Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Primeira Liga match.
Immediately following João Pereira's departure, Sporting Lisbon secured a significant triumph by defeating Benfica (1:0) in the derby. Now, Rui Borges’ coaching staff faces a test on the road against Vitória de Guimarães—the very club Borges managed before his move to Sporting.
Vitória de Guimarães
A surprising change in the coaching staff left Vitória de Guimarães winless for the fourth consecutive round, as they shared the spoils with Farense (2:2), a team in the playoff zone. In their last five Primeira Liga matches, the team have conceded seven goals—the worst record among those who gathered 6+ points in that span. They are missing four injured players, with the backline suffering the most from these absences.
Sporting Lisbon
The derby victory over Benfica allowed Sporting to maintain their lead in the Portuguese league, although they only edge out Porto on tiebreakers, with both on 40 points. Sporting still boast the best attack in the tournament (44 goals in 16 matches), with top scorer Viktor Gyökeres leading by five goals over second place (18+3). It seems Rui Borges’ staff have quickly adapted to Sporting's stylistic demands.
Vitória de Guimarães vs Sporting Lisbon Prediction
Since March 2022, Sporting have claimed four victories over Vitória de Guimarães in five games, scoring 2+ goals in each encounter. It is evident that the Lisbon side will exploit their opponents’ defensive troubles again with ease.
