbon
The absence of Luis Diaz is the one reason for not selecting Porto to take the win here. It is the first big game without their talisman and raises enough doubt to leave alone. Instead, eight of Porto’s last 10 home games have had three or more goals and the same in seven of Sporting’s last 11 away. Back over 2.5 goals here.
Best Betting Odds for Porto vs Sporting Lisbon
