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Sports Mole previews Saturday's Primeira Liga clash between Sporting Lisbon and Chaves, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Sporting Lisbon and Chaves draw the curtain on the 2023-24 Primeira Liga campaign when they square off at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Saturday.

Both sides have had contrasting campaigns, with the hosts storming to their first league title since 2021 while the Flavienses have seen their two-year stint in the top flight come to an end.

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Match preview

Sporting Lisbon made it six wins on the bounce against Estoril Praia last Saturday when they picked up a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Canarinhos at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota.

Despite being in the ascendancy for most of the game, Sporting Lisbon were repelled by a well-drilled Estoril defence but substitute Paulinho broke the deadlock with nine minutes left in the game to hand the hosts their 18th league defeat.

Sporting have also gone 20 back-to-back league games unbeaten, claiming a staggering 18 and two draws since December's narrow 3-2 defeat against Vitoria de Guimaraes at the Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques.

Having guided the Leoes to their 20th Primeira Liga title, Ruben Amorim will hope that his side can finish the league campaign on a high ahead of their Taca de Portugal final against Porto on May 26.  

The home side will also look to put the cherry on the cake by finishing the league campaign with a perfect home record as they head into the weekend on a run of 16 wins in 16 league games at the Estadio Jose Alvalade so far.  

On the other hand, a deflated Chaves side were left empty handed once again as they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Famalicao at the Estadio Municipal Eng. Manuel Branco Teixeira last Friday.

Teenage midfielder Gustavo Sa came up trumps for Famalicao as he netted the only goal of the game right on the stroke of half time to hand them their 10th win of the season and seal their top-half finish.

Chaves have now lost three games on the spin, conceding seven goals and scoring just once in that time, and have failed to win 10 of their 11 outings, picking up just six points from a possible 33 since mid-February.

This poor late-season form has seen Joao Teixeira's men plunge to the bottom of the table, bringing their stint in the Portuguese top flight to an end just one 12 months after securing an impressive seventh-placed finish in 2022-23.  

Chaves' underwhelming campaign has been owing to their struggles at both ends of the pitch as they have netted the fewest number of goals so far (31) while shipping 69 at the back — only Portimonense (71) have conceded more goals this season.

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Team News

Sporting Lisbon will take to the pitch without the services of first-choice goalkeeper Antonio Adan, who suffered a season-ending thigh injury in February.

Second-choice goalkeeper Franco Israel missed the game against Estoril last time out due to a knee injury, meaning that 19-year-old Diogo Pinto will start between the sticks once again.

Viktor Gyokeres's 27 league goals has seen him clinch the Primeira Liga Golden Boot in what has been an outstanding campaign and the Swedish striker will be one to keep an eye on.

Meanwhile, Nigerian defender Junior Pius is expected to be involved for Chaves this weekend, having sat out last Friday's game against Famalicao due to a one-game suspension.

Hector Hernandez has been a bright spark for the Flavienses despite their disappointing campaign and the Spanish forward, who has 14 goals and one assist in the league, should lead the attack once again.

At the opposite end of the pitch, we expect an unchanged back four of Joao Correia, Ygor Nogueira, Vasco Fernandes and Sandro Cruz, with 28-year-old Rodrigo Nascimento starting between the sticks once again.

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Pinto; Diomande, Inacio, Coates; Esgaio, Morita, Braganca, Reis; Trincao, Gyokeres, Goncalves

Chaves possible starting lineup:
Nascimento; Correia, Nogueira, Fernandes, Cruz; Essugo, Guzzo, Nwakali; Ribeiro, Hernandez, Sanca

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We say: Sporting Lisbon 2-0 Chaves

Sporting Lisbon have enjoyed a terrific campaign, storming to the league title with an eight-point lead over their closest rival. Amorim's side will look to close out the season on a high and we see them doing just that against a deflated Chaves side who will be playing in the second tier next season.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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