Sporting Lisbon aims to recover from an unexpected loss in their last Primeira Liga match as they visit Casa Pia at Estadio Municipal de Rio Maior on Friday. Currently, the Lions hold the third position in the Portuguese top-tier standings, trailing leaders Porto by nine points and sitting four points behind Benfica in second. In contrast, Casa Pia is in the relegation playoff zone, just above 17th-placed Rio Ave and below 15th-placed Nacional due to goal difference. Sporting's efforts to reclaim the title, after finishing as runners-up last season, have faced multiple challenges. The most recent setback came with a 2-1 defeat to newly promoted Academico de Viseu at Estadio Jose Alvalade, which is arguably their most disappointing league result this season. After also experiencing a loss against Champions League newcomers LASK Linz, the Lions suffered consecutive home defeats for the first time since November 2024. Despite Luis Suarez’s equalizer, Joao Guilherme's two goals led to Sporting's first league defeat of the current campaign. However, Rui Borges’s team found some relief in the Taca da Liga, winning 2-1 against Maritimo thanks to Pedro Lima's two goals, which also alleviated some pressure on the manager. As they approach Friday's match, Borges's mixed record on the road shows alternating wins and draws in their four away league games, although they did secure a 3-1 victory against Braga in their latest outing. The visitors can also take confidence from their strong history in this matchup, having won all six of their previous away encounters with Casa Pia across various competitions, scoring at least twice in each match. On the other hand, Casa Pia will be looking to build on their recent form, having earned a much-needed 2-0 away win against Estrela Amadora last weekend, thanks to goals from Joao Rego and Lawrence Ofori.