Sporting Lisbon vs Villarreal

Out-of-form Villarreal take a trip to the Estádio José Alvalade to encounter high-flying Sporting Lisbon in a summer friendly.

Sporting CP’s eye-catching pre-season has gone into advanced stages as Pablo Amorim’s men head into proceedings unbeaten in all five summer friendlies (W3, D2), including an overwhelming 3-0 victory over La Liga powerhouse Real Sociedad. While both their pre-season draws yielded an identical 1-1 scoreline, all three wins came via a three-goal margin, though it’s worth noting two weren’t played in a 2×45-minute format. Nonetheless, ‘Los Leoes’ will take the field in the midst of a purple patch, having gone unbeten in their last 13 outings (W8, D5) since a 1-0 loss at Juventus in the Europa League quarter-finals. That stomach-wrenching defeat remains Sporting’s only scoring blank in 15 matches, a run stretching back to early April.

On the other hand, Villarreal’s busted attempt to secure Champions League football, courtesy of a fifth-place finish in the 2022/23 La Liga season, has clipped their wings, as evidenced by their disappointing pre-season start. Except for a thumping 3-0 win over Austrian minnows Altach, Quique Setine’s lads have gone wnless in their remaining three summere friendlies (D1, L2). While ‘El Submarino Amarillo’ cant’ complain about a 1-1 draw against defending Eredivisie champions Feyenoord last time out, a brace of 3+ goal margin defeats to Hannover 96 and St Gallen exposed numerous flaws within the squad. Without last season’s standout performers Nicolas Jackson and Samuel Chukwueze, who have joined Chelsea and AC Milan, respectively, things could get worse before they get better.