Fresh off the back of a semi-final exit from the Taca de Portugal, Sporting Lisbon take a trip to the Estadio do Bessa to square off against Boavista on Monday.

Os Axadrezados, on the other hand, will be desperate to get one over the visitors, having failed to win any of the last 16 meetings between the sides since 2014.

Match preview

Boavista were denied a third win on the bounce for the first time this season last Saturday as they fell to a humbling 4-0 defeat at the hands of Maritimo.

In a one-sided affair at the Estadio dos Barreiros, Matheus Costa broke the deadlock in the 41st minute before Joel Tagueu scored a hat-trick to hand the hosts their ninth win of the season.

Prior to that, Petit's men ended a three-game winless run when they saw off Famalicao 2-1 on April 2 before returning home to claim a 1-0 victory over Arouca seven days later.

With 33 points from 30 games, Os Axadrezados are currently 12th in the Primeira Liga standings, but could leapfrog Portimonense and Estoril Praia and move into the top half of the table with all three points on Monday.

While Boavista will look to quickly return to winning ways, standing in their way is an opposing side who they have failed to beat in their last 16 attempts since 2014, managing just two draws and losing 14 in that time.

Elsewhere, Sporting Lisbon were dumped out of the Taca de Portugal as they suffered a 1-0 defeat against rivals Porto when the sides met in the second leg of their semi-final clash last Thursday.

Having picked up a 2-1 victory in the reverse leg on March 2, Porto held firm at the Estadio do Dragao to repel the visitors for most of the game before Toni Martinez killed the tie with an 82nd-minute strike.

Ruben Amorim's men now turn their attention to the Primeira Liga, where they were beaten in their most recent outing as Darwin Nunez and Gil Dias scored in either half to hand Benfica a 2-0 victory when the sides met last Sunday.

Sporting Lisbon were previously on an impressive 10-game unbeaten run in the league, claiming eight wins and two draws since a 2-1 home defeat to Braga on January 22.

The Leoes have won 23, drawn four and lost three of their 30 games so far to amass 73 points and sit second in the league standings, nine points off league leaders Porto, who are now one win away from the title.

Team News

Boavista will take to the pitch without the services of Portuguese youngster Tiago Morais after the 18-year-old received his marching orders in last week's game against Maritimo.

On the injury front, Os Axadrezados will have to make do with the absence of French defender Yanis Hamache, who suffered a muscle problem in March's game against Belenenses.

Petit will also be unable to call upon the services of 23-year-old midfielder Miguel Reisinho, who continues his spell on the sidelines after picking up a knee injury last August.

Meanwhile, 33-year-old full-back Zouhair Feddal remains out of contention for Sporting Lisbon after picking up an injury in the game against Moreirense back in March.

Manchester City loanee Pedro Porro, who has made 20 appearances in the Primeira Liga, also misses out as he serves a one-game suspension for seeing red in the cup clash with Porto on Thursday.

In his absence, 28-year-old Ricardo Esgaio will push for a starting role in Amorim's preferred four-man midfield, teaming up with Matheus Reis, Matheus Nunes and Manuel Ugarte.

Boavista possible starting lineup:
D Costa; Sanusi, Pepe, Mbemba, Mario; Vitinha, Grujic; Vieira, Otavio, Pepe; Taremi

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Adnan; Inacio, Coates, Neto; Reis, Nunes, Ugarte, Esgaio; Goncalves, Paulinho, Sarabia

We say: Boavista 0-3 Sporting Lisbon

Sporting Lisbon will be looking to restore some pride following their cup defeat to Porto also condemned them to a second successive loss for the first time since March 2020. Looking at past results between the sides, we are backing Amorim's men to come away with all three points and extend their dominance over the hosts.

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