Maritimo Funchal vs Sporting CP Lisbon Match Preview
The incidents of the past week serve as a good illustration of Sporting’s topsy-turvy season. A hugely disappointing defeat at home and the subsequent resignation of club President Jose Eduardo Bettencourt plunged the Lisbon outfit into crisis. However, the team bounced back in fine style to hammer Penafiel 4-0 in the Bwin Cup on Thursday and reignite hopes among their fans that there may yet be a silver lining in what has been a largely traumatic season.
The Lions face a tough test of their character in the Monday fixture. The Barreiros Stadium in Madeira is always a difficult venue for the visiting side, and runaway leaders FC Porto are the only team to have beaten Maritimo in the islanders’ last ten league matches.
With Vitoria Guimaraes and Nacional breathing down their necks in the table, more dropped points by Sporting will put their 3rd-place position in jeopardy.