Sporting CP vs Nacional Predictions, Lineups and Betting Tips

Sporting CP vs Nacional: A Primeira Liga Showdown

Match Details: February 1, 2026 | The City Ground | Primeira Liga | 18:00 GMT

The stage is set for a thrilling encounter between Sporting CP and Nacional at the iconic Estádio José Alvalade on Sunday. Recent form suggests that Sporting CP are the team to beat, while Nacional have been struggling to find consistency. Sporting CP's dominant record against Nacional in head-to-head matches is a significant factor, with the home side emerging victorious in most of their recent meetings. The last meeting between these two sides saw Sporting CP run out as comfortable winners, with a scoreline of 1-4 in favour of the home team. This trend is expected to continue with Sporting CP being the projected winners.

From a tactical standpoint, Sporting CP are likely to dominate possession and create scoring opportunities through their potent attacking plays. Their opponents, will aim to counter this by deploying a more defensive strategy and seeking to catch their hosts off guard with swift counter-attacks. Given their historical performances and current form, the prediction is that Sporting CP will secure a win. However, it would be prudent to also consider the draw as a viable alternative given that Nacional have the capability to pose problems for their hosts. The stage is set for an intriguing contest with both sides having the potential to influence the outcome of this Primeira Liga fixture.

Key Betting Tip: Home Win - Odds: 1.22 represents excellent value based on the tip provided by our team of in-house tipsters.

Predicted Lineups

Sporting (4-2-3-1) Silva, Fresneda, Diomande, Inacio, Araujo, Hjulmand, Simoes, Catamo, Barganca, Trincao, Suarez

Nacional (4-3-3) Pereira, Nunez, Santos, Vitor, Gomes, da Silva, Dias, Liziero, Veron, Ramirez, Boia

League Standings

Sporting CP sit firmly in the upper echelons of the league standings, placed 2nd in the table with a strong record that underlines their title ambitions. After 19 matches, Sporting have recorded 15 wins, 3 draws and just 1 loss, giving them 48 points and a +42 goal difference, one of the best in Portugal’s top flight. Their consistency near the summit has put them in the race for Champions League qualification and domestic honours, trailing only FC Porto in the standings. Sporting’s form and depth mean they are favourites in head-to-head matchups like their upcoming fixture against Nacional, and they’ve outscored many rivals with a potent attacking display this season.

By contrast, CD Nacional find themselves much lower down the Primeira Liga table in the 11th position after the same number of matches, with a more modest return of results. Nacional have accumulated around 20 points from their 19 games, putting them comfortably clear of the relegation places but significantly behind Sporting in terms of wins, goal difference and overall consistency. Their position reflects a mid-table campaign where avoiding the drop is the priority, rather than challenging for European spots. This difference in league standing, second versus mid-table, highlights the contrasting trajectories of the two clubs in the current season

Head to Head

25 Jan 2025 // Sporting CP 2-0 Nacional

29 Oct 2024 // Sporting CP 3-1 Nacional

01 May 2021 // Sporting CP 2-0 Nacional

16 Dec 2018 // Sporting CP 5-2 Nacional

18 Mar 2017 // Sporting CP 2-0 Nacional

21 Sep 2015 // Sporting CP 1-0 Nacional

02 May 2015 // Sporting CP 2-0 Nacional

21 Dec 2013 // Sporting CP 0-0 Nacional

28 Apr 2013 // Sporting CP 2-1 Nacional

10 Dec 2011 // Sporting CP 1-0 Nacional

Sporting Last 5

28th Jan - Athletic Club 2-3 Sporting

24th Jan - Arouca 1-2 Sporting

20th Jan - Sportingn 2-1 PSG

16th Jan - Sporting 3-0 Casa Pia AC

6th Jan - Sporting 1-2 Vitoria de Guimaraes

Nacional Last 5

25th Jan- Nacional 4-0 Rio Ave

17th Jan- Gil Vincente 2-1 Nacional

11th Jan- Nacional 3-3 Santa Clara

2nd Jan- Vitoria 2-1 Nacional

21st Dec- AVS Futebol SAD Nacional

Predictions

Our advanced algorithm analyses over 200 data points to generate these predictions with 86.70% confidence in a Sporting Win. The model factors in current form, head-to-head records, player availability, and tactical matchups.

Best Betting Tips

Football Park’s Best Bet: Home Win - 1.12 Odds

Match Details

Stadium: The City Ground (Capacity: 30,778)