Taca de Portugal | Round of 16

Dec 18, 2024 at 8.45pm UK

Estadio Jose Alvalade

Sporting Lisbonvs.Santa Clara

Match preview

Sporting Lisbon's form has taken a nosedive since the departure of Ruben Amorim, with four defeats in the last month, but they bounced back with a 3-2 win over Boavista at the weekend.

That victory was far from convincing, however, as they twice let a goal slip away and needed a Trincao brace to get over the line after Viktor Gyokeres had opened the scoring in the first half.

The goal took Gyokeres' tally for the season to 25 goals in 21 games in all competitions, including 18 in just 14 Primeira Liga appearances.

Much of Os Leoes' recent struggles have been due to their defensive woes, and last time out they conceded two or more goals for the fourth time in their last five games in all competitions.

In the Taca de Portugal, Sporting grabbed a late winner to beat Portimonense 2-1 in their first match of the third round, before going down 6-0 to lowly Amarante in the last round.

Santa Clara, meanwhile, will be the underdogs in this match but will travel to Lisbon with a psychological advantage, having beaten them 1-0 at the same venue at the end of last month.

That result made them the only side to win at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in the top flight this season, and they are now the only team to have beaten Sporting in a league match on their home ground since February 2023.

The victory also came during a four-match winning streak for Os Acorianos, a period which saw them finish in the top four in their first season back in the Primeira Liga.

Despite losing 1-0 away to Arouca at the weekend, Santa Clara have picked up 27 points from their opening 14 league games this term, five more than they managed during their relegation campaign in 2022-23.

The visitors have played 10 away games in all competitions this season, recording five wins and five defeats, with two of those victories coming in the Taca de Portugal, both 1-0 wins over Gondomar and Famalicao.

Recent Performance

Sporting Lisbon Taca de Portugal form:WW

Sporting Lisbon form (all competitions):WLLLLW

Santa Clara Taca de Portugal form:WW

Santa Clara form (all competitions):LWWWWL

Team News

Denmark U-21 striker Conrad Harder has started both of Sporting's games in the competition and is likely to start again this week, having already netted three times.

The hosts will be without at least four players through injury, including Daniel Braganca (muscle), Hidemasa Morita (thigh), Pedro Goncalves (muscle) and Nuno Santos (knee).

Gabriel Silva and Bruno Almeida have scored for Santa Clara in previous rounds of this competition, but the latter is a doubt for this trip after missing last weekend's defeat away to Arouca.

The visitors will also be without defender Diogo Calila and midfielder Pedro Ferreira through suspension, while Pedro Pacheco has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a serious ACL injury.

Possible starting lineup

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:

Kovacevic; Reis, St. Juste, Fresneda, Esgaio; Simoes, Hjulmand, Catamo; Araujo, Harder, Quenda

Santa Clara possible starting lineup:

Neneca; Lima, Soares, Rocha, Pereira; Ferreira, Adriano, Nunes; Silva, Safira, Lopez