true, i don't think Sporting can keep the same performance throughout the whole season, and they're competing against Benfica and Porto which makes it really hard for them, they're like Real Sociedad in La liga, started really well but couldn't keep it for a long time.
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I don't think it's correct to compare Sporting and Real Sociedad, it's one of Big 3 teams in Portugal, which usually finnish in Top 3. It's more like Atletico in La Liga. Though, in recent years Sporting squad doesn't looks very impressive, they don't have big stars. I watched their game with Belenenses and wasn't very impresesd. Belenenses  could have won, but they missed penalty.
But as I already said previously, Sporting didn't qualified to Europa league and it can be advantage for them. Their calendar is less intensive and they can focus onl eague games only.