Sporting CP vs Praiense Predictions, Betting Tips & Match Preview

This cup tie is a real David vs Goliath occasion. Sporting are looking to seal a place in the last 16 of the Taca de Portugal. They won this competition in 2015, can they manage to repeat that success this season? Given that the Lisbon club have fallen off the pace in the league, they’ll be looking to this competition as a big chance for them to pick up some silverware.

In order to do that, they’ll have to see off minnows Praiense. The visitors play in the third tier of Portuguese football. However, that doesn’t mean this would be a shock similar to Bradford’s FA Cup win at Chelsea. The gap between these two sides is even bigger than that.

Praiense are one of 80 teams who make up the Campeonato de Portugal. That is split up into eight separate divisions of 10 teams. The level below is made up of regional district leagues within Portugal. The visitors play at a 1500 seater stadium, while they have a pretty unremarkable history. They’ve won the third division just once since being founded in 1947.

This is quite a change from the Champions League opposition Sporting have faced this season. Praiense are miles behind the teams in Liga NOS, never mind Europe’s top competition. There’s quite a difference between this game, and Sporting’s match at home to Real Madrid next week. How will they warm up for that massive game?

If Sporting carry on their league form, this could be a rout. They’ve been in great scoring form against top tier opposition in Portugal. They’ve hit 2.5 goals per league game in their fixtures at Estádio José Alvalade and haven’t lost a home match in the Primeira Liga, while they’ve won 83% of those games.

Sporting have roughly 12 shots a game in the top flight, while they’ve averaged 13 shots in their Champions League home games so far. They convert 19% of their chances in front of their own fans, and they restrict their opponents to just six shots here. On top of that, they’ve recorded 62% possession in the league at the José Alvalade.

With those stats expect them to completely dominate their lower league opponents. Given the huge gulf in class, we suggest backing Sporting to win with a -3 handicap. That’s priced at 13/10 with bet365.