Sporting Lisbon 3/5 to beat Santa Clara in Friday’s Primeira Liga matchup

Competition: Primeira Liga

Market: Sporting Lisbon win

Odds: 3/5 @ Bet 365

All but securing another European finish this season, home specialists Sporting Lisbon will welcome Santa Clara to an empty Estádio José Alvalade on Friday night.

Starting with the hosts, while Sporting Lisbon might have been disappointed to have only collected a point away at Moreirense earlier in the week, the Lions have really laid down a marker since returning from the enforced break. Now with their sights set on mounting a late charge for that final Champions League spot, Rúben Amorim’s side hold what is a growing reputation from across Europe for their stunning record on home soil. Winning each of their last three appearances at the Estádio José Alvalade since the interruption, Sporting have now remarkably won each of their previous eight straight home fixtures and have conceded just a single strike in over 450 minutes of action in Lisboa.

As for the visitors, putting in what was another sluggish display last week and hit with another 1-0 defeat at home against Marítimo, Santa Clara are a side in desperate need of a bounce. Now in a real battle to keep hold of their top-half status, João Henriques’ side have managed to now win just a pair of their last eight Primeira Liga contests either side of the enforced break. Continuing to show some glaring issues on the road, the Azoreans will also be concerned by what is an abysmal record against the Europen outfit. Hit with what was a 4-0 drumming when they last faced off against Sporting back in December, Santa Clara have now lost each of their last six meetings against Friday’s hosts and should be in for what is another overwhelming test this week.

Bet: Sporting Lisbon 3/5 to beat Santa Clara in Friday’s Primeira Liga matchup @ Bet 365