Gil Vicente vs Sporting CP

The managerless Gil Vicente team will attempt to beat both the odds and Sporting Lisbon on Thursday at their home field to qualify for the Taca de Portugal final four.

The hosts continue their search for a new manager as they enter this match after five consecutive losses together with the Lions who have remained without a victory during the previous five matches though they managed one defeat followed by three consecutive draw results.

Gil's team suffered a 1-0 loss to Casa Pia after Bruno Pinheiro left as manager resulting in a pulling of the team down to the 14th position in Primeira Liga standings with only two points above the relegation playoff rank.

Ahead of their current difficulties the Gilistas maintained a seven-game unbeaten run which ended with back-to-back victories including a Porto home win and a 1-0 win against Moreirense for entry to the Taca de Portugal round of 16.

This would be Sporting's first game against a top-tier opposition since beating Vila Real and Belenenses in lower divisions, but their next challenge grows stronger since they face the league-leading Sporting Club de Portugal on their path to their second semifinal run ever despite securing this position only during the 2015-2016 season.

Both teams have met for the third time in Taca de Portugal competition yet Sporting remains undefeated in their previous matches with Gil. The Barcelos-based team will fight to prevent Sporting from achieving another away victory this Thursday.

Meanwhile, after falling to Benfica in the Allianz Cup final via penalties and bowing out of the Champions League against Dortmund in the knockout playoffs, Sporting will be determined to strengthen their drive to clinch a double this season with a victory in midweek. The disappointment in those competitions has only heightened their resolve to succeed domestically, as they aim to make amends by securing silverware in both the Primeira Liga and the Taca de Portugal.

However, despite sitting atop the Primeira Liga with 53 points, their six-point advantage over second-placed Benfica has vanished, leaving Rui Borges's side only ahead on goal difference following three successive draws, the latest being a 2-2 stalemate away to AVS last Saturday. This recent dip in form has raised concerns among fans and pundits alike, as the title race has tightened significantly, with Benfica now breathing down their necks.

Putting their league concerns aside, Sporting will now turn their focus to progressing in the Taca de Portugal after eliminating Portimonense, Amarante, and Santa Clara, overcoming the latter 2-1 after extra time to reach the quarter-finals. The competition represents a crucial opportunity for the club to salvage their season and add to their trophy cabinet, especially after the setbacks they have faced in other tournaments.

Aiming for a second successive semi-final and a fourth in the last eight seasons, the Lions have reached the final in three of those runs, lifting the trophy once in 2018-19, and another triumph would further fuel their bid for a domestic double. With the stakes higher than ever, Sporting will need to rediscover their winning form and demonstrate the resilience that has characterized their best campaigns in recent years.

In Liga Portugal, Gil Vicente's performance has significantly declined. With three victories and three draws, the hosts were undefeated for six games. They are now lost five straight games.

A 1-0 loss against Casa Pia on the road was the most recent of such setbacks. They are now two points clear of the relegation playoffs as a result.

Gilistas, who have performed better, will focus on the Taca de Portugal. They have defeated Moreirense (1-0), Vila Real (0-2) and Os Belenenses (0-2) in three straight games.

Sporting Lisbon is once again stuck in a rut. The visitors have four draws and one loss in their past five games in all competitions, making them winless.