Both matches set a home side against a block, but the content behind the two home sides points in different directions. Real Sociedad's big scores came away from home in open games, and at Anoeta against teams that sit their output has been ordinary. Sporting, by contrast, have dominated lower blocks at Alvalade, and they meet a Viseu side whose recent run rests on goalkeeping more than on control.
Sociedad under Matarazzo are a transition team. The five at Malaga and the threes at Valencia and Elche came with space to run into. At home against Espanyol, Celta and Coruna they won by one, drew, and won by one, and they have kept only one league clean sheet. They also played most of their first team in Norway on Thursday, so they arrive on short rest after travel.
Levante under Luis Castro are two teams. At home they are open and chaotic. Away they sit compactly: goalless draws at Osasuna and Malaga and a 1-1 at Coruna. Castro asked for 'the usual Levante' and warned that any error gets punished, which is the language of a team that will wait. Dela and Bardeli are out, which costs them an aerial threat and some ball-carrying, but the shape that kept those away games tight stays. The likely picture is a narrow game that Sociedad edge at best, with tired home legs making a late surge less likely. That's why I'm siding with Levante to keep this close.
In Lisbon, Sporting under Rui Borges win through wide runners, Suarez in the box and a strong press. At home against lower blocks they have controlled games completely, against Nacional and Alverca. Viseu's four-match league run looks better than it was: they lost the chance count in three of those four wins, and they faced 33 shots at Gil Vicente.
Pinheiro wants Viseu to keep the ball and build from the back. Against the one top side they faced, Porto, that cost them three goals before half-time. Debast, Nuno Santos and Zalazar are out for Sporting, but the wide routes and Suarez stay, and Borges has signalled his best XI, with rotation saved for the cup game midweek. I expect early pressure and a goal from a turnover or a wide overload, with Viseu's only real way in being a counter or a set piece once Sporting push. That's why I'm siding with Sporting.
