Our prediction for this Portugal Primeira Liga match:
All eyes will be on Estadio Jose Alvalade when Sporting CP and Porto square off against each other in the Primeira Liga derby. The Lions look unstoppable at the moment, with the team eyeing their fourth consecutive league win, but they will have a big fish to fry in Sunday’s showdown. Former Barcelona forward Trincao is pushing for a start, while Daniel Braganca remains on the sidelines with injury.
The Dragons, on the other hand, are on a four-game winning run in the Portuguese top flight, with the team still breathing down Benfica’s neck. Porto are eager to melt the Eagles’ advantage in the standings, but beating Sporting in Lisbon is easier said than done. Taking everything into account, the share of spoils is on the cards at “Jose Alvalade”. With no fresh injury worries to report, Sergio Conceicao is unlikely to make changes to the team that defeated Vizela, but midfielder Bernardo Folha is back from suspension.
Highlighted Player (Sebastian Coates):
Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, on October 7, 1990, Sebastian Coates is a 196-cm-tall defender who plays for Sporting CP in Primeira Liga. Coates is the product of the hometown club Nacional, and it has to be noted that he scored eight goals in 60 appearances for the capital club in the national championship.
After ending his spell with English club Sunderland, the Uruguay international moved to Portugal, signing a loan deal with Sporting CP in January 2016. He signed a permanent contract with the Lions in February 2017.
Speaking of his international career, Sebastian Coastes made his full Uruguay debut against Chile at the 2011 Copa America. La Celeste won the trophy, with the team beating Paraguay 3-0 in the final of the competition at Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti in Buenos Aires. Coates wears the number 4 shirt at Sporting CP, and his preferred foot is right.
Highlighted Team (Porto):
Futebol Clube do Porto are one of Portugal’s biggest football clubs playing their matches in front of 50,000 people at their Estadio do Dragao. Porto form biggest rivalries with two other Big Three clubs in Portugal and regular league title contenders – Benfica and Sporting CP. Rivalries between the clubs stem from the historical, political, economical and cultural discrepancies between the cities of Porto and Lisbon. The Dragons, as they are commonly known in Portugal, are the second most successful Portuguese team with a total of 74 trophies to their name.
Porto hold a record of five consecutive league titles which are part of the total tally of 27 Primeira Liga trophies. FC Porto’s success extends to the international scene as well with seven European titles. Two-time European champions from 1987 and 2004, Porto also won two UEFA Cup/Europa League titles, the UEFA Super Cup and the International Cup on two occasions. Together with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United, Porto have the most appearances in the UEFA Champions League group stage – the total of 20.