FC Porto vs Sporting Lisbon Predictions

• The last four Primeira Liga clashes between these two clubs have been drawn.
• In four out of the past five seasons, the first league meeting between these two clubs has finished all square.
• Sporting have avoided defeat in 17 of their last 18 away league games while Porto’s last league defeat at the Dragao was in October 2020 – 35 home games ago.

Proud rivals’ records suggest neither will lose

The betting value lies almost entirely on the draw when the two top teams in Portugal meet in a way-too-early clash for Primeira Liga supremacy on Saturday night. Porto are machine-like in their ability to turn in victories at home and last felt the pain of defeat at the Dragao back in October 2020.

Sergio Conceicao has assembled a superb team and they clinched the double in 2021-22 by outpacing former champions Sporting over the first half of the season when the Lions were distracted by the Champions League. The two league meetings between the title rivals were closely-fought contests with Luis Diaz clinching a point for Porto in Lisbon when they met i September before a fiery encounter at the Dragao in February ended 2-2 with it all going off.

Pepe, one of the five players red carded during and in the aftermath of that game, has only just returned from the suspension. And he’s likely to play as Conceicao goes with a tried and trusted formula that will see Evanilson partner Mehdi Taremi up top. The Dragons boss has been holding back summer signing David Carmo, although he could be tempted to deploy him instead of veteran centre-back Ivan Marcano, who has been playing well.

Neither coach can claim the upper hand

Ruben Amorim has been dealt a blow with the news that striker Paulinho is unfit for the game, although Sporting might be better off flooding the midfield and using pace out wide to spring counter attacks. The Lions are in good shape after a 3-0 home win over Rio Ave and wide forward Pote remains as deadly as ever for them.

These two coaches might not shake hands on a draw beforehand, but neither would say no to an offer of a point and move on to the next game. Neither of the has really been able to gain the upper hand tactically in the last four meetings – all draws – and that looks the safest play here again.

A 1-1 draw seems to hit the mark for correct score betting as neither team rarely fail to score. Porto kept clean sheets in less than half of their home games last season and Sporting conceded multiple goals in only three of their 17 road games.

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