Sporting Lisbon go face Torreense for Taca de Portugal final

Sporting Lisbon dey set to defend dia Taca de Portugal trophy when dem go face second-tier side Torreense for Sunday final at Estadio Nacional. Di Lions don lift di trophy 18 times, including last season wen dem beat rivals Benfica for dramatic extra-time victory. Now dem go meet Torres Vedras side wey hope to pull off one of di biggest upsets for di competition recent history.

Sporting head into Sunday showpiece as clear favourites. Dem dey aim to salvage silverware from wetin be relatively underwhelming campaign after failing to retain last season double of Primeira Liga and Taca de Portugal. Di Lions still dey compete on three fronts late into season, but dia challenge unravelled for April wen dem manage only two wins from eight matches across all competitions, plus four draws and two losses. Dat lead to exits from both Champions League and Primeira Liga title race.

However, Rui Borges side still secure place for another Taca de Portugal final during dat spell. Dem hold Porto to goalless draw for semi-final second leg after edging first leg 1-0 for early March. Dat underline far-from-smooth route to di showpiece. Indeed, di Lions need extra time to pass Pacos de Ferreira, Santa Clara and AVS for di previous rounds. Marinhense be di only side dem beat comfortably for dis season Taca de Portugal, though di Lisbon giants head into Sunday final for explosive form.

Sporting don win each of dia last three matches, scoring combined 12 goals and conceding only twice for dat stretch. Di latest na 3-0 thrashing of Gil Vicente on final day of league campaign to secure second place for Primeira Liga table. Dat offer further confidence to Borges and im men for wetin already look like uneven contest.

For Torreense side wey dey appear for only dia second-ever Taca de Portugal final — first since dem lose to Porto for 1956 — di journey to dis season showpiece don be extraordinary. Dem scale past Correlha, Lusitania, Casa Pia, Leiria and Oliveirense before beating Fafe 3-1 on aggregate for di semi-finals. After 1-1 draw for first leg for Braga district, Luis Tralhao men make home advantage count for return fixture, beating dia third-tier visitors 2-0 at Estadio Manuel Marques thanks to late strike from David Bruno and stoppage-time penalty from Stopira.

Dat result form part of ongoing seven-match unbeaten run, wit five wins and two draws. Di spell see Torreense finish third for Liga 2 table and secure playoff shot at first-ever top-flight appearance, wit Casa Pia standing between dem and promotion. Di opening fixture of dat two-legged decider end goalless at Manuel Marques on Wednesday, further underlining Torreense defensive solidity. Di side dey keep clean sheets for five of dia last seven matches, and Tralhao men go hope dat resilience fit carry dem through on Sunday as dem look to make history.

Sporting dey expected to remain without Ivan Fresneda, Joao Simoes, Fotis Ioannidis and Nuno Santos. Zeno Debast also be major doubt wit femur injury. On positive note, centre-back Ousmane Diomande dey available again after serving one-match suspension for accumulation of bookings, though e remain to see weda e or Eduardo Quaresma go partner Goncalo Inacio for heart of defence. Club captain Morten Hjulmand mark im return from injury wit goal for last weekend win, while Luis Suarez also get on scoresheet to finish as Primeira Liga top scorer wit 28 strikes, taking im overall tally to 37 across all competitions, including three for Taca de Portugal.

Torreense, meanwhile, dey sweat over fitness of Brazilian midfielder Guilherme Liberato, wey dem force off for Wednesday playoff clash wit Casa Pia. If dem rule am out, Andre Simoes fit join Leo Silva for double pivot. Oda expected absentees include Portuguese midfielder Pite and Spanish forward Manuel Pozo, both of wey don dey miss from recent matchday squads.

Sunday final dey pit heavyweight Sporting side against second-tier Torreense, wey go likely lean on dia defensive solidity for any chance of causing upset. Di Lions finish di Primeira Liga season for strong attacking form, and we expect dem to prove too strong for dia opponents, wey also arrive wit less recovery time, making comfortable Sporting victory di most likely outcome.