Santa Clara host Sporting at the Estádio de São Miguel in their first Portuguese Primeira Liga fixture of the year.The home side are in 15th place in the league standings and in their previous outing gave away a first-half lead to lose 2-1 to Pacos de Ferreira.Sporting have enjoyed an unbeaten run in the 2020-21 campaign so far and are second in the standings, only behind on goal difference to leaders Porto. Paulinho's second-half hat-trick ensured a 3-2 win over Portimonense in their previous league fixture.Sporting Clube de Portugal 🏆@Sporting_CP#𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗗𝗲𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 à vista CD Santa Clara | 🗓 7/1 | 18h304:30 AM · Jan 5, 2022123688#𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗗𝗲𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 à vista 👊 🆚 CD Santa Clara | 🗓 7/1 | ⏰ 18h30 https://t.co/9QLseq0nduSanta Clara vs Sporting Head-to-HeadThe two clubs have squared off 12 times across all competitions. As expected, the visiting side hold the upper hand in this fixture and are yet to face defeat against their western rivals.Leões are on a nine-game winning streak at the moment against their opponents while they have a total of 10 wins to their name and two games have ended in a stalemate.They last squared off in a league fixture in March. The game at Estádio José Alvalade ended in a 2-1 win for the then hosts, with Sebastian Coates scoring an injury-time winner.Santa Clara form guide (Portuguese Primeira Liga): L-W-L-W-DSporting form guide (all competitions): W-W-W-W-WSanta Clara vs Sporting Team NewsSanta ClaraCostinha is a confirmed absentee for the hosts on account of a ruptured Achilles tendon. Here are the rest of the absentees for Os Açoreanos -Luiz Phellype (Ineligibility to play against parent club)Rafael Ramos - Red Card suspensionMikel Villanueva - Red Card suspensionRuben Oliviera is a doubt for the game.cd.santaclara@CD_SantaClara𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙢𝙤 Os nossos 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐬 prosseguem a preparação rumo ao próximo desafio, diante do Sporting CP, na sexta-feira. 🗓#BravosAçorianos #MisticaInsular1:13 AM · Jan 4, 202291𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙢𝙤 ❤️Os nossos 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐬 prosseguem a preparação ⏳ rumo ao próximo desafio, diante do Sporting CP, na sexta-feira. 🗓#BravosAçorianos #MisticaInsular https://t.co/ZUjs3CRgnIInjury: CostinhaDoubtful: Ruben OliveiraSuspension: Rafael Ramos, Mikel VillanuevaUnavailable: Luiz PhellypeSporting The reigning champions are expected to be without the services of Jovane Cabral, as he continues to recover from a knee injury. Here are the rest of the players who might not travel to the Azores for the game -Bruno Tabata - COVID-19Gonçalo Inácio - COVID-19Ruben Vinagre - Ankle injuryInjured: Jovane Cabral, Ruben VinagreDoubtful: NoneSuspended: NoneUnavailable: Bruno Tabata, Gonçalo InácioSanta Clara vs Sporting Predicted XISanta Clara Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Marco Pereira; Mansur, Kennedy Boateng, Silva Afonso, Pierre Sagna; Nené, Hidemasa Morita; Ricardo António, Lincoln, Crysan; Rui CostaSporting CP Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Antonio Adan; Luis Neto, Sebastián Coates, Matheus Reis; Nuno Santos, João Palhinha, Ricardo Esgaio, Matheus Nunes; Pedro Goncalves, Pablo Sarabia; PaulinhoSanta Clara vs Sporting PredictionSporting have the best defensive record in the league, having conceded just seven goals in 16 games. The hosts have conceded 32 goals in the same period while finding the back of the net just 14 times in 16 games.The reigning champions have looked solid throughout the campaign and a win for them looks like the most likely outcome here.Prediction: Santa Clara 1-3 Sporting