Nacional vs Sporting CP Prediction, Preview, Predicted Lineups and Team News | Liga Portugal

• Competition: Liga Portugal
• Date: Saturday, 23 August 2025
• Kick-off Time: 3:00 pm GMT
• Venue: Estadio da Madeira, Funchal, Portugal

Matchday three of the 2025/26 Liga Portugal season will include Nacional welcoming Sporting CP at Estádio da Madeira on Saturday afternoon. Nacional, currently in the 14th spot in the table, will face an uphill task while welcoming the table-toppers, Sporting Lisbon. The visitors are also the defending league champions and have made a statement start to the new season. The Nacional vs Sporting CP fixture should be a comfortable outing for the latter.

Inconsistencies and mixed results have marked the recent matches of Nacional. In the last six matches, the club has managed two victories, three defeats and a draw. During this period, the team has scored nine goals and conceded nine. Nacional gained promotion to the top tier of Portuguese football last season after three years in the second division and managed to maintain its place in the Liga Portugal. Coach Tiago Margarido will be confident in accomplishing a step further this time around. Nacional was only able to manage a draw on matchday two against Rio Ave.

The start of the season was an unpleasant one for the Sporting Lisbon fans. The club lost the Super Cup final to its fiercest rivals, Benfica. However, the players and the coaching staff have not allowed that disappointment to dictate the opening games in the league. Sporting Lisbon has won the opening two games, scoring eight goals in the process and conceding none. The displays are a clear indication that the club will not allow the talk around the club's transfer business to play any part in the ambitions and goals for the campaign. The upcoming fixture will be crucial, especially in light of the matchday four contest against title contenders, Porto.

Nacional Team News

Ulisses Rocha (Suspended) and Miguel Baeza (Thigh Injury) will be the names absent for Nacional against Sporting CP. The hosts are expected to go in with a classic 4-3-3 formation, highlighted by a three-man midfield.

Sporting CP Team News

Rui Borges will have a plethora of injuries and suspensions to deal with ahead of the matchday three encounter against Nacional. The coach will not be able to call upon the services of Matheus, Daniel Braganca, Maximiliano Araujo, Nuno Santos, and Ousmane Diomande.

Nacional vs Sporting CP Predicted Lineups

Here is a detailed look at the Nacional vs Sporting CP Predicted Lineups

Nacional Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Franca

Defenders: Aurelio, Santos, Vitor, Gomes

Midfielders: Liziero, Dias, Labidi

Forwards: Boia, Ramirez, Witi

Sporting CP Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Silva

Defenders: Fresneda, Debast, Inacio, Mangas

Midfielders: Hjulmand, Morita, Trincao

Forwards: Catamo, Goncalves, Suarez

Nacional vs Sporting CP H2H Record

Overall, in the last five games between the two sides, the defending champions, Sporting Lisbon, have won all five matches.

Key Players to Watch in Nacional vs Sporting CP

Pedro Goncalves (Sporting CP)

Sporting CP's biggest loss during this summer transfer window was the departure of Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal. The striker had recorded a staggering 54 goals last season along with 12 assists, leaving a big gap in terms of statistics and impact. Sporting CP has so far entrusted Luis Suarez to that position. However, Sporting fans will believe that it is the perfect opportunity for Pedro Goncalves to come good as the main man for Sporting. Goncalves has been a part of the club since 2020 and has regularly gotten impressive numbers, except for last season when he could only score six goals. A player of his talent will want to amass more goal contributions than that. He is deployed as the left winger in the starting XI.

Goncalo Inacio (Sporting CP)

Goncalo Inacio looks to be the next big thing coming out of Sporting CP. The 23-year-old has been a part of the club throughout his senior professional career. The 23-year-old has a wonderful left foot and is capable of building out attacks from the back. Inacio has also become a key part of the Portuguese National Team. He is always heavily involved in the play at Sporting Lisbon and is also a good old-fashioned defender.

Nacional vs Sporting CP Prediction

The visitors, Sporting CP, will have far too much in the tank for Nacional to handle. The reigning champions have already delivered two scintillating performances and will be confident to continue on that path.

Here is a detailed overview of the Nacional vs Sporting CP Prediction

Predicted Score: Nacional 0-3 Sporting CP

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