AVS vs Sporting Lisbon: Primeira Liga Match Preview and Prediction

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The upcoming Primeira Liga clash between AVS and Sporting Lisbon is set to take place on Sunday, with the visitors seeking to bounce back from their Champions League exit and extend their lead at the top of the table. AVS, on the other hand, is fighting to escape the relegation zone and will be looking to cause an upset against one of the league's top teams. Sporting Lisbon has been in excellent form in the Primeira Liga, with 52 points from 22 matches, and will be looking to do the double over AVS after a 3-0 victory in the reverse fixture.

AVS has struggled for results at the bottom end of the Primeira Liga table and was held to a 1-1 draw by Rio Ave in their last match. The team has failed to taste victory in three consecutive games, claiming one point from the last nine available, and has managed just one win from their most recent 16 matches across all competitions. Rui Ferreira's men are among the favorites to go down come May, and they find themselves in the relegation zone heading into the business end of the season. The team has won just three of their 22 Primeira Liga matches this season, while losing nine and claiming 10 draws to collect 19 points and sit 16th in the table.

Sporting Lisbon's Champions League campaign came to an end in midweek, but the team will be looking to restore some pride and extend their lead at the top of the league table. The Leoes have picked up 52 points from their 22 Primeira Liga matches so far to lead the way at the top of the league standings, two points above rivals Benfica in second place and five above third-placed Braga outside the Champions League qualifying places. However, Sporting will be without several key players, including Jerry St. Juste, Geny Catamo, and Pedro Goncalves, who have been ruled out through muscle injuries. Ousmane Diomande and Morten Hjulmand are both suspended and will sit out Sunday's clash, while Daniel Braganca is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a cruciate ligament injury.

The possible starting lineups for the match are: AVS - Ochoa; Tavares, Santos, Devenish, Rodrigues; Grau, Assuncao, Lopes, Piazon, Mercado; Rodrigues, and Sporting Lisbon - Silva; Fresneda, Debast, Inacio, Araujo; Brito, Simoes; Quaresma, Biel, Quenda; Harder. The match is expected to be a closely contested encounter, with both teams looking to secure all three points. However, given Sporting Lisbon's superior quality and current form, they are likely to emerge victorious. The key to the match will be AVS's ability to contain Sporting Lisbon's attacking threat, while also creating chances of their own. The injuries to several key players for Sporting Lisbon may give AVS some hope, but they will still need to be at their best to secure a positive result.

Some of the recent matches and statistics for the two teams are:

• AVS's last five matches: 1 win, 1 draw, 3 defeats
• Sporting CP's last five matches: 1 win, 3 draws, 1 defeat
• Head-to-head record: Sporting CP has won the last two encounters between the two teams, including a 3-0 victory in the reverse fixture
• AVS has scored 17 goals and conceded 32 in the Primeira Liga this season, while Sporting CP has scored 59 and conceded 18

The match between AVS and Sporting Lisbon is set to be an exciting encounter, with both teams looking to secure all three points. However, given Sporting Lisbon's superior quality and current form, they are likely to emerge victorious.