Porto take on the visitors Sporting in the round 21 match of Liga Portugal. The match will be played on Monday, February 9th at Estádio do Dragão (Porto).
Porto have been going an unacceptably long time, by their current standards, without a new domestic title. Last season both Lisbon giants once again proved stronger. The response was the summer appointment of a young Italian coach, who had worked in France and the Netherlands in a controversial but promising way. In his new role, Porto are competing in the Europa League. There they did not produce perfect statistics, but still achieved solid enough results to reach the play-offs with room to spare. Most importantly, on the domestic stage their numbers have been almost flawless, with only one draw in the Primeira. That made the previous round all the more sensational, as the first defeat was suffered, and it was inflicted on the outright leaders by modest Casa Pia. On top of that, they eliminated Benfica in the cup. The only unpleasant “but” was that the favorite managed to lose to Vitoria Guimaraes in the League Cup, losing the chance to win another trophy. Even so, recent league performances suggest Porto remain extremely reliable over a longer distance. At home, they continue to set the tempo of matches and usually turn pressure into points.
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Sporting (Lisbon) know the value of this clash. The Lions became the best team in the country under Amorim, and even last season, during which Ruben left for Manchester United, they still managed to secure a domestic double. Now, even without a prolific striker leading the line, most of their success has come in the Champions League. There, the Portuguese side won many matches and eventually reached the play-offs without any real tension. On the domestic front, however, they started with a setback, losing the Super Cup to Benfica. That was followed by another disappointment against Guimaraes in the League Cup. Overall, things are going well in the Primeira, it is just that the Dragões have been exceptionally strong. Still, by beating Nacional in the latest round, Sporting closed the gap to their rival, and a win here would tighten the race even further. Their recent results show a team that is gradually gaining momentum after early-season slips. Motivation for this fixture is extremely high, as the outcome can directly influence the title picture.
The Green and Whites had gone seven consecutive head-to-head matches without defeat. However, back in August they lost 1–2 at home to their old rival. The visitors should not be written off, but the Dragons are in full control of the situation. The bet is on Porto to secure a victory in this match.
Prediction for the match: Porto to win.
