Sporting will invite Santa Clara to the Estádio José Alvalade in the Primeira Liga on Friday. The hosts are second in the league table and trail leaders Porto by seven points, though they have a game in hand. Os Açorianos have won seven of their 27 games and have 28 points.

Leões have won their last two games and registered a 4-1 win over Alverca in the Primeira Liga last month. Pedro Gonçalves bagged a brace, while Luis Javier Suárez and Geny Catamo were on the scoresheet in the second half.

The visitors have enjoyed a great run of form and are unbeaten in their last five games. They extended their winning run in the league to three games in their previous outing, defeating Gil Vicente 1-0 at home. Vinícius Lopes scored a stoppage-time winner, which was allowed after a VAR check.

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Sporting vs Santa Clara Head-to-Head and Key Numbers

• The two teams have met 22 times in all competitions. As expected, the capital club have the lead in the head-to-head record with 18 wins. The visitors have two wins, and two games have ended in draws.
• Leões registered a 2-1 win in the reverse fixture in November and also won the Taca de Portugal round of 16 meeting in December.
• Ten of the last 12 meetings between the two teams have produced over 2.5 goals.
• Santa Clara have won just one of their last 10 away games in all competitions.
• Sporting have won their last eight home games in all competitions, keeping five clean sheets in that period.
• The hosts have the best attacking record in the league this season, scoring 68 goals, 44 more than Os Açorianos.
• The visitors have kept just two clean sheets on their travels in the Primeira Liga this season.

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Sporting vs Santa Clara Prediction

Leões are unbeaten in the Primeira Liga since August and are strong favorites. They have won their last eight home games in the Primeira Liga, keeping seven clean sheets.

Geovany Quenda is back after a lengthy layoff and might start from the bench. Giorgi Kochorashvili is expected to sit this one out, while Fotis Ioannidis and Luis Guilherme are also sidelined. Luis Javier Suárez is suspended, and Francisco Trincão is expected to be the only player available in time from the international break.

Os Açorianos are on a three-game winning streak for the first time this season and will look to build on that form. They have won just one of their last nine meetings against the capital club, with that triumph coming on their travels.

Gonçalo Paciência was absent against Gil Vicente and should at least be on the bench for this match.

Considering Leões’ impressive home record in the Primeira Liga this season, we back them to register a comfortable win.

Prediction: Sporting 3-1 Santa Clara

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Sporting vs Santa Clara Betting Tips

Tip 1: Result – Sporting to win

Tip 2: Goals – Over/Under 2.5 Goals – Over 2.5 goals

Tip 3: Both teams to score – Yes

Tip 4: At least one goal to be scored in the second half – Yes