Introduction
The Portuguese Primeira Liga matchday 22 promises a thrilling encounter as Sporting Lisbon hosts Nacional at the José Alvalade Stadium on Saturday, February 18, 2023. Sporting Lisbon, the defending champions, will aim to extend their unbeaten run and maintain their lead at the top of the table, while Nacional will seek to pull further away from the relegation zone.
Match Preview
Sporting Lisbon comes into this match in impressive form, having won their last four league games and nine of their last eleven. They currently sit atop the Primeira Liga standings with 54 points, five points clear of second-placed Porto. Sporting Lisbon's success has been built on a solid defense, which has conceded only 13 goals in 21 league games this season.
Nacional, on the other hand, find themselves in 14th place in the Primeira Liga table with 19 points. They have been struggling for form of late, winning only one of their last five league games. However, Nacional has a strong record against Sporting Lisbon, having won the last two meetings between the two sides.
Key Players
Sporting Lisbon:
Nacional:
Predictions
Sporting Lisbon is the clear favorite to win this match. They are in excellent form, have a strong home record, and have a superior squad to Nacional. However, Nacional has a good record against Sporting Lisbon and will be looking to cause an upset. Nacional will be confident that they can get a result if they can keep Sporting Lisbon's attacking players quiet.
Predicted Score: Sporting Lisbon 2-0 Nacional
Lineups
Sporting Lisbon (4-3-3):
Nacional (4-4-2):
Conclusion
The match between Sporting Lisbon and Nacional promises to be a fascinating encounter. Sporting Lisbon will be looking to extend their unbeaten run and maintain their lead at the top of the table, while Nacional will be seeking to pull further away from the relegation zone. With both teams having something to play for, we can expect a close and exciting match.
