Sporting CP vs Vizela Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Portuguese Primeira Liga
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
THE FACTS
When is Sporting CP vs Vizela on and what time does it start? Sporting CP vs Vizela will take place on Saturday 12th August, 2023 – 20:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Sporting CP vs Vizela? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Sporting CP vs Vizela on in the UK? Some Portuguese Primeira Liga matches are televised on either TNT Sports or Viaplay Sports in the UK so it is worth checking their schedules
Where can I Sporting CP vs Vizela in the UK? If televised on either TNT Sports or Viaplay Sports, the match can be streamed on their respective streaming platforms
THE LOWDOWN
SPORTING CP
Ruben Amorim remains in charge of Sporting CP with his stock falling over the last 12 or so months. Still regarded as one of the bright young coaches in European football, Amorim oversaw Leoes falling out of the top three last season, finishing below Braga, and therefore failing to qualify for the UEFA Champions League; as well as being knocked out in the group stages of the competition initially.
This summer, they have spent relatively big with around 29 million euros on incomings. Francisco Trincao has signed for 7 of those million, making last season’s loan deal a permanent move from Barcelona. The impressive addition of Viktor Gyokeres has caught the eye, though, with the capital city club beating off Premier League competition for the Sweden striker’s signature. He has joined from Coventry City for around £20.5 million.
VIZELA
Vizela had a bizarre campaign last season as they avoided relegation but consistently underwhelmed and underperformed with their performances, moving on from Alvaro Pacheco as manager in the first-half of the season to Tulipa in the second. The latter has now been replaced by the left-field appointment of Pablo Villar. Villar was most recently the manager of Riteriai in Lithuania and has also been in charge at Ribadedeva, Luarca, Tineo, Urraca and Pohronie, as well as assistant at Huesca, Lorca, Karpaty Lviv and Qingdao Hainiu.
The unpredictability of what Villar will be able to achieve with this Vizela side is therefore something that will be a concern for a team that finished 11th last season but collected just two points from their final seven matches.
THE TEAM NEWS
SPORTING CP
Ruben Amorim has gained his reputation for being such an interesting coach by playing an innovative three at the back system which can be very flexible in possession. He has a, pretty much, fully fit squad bar an injury to Jeremiah St. Juste.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Adan; Inacio, Diomande, Coates; Camacho, Morita, Goncalves, Reis; Edwards, Gyokeres, Santos
UNAVAILABLE: St. Juste (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
VIZELA
Albeit with limited, pretty much no, experience in a major European league, Pedro Villar has a preferred formation of a 4-4-1-1 system. He has a fully fit and available squad ahead of this weekend.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-1-1): Buntic; Silva, Wilson, Anderson, Lebedenko; Moreira, Bustamante, Alvarado, Saint-Louis; Samu; Bondoso
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Ruben Amorim’s side will be expecting to mount a serious and sustained title challenge this season but, as has been in recent years, the pace that gets set at the top-of-the-table is very difficult to maintain throughout the season. They do begin against a Vizela side that are expected to struggle throughout the campaign and they are one of the heavy favourites for relegation. A comfortable Sporting CP win is the expected outcome for this opening day clash.
TIP: SPORTING CP TO WIN
