Hours before hosting Tondela, Sporting eye poor past record | OneFootball

Sporting are preparing to host Tondela, but there are warning signs that cannot be ignored. Despite the Lions’ clear favoritism, recent history shows that the side from Beira have already managed to leave Alvalade with important points, especially at decisive stages in the battle to stay up.

Across seven league visits to the Lions’ home ground, Tondela have never won, but they have managed to draw on three occasions. Interestingly, those results came at times of great pressure in the standings, with the yellow-and-green side fighting to avoid relegation.

The first of those draws came in their debut season, in 2015/16, when Tondela were bottom of the table and only secured survival on the final matchday. The following year brought another surprise: a draw at Alvalade, with a late Sporting goal - with Rui Borges’ renewal now in sight - deep into stoppage time preventing a worse outcome for the green-and-whites.

In 2018/19, the same scenario played out again, with another draw at the Lions’ home, once more at a time when the Beira side were in the relegation places. That point proved decisive in allowing the team to depend only on themselves on the final matchday, when they confirmed their place in the top flight.

Now, back in the Liga, Tondela once again arrive at Alvalade in a delicate situation, sitting second from bottom and in urgent need of points. .

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.