Vitoria Guimaraes take on the visitors Sporting Lisbon in the round 15 match of Liga Portugal. The match will be played on Tuesday, December 23rd at Estádio D. Afonso Henriques (Guimarães).
Vitoria Guimaraes have never been viewed as a domestic giant. However, in recent years they got their fans used to regular participation in European competitions, even though last spring they finished only in sixth place. This season started with performances and results typical of a mid-table side. Still, some progress has been visible closer to winter, giving hope of at least matching the 2024/2025 outcome. It is also worth remembering their recent League Cup sensation, where they eliminated Porto. In the previous round against Rio Ave, they secured a narrow but important victory. However, the cup tie against AVS ended in a 0–1 defeat and elimination. Recent league results show improved stability compared to the early months. At the same time, inconsistency in knockout matches highlights that the team are still far from peak form.
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Sporting (Lisbon) are facing a new challenge. Last season, the Lions rather unexpectedly lost their successful coach Ruben Amorim right in the middle of the campaign. This did not go unnoticed and even resulted in a winter League Cup defeat on penalties to Benfica. Still, the main achievement was securing a golden double, finishing ahead of the Eagles both in the Primeira Liga and in the cup. The new football year has been difficult, and the transition has clearly affected consistency. It was no coincidence that they started with a 0–1 loss to a neighbor in the Super Cup, and Porto are currently ahead of them in the league standings. On the positive side, they crushed AVS 6–0 in the previous round. In the Champions League, the Portuguese side have looked competitive, losing only narrowly 1–2 to Bayern. Recently in the cup, they edged past Santa Clara after a dramatic and controversial tie, equalizing very late from the penalty spot before scoring the winner in extra time. Overall, Sporting continue to pick up points but rarely do so without tension. Their recent matches suggest resilience, even if dominance has not always been convincing.
While continuing to win at home, the Green and Whites lost 2–3 away two years ago, and in January finished with a 4–4 draw there. The visitors are clearly the stronger side. The bet is on them to win with a -1 goal handicap.
Prediction for the match: Sporting to win with -1.0 handicap.
