Preview: Sporting Lisbon vs. Boavista - prediction, team news, lineups

Sporting Lisbon welcome Boavista to the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Tuesday, with a win sealing the Primeira Liga title for the home side.

With nine points left to play for, Ruben Amorim's side sit eight points clear at the top of the Primeira Liga table, while their visitors are involved in a heated battle for survival at the other end of the Portuguese top flight.

Match preview

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After a slightly inconsistent patch of form, Sporting Lisbon stormed back into form with three consecutive league wins coming into this game, all but confirming the title.

Most recently, Ruben Amorim's men picked up a comfortable 2-0 victory away at Rio Ave, as Pedro Goncalves opened the scoring with a penalty before Paulinho doubled their lead on the hour mark.

That followed an impressive 1-0 win over fourth-placed Braga, despite being reduced to 10 men after 20 minutes, and a 2-0 victory at home to basement side Nacional.

As a result, Os Leoes have moved eight points clear of second-placed Porto, with just two points required to seal their first Portuguese title since 2002, and the 19th in their history.

They have managed to maintain the top spot throughout the campaign by remaining unbeaten in the top flight, having not lost any of their 31 league games so far, picking up an eye-catching tally of 79 points as a result.

That has largely been down to their solid back line, with no side in the Primeira Liga conceding as few as the 15 goals that Amorim's side have shipped in 31 matches, including three consecutive clean sheets coming into this clash.

They take on a Boavista side who are battling to break out of the bottom three with what would be a crucial result on Tuesday.

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The visitors come into this game on the back of consecutive draws, most recently holding Tondela to a 1-1 draw at home.

The game remained goalless until Mario Gonzalez put the away side ahead in the 77th minute, but Alberth Elis netted a late equaliser to snatch a crucial point for Boavista.

Before that, Jesualdo Ferreira's side played out an eye-catching 3-3 draw away at Santa Clara and were on the wrong end of a late equaliser in that encounter.

An Elis brace and a Marco Pereira own goal meant that As Panteras led 3-2 going into the final minutes, but a Fabio Cardoso goal in the 94th minute forced Ferreira's men to share the points.

As a result, their winless run now stands at four games, having picked up just two points in that time, meaning they now occupy the relegation playoff place.

However, As Panteras are by no means condemned to relegation yet, as they sit just one point adrift of automatic safety.

That means Ferreira and his side will be desperate to secure that elusive win to hugely boost their chances of breaking out of the bottom three, although their time is very much limited with just three games of the campaign left to play, including Tuesday's trip to the league leaders.

Team News

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Ruben Amorim is expected to field his strongest possible squad as they look to secure the title, with no fresh injury concerns other than talented right-back Pedro Porro, who could remain out with a muscular issue.

In his absence, Joao Pereira could start again on the right-hand side, while 18-year-old Nuno Mendes has shone on the opposite flank with some impressive performances this campaign.

Amorim is expected to stick with the familiar back three of Zouhair Feddal, Goncalo Inacio and captain Sebastian Coates.

At the other end of the pitch, Paulinho will lead the line with the support of Pedro Goncalves, who netted his 18th league goal of the season last time out.

Boavista should line up with the established back three of Cristian Devenish, Adil Rami and Chidozie Awaziem, as they look to limit the chances of the league leaders.

Their squad will be boosted by the return of Nuno Santos, who served a suspension last time out after he was shown a red card in the draw with Santa Clara, despite not making it onto the pitch.

Alberth Elis will lead the line with confidence, having netted three goals in the last two games.

Sporting Lisbon possible starting lineup:
Adan; Inacio, Coates, Feddal; Pereira, Palhinha, Mario, Mendes; Goncalves, Paulinho, Santos

Boavista possible starting lineup:
Leonardo; Devenish, Rami, Awaziem; Cannon, Paulinho, Perez, Sauer, Mangas; Elis, Gomes

We say: Sporting Lisbon 2-0 Boavista

Boavista will definitely battle hard as they desperately look to avoid the drop, but we see Os Leoes being too strong for Ferreira's men on Tuesday.

The incentive of confirming the title should provide enough encouragement to see Amorim's men over the line, especially considering their impressive defensive form coming into this encounter.