Sporting CP vs Vitoria Guimaraes Prediction & Betting Tips (6 January)

Sporting CP arrive to this League Cup clash carrying the confidence of a side that has been consistently dominant across domestic competitions in recent weeks. Their 6–0 win over AVS and the strong 4–0 showing against Rio Ave underline how ruthlessly efficient their attack has been, with players like Trincão and Ioannidis repeatedly influencing matches in decisive momentsThe Daily Star+1. Even their setbacks, such as the 3–1 loss to Bayern Munich in Europe, have not derailed their rhythm in Portugal, where they continue to push for silverware on multiple fronts. The team’s recent 1–4 victory away at Vitória SC in the league further reinforces their momentum and tactical sharpness heading into this League Cup meetingSporting Clube de Portugal.

Vitória Guimarães, meanwhile, approach this fixture with a mixture of resilience and frustration after a turbulent stretch of results over the past two months. Their impressive 1–0 win away at Rio Ave and a gritty 0–0 draw with Gil Vicente showed their defensive discipline, but the shock 1–0 home defeat to AVS in the Taça de Portugal exposed lingering inconsistencies in their finishing and overall creativitySports Mole+1. They also suffered a heavy 1–4 defeat to Sporting in their most recent league encounter, a result that highlighted the gap between their current level and that of the Lisbon giants. Still, their earlier cup triumph over Porto, winning 3–1 away, remains a reminder that they can rise to big occasions when the structure clicks and the intensity is rightSports Mole.

The narrative around this matchup has also been shaped by recent news cycles focusing on both clubs’ contrasting trajectories. Sporting’s push to maintain pressure at the top of the league table has been widely discussed, especially as they continue to rotate effectively without losing fluency in attackSports Mole. Vitória, on the other hand, have been in the spotlight for their uneven cup performances, swinging from a semi‑final qualification in the Taça da Liga to a disappointing early exit in the Taça de Portugal within the span of two weeksSports Mole. Analysts have also pointed out Vitória’s long‑standing struggles in head‑to‑head meetings, with Sporting dominating the rivalry in recent years and winning the majority of their encounters, including the 2–0 result in May 2025Soccer News+1.

With all these elements converging, the League Cup meeting sets up a compelling contrast between Sporting’s sustained form and Vitória’s unpredictable but occasionally explosive performances. Sporting’s recent scoring patterns, their depth in attacking options, and their ability to control matches for long stretches make them clear favorites on paper. Vitória will need to rediscover the compact, disciplined structure that carried them through their unbeaten run earlier in the season, but the evidence from the last two months suggests they may struggle to contain Sporting’s tempo. For this preview, the expectation leans toward a decisive Sporting CP win, and the predicted correct score of 3–0 reflects both current form and the competitive gap observed in their latest encounters.