Domestic action returns to Portugal with the League Cup taking center stage and in Group B, Sporting Lisbon start their cup defence with a home game against Farense. The last time Sporting played, they beat Famalicao 2-1 away from home for their second straight win and it is their defending they will hope is fixed, coming into this game. They have one clean sheet only in the last five matches, but they’ve failed to score in just one of their last five matches. Each of the last three matches Sporting have played in, have registered three or more goals. This season so far, things haven’t really worked well for Sporting in the league as they are fourth, 12 points behind league leaders Benfica. Sporting, however, have a great run in the League Cup, unbeaten in seven matches, and having lost just one of their last 10 matches in the competition.
Farense play in the Portuguese second tier, and they are gunning for promotion. They will cherish the chance to test themselves against the best of Portuguese football. In their last outing, mid of November, Farense registered a 3-1 win over Trofense and they come into this game unbeaten in their last two games. That was their third win in five games and also the third time they scored two or more goals in the three matches. They have three clean sheets in the last five matches and only failed to score in one of the five while two of their last three matches have produced over 2.5 goals. In League Cup action, three of Farense’s last five matches have ended in draws and proceeded to post-match penalties and they lost two. They have just one outright win in their last five League Cup games.
Farense are hoping to cause an upset here as they start their League Cup campaign against the holders. They will be hoping to improve on their unimpressive run in this competition, but they have to be at their best here. Sporting have struggled a bit this season and will feel this is a winnable game. It is Farense’s scoring form that should worry Sporting, who have just one clean sheet in five games. In Sporting’s run in defence, and Farense’s attack, we will go for over 2.5 goals here.