[2:45 PM] Real Madrid @ Sporting CP

What will be the match result?

Real Madrid: Win

@ Sporting CP: Win or Draw

 

Recent Results:

Real Madrid: 4-1-0

Sporting CP: 2-2-1

 

• Sergio Ramos could not recover in time to face Atletico Madrid on Saturday and remains a slight doubt for Tuesday’s encounter with Sporting. Toni Kroos is still injured, while Pepe is and Casemiro are also expected to miss out. Alvaro Morata picked up a hamstring injury during the international break and is ruled out for a month. Cristiano Ronaldo scored three against Atletico at the weekend in a central striking role, as Karim Benzema was not fit enough to start. The Frenchman is expected to return to the starting XI here, which would push Ronaldo back out to the left.

• Sporting warmed up for the reception of Real Madrid with a 5-1 win in the cup at the weekend, in which Jefferson made his first appearance since the end of September. It may be too early to throw him in from the start against Madrid, in which case Marvin Zeegleaar will continue at left-back. They could revert to a back four against Madrid following an experiment with a three-man defence last time out in the Champions League.

• Sporting have been relatively unlucky in this group stage campaign to only have three points from their four matches. However, they weren’t expected to trouble Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund for the top two spots and are still on course to finish third and drop into the Europa League, which would have been the club’s realistic ambition once the group was drawn.

• Real Madrid produced their best display of the season when they thrashed city rivals Atletico Madrid 3-0 at the weekend and they will be high in confidence heading into this fixture. They were fortunate to beat Sporting in the reverse fixture but are in a better place coming into this match, even if they are without some big players. They are unbeaten on the road in all competitions this season and should continue that record in Portugal.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Real Madrid: Win

Confidence: 6/10

Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Previous Pick
Next Pick