Sporting Lisbon vs Roma

Estádio Do Algarve plays host to a mouth-watering pre-season encounter between Sporting Lisbon and Roma.

If football follows the script, the Estádio Do Algarve faithful could be in for a tight, keenly-contested fixture, as both Sporting Lisbon’s summer friendlies have seen them turn a 1-0 halftime lead into a 1-1 draw. Despite their sub-par off-season performances, the ‘Leoes’ go into this match-up unbeaten in six matches (W4, D2), conceding under 1.5 goals in five. Sporting’s defensive stubbornness bodes well for their bid to extend their two-game unbeaten streak against Roma in pre-season friendlies (W1, D1), both of which saw them score precisely twice. Playing on home turf comes in handy, with Ruben Amorim’s team going undefeated in four consecutive outings in front of the home crowd (W2, D2).

Meanwhile, visiting Roma have excelled during their pre-season preparations, racking up a pair of 2-0 victories over Sunderland and Portimonense in their opening two summer fixtures. Fresh from lifting their maiden continental silverware last season, courtesy of a 1-0 triumph over Feyenoord in the Europa Conference League showpiece, ‘I Giallorossi’ are looking to mount a genuine Serie A top-four challenge next term. The imminent arrival of ex-Juventus stalwart Paulo Dybala should help improve Jose Mourinho’s firepower up front, with Roma netting under 1.5 goals in eight of their last 11 outings. Including the abovementioned Europa Conference League success, each of Roma’s five previous matches outside the Stadio Olimpico has the loser failed to score (W4, L1).