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Preview: CF Estrela Amadora vs. Sporting CP 07 Aug, 2026 The team have plenty of history against their Matchday 1 opponents This Saturday, August 8th, Sporting Clube de Portugal officially begin the 2026/2027 season. On Matchday 1 in Liga Portugal, the squad take the short trip to face CF Estrela da Amadora, in an 8:30pm kickoff. Rui Borges’ men will try to repeat what they have done on recent visits to the Estádio José Gomes, and come away with the win. In preseason, they took a full haul of victories in preparation or training matches, against Sporting CP B (2-1), SCU Torreense (2-0), Celtic FC (4-1), Portimonense SC (1-0), RC Strasbourg (7-0), AS Monaco (2-0), Nottingham Forest FC (4-1) and SU 1º Dezembro (4-0). For the 2026/27 season, the squad has been switched up with several signings. Rodrigo Zalazar arrived from SC Braga, followed by Pedro Lima (formerly of AFS), Issa Doumbia (from Venezia FC), Silas Andersen (from BK Häcken), Sergi Altimira (from Real Betis Balompié), and Ibrahima Ba (from FC Famalicão). Jesse Derry joins on loan from Chelsea FC. Maxi Araújo is unavailable for this weekend’s fixture due to suspension, and it has been revealed that Zeno Debast and Ibrahima Ba, who will not play in Amadora, may be fit for Matchday 2. João Simões, Salvador Blopa, Nuno Santos, Pedro Gonçalves, and Daniel Bragança have been ruled out for Saturday. CF Estrela da Amadora, coached by Pepa – returning to Portuguese football after several years abroad –, enter the 2026/27 campaign off a 15th-place finish in Liga Portugal last season. The team's preseason had positive results, even after starting with a defeat (5-2) against SL Benfica. This was followed by victories over Naval 1893 (2-0), CD Nacional (2-0), Lusitano FC (1-0), and Al-Nassr FC (4-2). In between, there was a defeat against Casa Pia AC (1-2) and a draw with Portimonense SC (1-1). New faces for the upcoming season include Leo Linck (on loan from Botafogo FR), Lovro Zvonarek (from FC Bayern Munich), Beni Souza (from SL Benfica), Rafa Soares (from FC Famalicão), and Lucas Mincarelli (from Montpellier HSC). Noteworthy in the squad are Diogo Pinto, a 22-year-old goalkeeper who came up through the ranks at Sporting CP and won the league with the first team, and Jefferson Encada and Tiago Pinto, who also started out in the Sporting CP youth system. In total, Sporting CP and CF Estrela da Amadora have met 40 times (38 in Liga Portugal and two in the Taça de Portugal). Sporting CP have won 28 of those matches, Estrela da Amadora four, and eight ended in a draw. On their last visit to the Estádio José Gomes, in April, they won 0-1 with a goal from Daniel Bragança. In 2024/25, they triumphed 0-3 with a brace from Viktor Gyökeres and a goal from Geovany Quenda, and in 2023/24, the year CF Estrela da Amadora returned to the top tier, they won 1-2 thanks to goals from Paulinho and Nuno Santos. The last time Sporting CP failed to win a match against CF Estrela da Amadora was back in 2005/2006. In that season, in Liga Portugal, they lost at home 0-1 and drew away 0-0. Until the turn of the millennium, difficulties were much more common in games where Sporting CP faced Estrela da Amadora, who won 0-1 at Alvalade in 1988/89 and 1994/95. In Amadora, they managed to do so only once, in 1997/98. A 2-1 defeat was notable for Sporting CP's goal being scored by Roberto Assis -brother of Ronaldinho. The dominance became established from 2000/01 onwards. In the 20 matches that have taken place since then, Sporting CP have won 18. The all-time record victory at Reboleira occurred in 1993/94, when a Sporting CP side coached by Bobby Robson won 4-0. All the goals were scored in the second half, with the legendary Krassimir Balakov scoring twice before Andrzej Juskowiak and Luís Figo sealed the win. With nine goals, Liedson is the all-time top scorer in this fixture, followed by Viktor Gyökeres (six), then Ivaylo Iordanov and Ricardo Sá Pinto (both with four). For CF Estrela da Amadora, Renato Anjos, Marquinhos Pitbull, and Gaúcho are the three players with two goals each. Everything is ready to officially start the 2026/27 season, in front of a sellout away section in Amadora.