Sporting and Porto face off in a thrilling Taça da Liga semifinal on January 7, 2024. Find out where to watch the match live, the lineup details, match preview, and more ahead of this exciting clash between Portugal’s top two teams.
Sporting vs Porto: Taça da Liga Semifinal – Live Stream, Lineups, and Preview
Date: Tuesday, January 7, 2024
Time: 16:45 (Brasília time) / 19:45 (Lisbon time)
Venue: Estádio Doutor Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal
Sporting and Porto are set to clash in the semifinal of the 2024/25 Taça da Liga Portuguesa on Tuesday, January 7, in what promises to be an exciting match between two of the top clubs in Portugal. With both teams looking to continue their strong campaigns in the domestic competitions, this game is sure to provide plenty of drama and intensity. Here’s everything you need to know about where to watch, the starting lineups, and more!
Where to Watch Sporting vs Porto
- In Brazil: The match will be broadcast live by NSports, available through cable TV and YouTube (you can find the full daily schedule here).
- In Portugal: Fans can tune in on SIC or Sport TV, both of which hold the broadcast rights for the game.
Match Preview
This semifinal pits the current Primeira Liga leaders, Sporting, against Porto, who are right behind them in second place but with a game in hand. Sporting enters the match as the defending champions of the Primeira Liga and has been in solid form recently, going unbeaten in their last five games under head coach Rui Borges. Viktor Gyökeres, the team’s top scorer with 30 goals in 28 appearances this season, will be their main attacking threat.
Porto, managed by Vítor Bruno, has been slightly less consistent this season but remains a formidable opponent. While their league campaign has seen them fall short of taking the lead, their attention is now firmly focused on the Taça da Liga, especially after being knocked out of the Copa de Portugal earlier in the season. This makes the tournament an important opportunity for Porto to secure silverware this season.
Both teams have an extensive history of head-to-head encounters. Across 251 official meetings, Porto has won 93 times, while Sporting has triumphed 85 times, with 73 draws. Recent form between the two sides has been fairly even, with two wins each and one draw in their last five encounters. The winner of this semifinal will face the victor of the other semifinal, between Benfica and Braga, in the final.
Expected Lineups
Sporting (4-3-3 formation):
- Goalkeeper: Franco Israel
- Defenders: Quaresma, Diomandé, St. Juste, Matheus Reis
- Midfielders: Geny Catamo, Hjulmand, Morita, Quenda
- Forwards: Trincão, Gyökeres
- Coach: Rui Borges
Porto (4-3-3 formation):
- Goalkeeper: Diogo Costa
- Defenders: Martim Fernandes, Nehuén Pérez, Otávio, Galeno
- Midfielders: Nico González, Eustáquio, Mora
- Forwards: Fábio Vieira, Samu Aghehowa, Pepê
- Coach: Vítor Bruno
Key Absences
- Sporting: Coach Rui Borges will be without defenders Gonçalo Inácio and Nuno Santos, midfielder Daniel Bragança, and winger Pedro Gonçalves “Pote”, all of whom are sidelined with injuries.
- Porto: The Porto squad will miss Wendell (Brazilian left-back), defender Iván Marcano, left-back Francisco Moura, and midfielder Marko Grujić, who are all unavailable due to injury.
Head-to-Head Record
- Total Meetings: 251
- Porto Wins: 93
- Sporting Wins: 85
- Draws: 73
- Last 5 Encounters: 2 wins for each team and 1 draw.
Match Importance
This semifinal is not just about securing a spot in the final but also serves as a key psychological battle between two of the biggest rivals in Portuguese football. Sporting will be eager to maintain their momentum and further assert their dominance in domestic football, while Porto is under pressure to secure a major title after their early elimination in the Copa de Portugal.
Both teams have the quality to win this match, with Sporting relying on Gyökeres’ goal-scoring prowess and Porto seeking to use their attacking depth, led by the likes of Fábio Vieira and Pepê, to break down the opposition.
When and Where Is the Game?
- Date: January 7, 2024
- Kick-Off Time: 16:45 (Brasília) / 19:45 (Lisbon)
- Venue: Estádio Doutor Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal
Conclusion
This will be a thrilling encounter between two of Portugal’s elite clubs, with both teams battling for a spot in the Taça da Liga final. Sporting enters as slight favorites given their current form, but Porto has the experience and quality to cause an upset. Don’t miss this exciting clash – tune in to the live broadcast through the platforms listed above to catch all the action as it unfolds.
