Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
There will be fireworks when Porto and Sporting CP go head to head at Estadio do Dragao in the Primeira Liga derby. The Dragons are on the right track to regain the domestic trophy, but they can’t afford any complacency in the remainder of the season. The league leaders proved their worth in a 2-0 win over Arouca, but they will have a much bigger fish to fry against the Lions.
Iran attacker Mehdi Taremi, who is back from international duty, is widely expected to return to the starting XI. The title holders, on the other hand, aim to build on back-to-back wins over Belenenses and Famalicao. Sporting CP are eager to melt Porto’s advantage in the Primeira Liga standings, but the share of spoils is on the cards as the two teams seem to be evenly matched at the moment. Ruben Amorim should have a full squad to choose from.
Highlighted Player (Pepe):
Pepe is a professional footballer who plays for Porto as a defender. The Portuguese international played for Maritimo at the start of his senior career and in 2004 he moved to Porto. After making 64 league appearances for the Dragons, he signed a contract with Real Madrid in 2007 and he quickly established himself as a first-team regular.
Pepe is well known for his hard tackles and referees often show him red card. The Real Madrid centre back often played as a defensive midfielder under Jose Mourinho and it has to be noted that he scored five goals in all competitions in the 2013/2014 La Liga campaign.
The Portuguese footballer won his second Champions League trophy with Real Madrid in the 2015/2016 season and later in 2016 he helped A Selecao win the European Championship trophy. Portugal defeated France in the title game and Pepe played an important role in Fernando Santos’ team in the Euro 2016 final. The Real Madrid defender was born in Maceio, Brazil on 26 February, 1983.
Highlighted Team (Sporting):
When it comes to official club members, Portugal giants Sporting Lisbon are the sixth club in the world. Commonly referred to as Leoes which is Portuguese for Lions, Sporting Lisbon were founded in 1906 and are one of the founders of the Primeira Liga.
Sporting’s main rivals are Benfica, with both teams contesting the Lisbon Derby, one of the most fierce ones in Europe. Lions play their games at Estadio Jose Alvelade in front of 50,000 people and are the third most successful club in the country with 46 titles in Portuguese competitions and a title in the European Cup Winner’s Cup from 1963-64.
During this time that is also known as the club’s golden years, Sporting Lisbon won the majority of their 18 Primeira Liga titles in total. Sporting Lisbon boasts the quality football youth academy system which has yielded world-class footballers such as Paulo Furte, Simao Sabrosa, Nani and Ballon d’Or winners Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo.