Boavista 0 Sporting CP 2

Boavista v Sporting CP

October 30^th, 2023
Estádio do Bessa
Matchday 9

The Warm Up

Sporting return to the Monday night slot following their trip away to Poland on Thursday to face a Boavista side who are undefeated at home and have lost just once in their opening 8 games. One thing it seems guaranteed are goals with 31 coming in that period in their league outings to date, so watch it now play out 0-0 with the kiss of death having been applied. The Porto based club claimed the scalp of the pigeons in an opening day 3-2 win so they shouldn’t be underestimated, although they did have their arses handed to them 4-1 away to Braga having played the last hour with ten men. Any suggestion this will be an easy win are for me unfounded and it wouldn’t surprise me if we don’t come away with all three points come the final whistle. Boavista by metrics are massively out performing their XG of 11.6 scoring 18. They will however need to tighten up their defence.

On paper Sporting went into the weekend first in the table but cracks have appeared in recent weeks. Away to Braga they failed to hold onto all three points having taken a 1-0 lead. Problems at the back were evident for all to see against Atalanta in a 2-1 defeat. Last weekend saw them go 1-0 down to lowly Olivais and a lacklustre draw on Thursday night against a poor Raków side was the latest sign that it’s not all been plain sailing of late. You can however caveat that last performance as having not been helped by Gyökeres early sending off. Equally for now they’re getting away with it but a betting man will tell you that you can only do that for so long before everything comes crashing down around your ears.

Amorim’s decision to field Israel for a second straight game is open to question. His positional play leaves an awful lot to be desired and I’ve not seen anything to suggest he is a genuine option to replace an ageing Adán long term. Diomande looks like he’s struggled since returning from his suspension as if he’s starting to carry the weight of expectation being placed upon him as links continue with a move away to Arsenal. His temperament is equally as questionable to boot. I thought his recent sending off was harsh, however I might have changed my opinion as his use of the arm was evident a couple of times Thursday and he was lucky they weren’t picked up by the match referee. Gonçalves is a shadow of his former self though I did think his performance Thursday night was his best of the season. Not hard though when there's been little to measure it against so far and If Aston Villa met his buyout clause I’d let him go. Having once been the main man he’s now suffering from being shuffled in between the front three and a midfield role and not managing to stamp his authority on either. New signing Fresneda has struggled in his first two games. Paulinho despite his early goal scoring burst has been a virtual passenger at points in his past couple of outings. Trincão continues to frustrate with his inconsistencies. He’s like a wind up toy mouse needing someone to turn the key to keep him going. There’s a player in their somewhere but I fear he's a confidence player and without an extended run in the side with some degree of success in front of goal we’re not going to see it so it becomes a perpetual Catch 22 situation. What he does bring is a good pass percentage completion rate of 94% which can potentially bring the key to unlocking a tight defence. Nuno Santos’ numbers are well below those you’d expect for a player deployed to bring about the chances if Esgaio is on the opposite flank for defensive purposes. He’s managed just 6 accurate crosses at a 19% completion rate. Interestingly for a player who comes under a lot of criticism Esgaio has 8 accurate crosses from the opposite flank at a 38% completion rate.

Marcus Edwards form has risen in recent weeks as a positive and the surprise of the season has been the form of Geny who should sign a new contract extension. It’s no surprise to read in the English media that the likes of Fulham have already come sniffing around the youngster. Coates continues to be a stalwart in the centre of defence despite his obvious limitations. He’s in the last season of his current contract and according to the player no talks have started with the club over a new contract. I imagine the hope is that Jerry St Juste maintains his fitness and takes over at the back if Coates moves on with Saudi Arabia the most likely destination for one final pay day that few would begrudge in his position. Shout out to Reis who’s turned in consistent performances when called upon to play on the left. Whilst unspectacular in nature he’s not put a foot wrong for me and a solid platform provided by these type of players will always be the rock you can build foundations upon. And then there’s Gyökeres, what can you say that hasn’t already been said about the young Swede? He looks the real deal doesn’t he! His performances stand up far better than any words I can bestow upon them right now and long may they continue.

The need to employ expectation management is already apparent. As stated in the opening, yes we start the weekend top but we’re not yet a quarter way through into the season. I personally don’t see us as realistic genuine title contenders despite the start to the season. Any fan of Portuguese football will know to win the title takes the ultimate level of consistency and for me at present we’re not yet showing it. For now Sporting remain contesting on all four fronts. A home tie against Dumiense in the Taça de Portugal will no doubt be used to give the second string a run out as will an away trip to Tondela in the Taça da Liga. Sporting were helped by Sturm Graz’s late equaliser in a 2-2 draw at home to Atalanta as they look to qualify from the Europa League group into the knock out stages. The fear is they finish third and drop into the Europa Conference League which could prove to be more of a distraction if they’re still in a good position in and around the top of the league table. Whether we achieve success in any of those four competitions will more than likely come down to the form of Gyökeres. If he’s still amongst the goals come March then potentially he’ll be the difference maker. You can get away with low key performances if you have a player consistently banging them in. The worry comes when he’s out of the side. Yes you can argue that he’s only got one more goal than Paulinho in the league with them sat currently on 6 and 5 apiece but the Swede isn’t reliant on chances made for him, he’s self efficient and he causes opposition defences a real problem. I do like the way Geny and Gonçalves seem to have a natural understanding and connection. A ’ew times the youngster has used his pace to make room to square it to Gonçalves around the penalty spot area in acres of space and should an injury befall Gyökeres at any point that would be my solution over Paulinho. Yet what the fuck do I know?

The money markets

Regular readers will know I like to throw the pre game odds in as in an indication of how the end result is being perceived by the professionals and certainly not because I’m a tipster. My tip would always be to avoid betting on Sporting full stop. Rarely do they represent value and too often they shoot themselves in the foot. So that being said Boavista 1X at 13/8 has some legs but they say that about my choice of horses prior to the race. Similarly 7/10 for both sides to score has probably the best value given a 100% rate of success in 9 of 9 games in all competitions for the home side and Sporting having played away in Poland with ten for the majority of the game Thursday night. However come away with 3 points and Sporting might just start to make me a believer that they could run the title race close come the final stretch of the season.

Boavista 5/1
Draw 7/2
Sporting 9/20 

An update from Saturdays original posting to take into account the weekends results. Sporting start the game second on goal difference following the Pigeons 1-1 draw at home to Casa Pia. Porto drew level on points following after a 2-0 away win to Vizela yesterday. As pointed out above this is a league where consistency counts and to win the title it’ll come down to who drops fewest points between us, the Pigeons and Porto as history will testify.

Team News

No surprise to see Adán return in between the sticks. Back three as you’d expect. Reis given the nod over Nuno Santos following on from his fine performances in recent games which can only mean one thing on the right – that’s right, the wasp that won’t leave your defence alone, Mr Geny Catamo in the starting XI everybody. Front three; the bad boy of Swedish football complete with Hannibal Lector goal celebration, it is of course Gyökeres hoping to make it past minute ten in this game with Edwards and Gonçalves either side.

First Half

So then the game that I have coined Mario Kart Monday as Sporting look to avoid a potential banana skin away to Boavista. Seeing Catamo’s name in the starting XI has got me genuinely excited for this fixture. He’s the first player since Rafael Leão where I’ve genuinely thought this kid has that wow factor. We know how well his career progressed… at AC Milan. OK let’s not open that can of worms. But for me whatever you think of Leão now, they share that style of play that will make you hear that thump, thump, thump sound as people get out of their seats in anticipation. I’m excited. Note that one down in your diary. Watch someone now piss on me chips like on Thursday night. Be nice to me God’s of football. Happy to report that kitman Paulinho in the pre match warm up wasn’t dragging his ball bag across the pitch. No one needs to see that at any point.

2 Good build up play on the edge of the 18 yard box sees the ball played out to Salvador on the right. His shot comes off Reis for an early corner. Sporting have barely made it out of their own half. Edwards has been fouled twice in the opening minutes both times in Sporting’s half, somewhere he’s rarely seen usually during the course of 90 minutes.

4 Third foul on Edwards and the games not even five minutes gone. Free kick awarded centrally.

6 28 yards out and Gonçalves curls an effort low past the three man wall and pushed out for a corner by the keeper. Looked like it was going wide but you can’t blame the keeper for not taking chances.

7 WOW that took my breath away. Catamo picks the ball up in space and his curled effort misses by the width of a gnats bollock from 25 yards out. That was Nuno Santos levels of hitting the ball cleanly.

9 Boavista with a counter attack on the right. Thankfully Bozenik decided to shoot because there was a man wide open in marked in acres of space on the left. Had the ball been cut back that could well have been the opener.

11 This game has come to life and it feels more like the NBA or NFL than football as both sides drive down the field in turns.

13 Diomande has misplaced a couple of passes so far this game. I’m starting to wonder if he could do with a couple of games out for St Juste as soon as he’s fully match fit.

15 Adán was off his line like a speeding bullet to chase down Bozenik who’d been played clean through. Did enough to put him off as he shanked his shot well wide of the left post. That’s twice our defence have been warned now. They need to pay attention to those warnings. Note it came down the left flank having just said I was worried Diomande isn’t quite at the races.

22 Geny holds the ball up well inside the 18 yard box and lays it off to Hjulmand whose shot cannons off a grateful defender for a corner. That was goal bound and at some considerable pace

23 Corner into the six yard box dealt unconvincingly by Adán. Boavista just amping up that pressure again.

28 Gyökeres running to the byline away from goal manages to manufacture a clever corner out of nothing as he back heels the ball against the defender behind. Close up of his face shows he’s secretly really fucking pleased with himself there as he tries not to smirk.

30 Edwards with a lovely weighted through ball into the box finds Gonçalves who fires wildly into the stands. Amorim looked less than impressed.

31 Diomande is going to be the first name in the book the way he’s carrying on. Two fouls in as many minutes. It’s coming. Not sure what his issue is but he’s struggling hugely at present.

33 Diomande wins a one on one with Bozenik. He gets up and indicates the use of an elbow towards the assistant on that side.

36 GOAL I was just about to write, it’s still goalless. It’s not now. Geny sweeps home from six yards at the back post from a long Reis ball into the area from wide left. Football really is a simple game sometimes. Boavista 0 Sporting CP 1. Let’s not forget however Boavista have scored in every game in every competition this season so fingers crossed we add a second sooner rather than later for the old nerves.

40 Handbags between Salvador and Gyökeres as they go at each other in the corner following the award of a free kick to Sporting. It’s OK they’re enjoying a cuddle in the box now.

41 Flares thrown onto the pitch from behind Adán’s goal. He’s rather sensibly vacated the area. Similar scenes yesterday in the Vizela – Porto game. Keeps the fire Marshall’s in a job outside of the summer forest fires I guess.

Plus two shown

45 +1 Awaziem goes into book for a late challenge in the centre circle on Gonçalves. He looks like he can’t quite believe that.

Half time

Boavista 0 Sporting CP 1

I think that was easily the most entertaining half involving Sporting so far this season. Both sides playing flowing, attacking football. That ball from Reis gets even better in slow motion because you realise just how far back Geny came to run onto the ball and how well judged the cross was. Catamo and Edwards have been exquisite on the right hand side. Gonçalves pleasingly has taken his form from Thursday night into the first half. Be interesting to see what Amorim does with Diomande second half. I’d have St Juste warming up at half time personally.

As a side note good news from Holland in respects of Bas Dost after he collapsed in yesterday’s match for NEC. He is thankfully said to be doing well and a photo of him giving the thumbs up from hospital has been doing the rounds today. Incredibly despite collapsing in front of the referee the game continued while the big man was clearly convulsing on the floor. You just hope players who feign injuries might think twice if they were to watch the incident back. It’s not pleasant viewing and I don’t recommend searching it out.

Second half

No changes for either side as Boavista get the second half underway.

46 Diomande is fouled by Morias who picks up a yellow card. Slow motion suggests the player raked his studs down the youngsters calf. Tell me how that is any different to Gyökeres on Thursday night? Neither were intentional. Neither look pretty in slow motion and yet one resulted in a straight red and the other stays at a yellow card.

49 Cultured hoof from Diomande finds Gyökeres all on his own up front. You don’t see that out from the back very often in modern football. The Swede cleverly twists and turns and manages to win a corner all on his Jack Jones. I’ll ask the question again – just how did we get him in the summer?

52 Boavista survive. Edwards picked up the ball following a Boavista mistake around 40 yards out and carries it into the box. The defender behind does just enough to put him off as Edwards tamely shoots at the onrushing Gonçalves. Big, big let off for Boavista.

56 Interesting to see how Gyökeres remains the lone man up front as Sporting defend in huge numbers whenever Boavista attack. With that cultured hoof a few minutes ago you could well believe you’re watching English football in the late 90s early 00s. Sam Allardyce would be proud.

58 Ferreira the latest name in the book for a cynical foul on Geny as Sporting looked to break on the counter. Somewhere on that pitch will be lumps of Edwards and Geny.

59 Another let off for Boavista. Geny found Morita running into the box but his first touch just got caught under his foot and the chance goes begging. Beautiful link up play between the two.

60 Gyökeres with a superb turn on the edge of the box, loses his marker and the shot… well let’s say how good the turn was again.

63 Boavista have been playing more down the right second half which has come as blessing so far following Diomande’s first half performance. Reis has looked imperious so far.

65 ‘Meg from Edwards on the left touchline. Sadly he ran out of pitch as the ball just runs out of play as he then ran clear of his marker. It’s almost like he’s playing anything you can do I can do better with Geny tonight.

68 Coates walks to Adán and hands the captain’s armband over before departing the pitch to be replaced by St Juste.

71 It’s just dawned on me as I keep calling Geny ‘the wasp’ in recent weeks that this black and gold kit it quite apt.

72 Double bubble substitution waiting to happen as Eminem and Esgaio ready themselves on the side. Presumably that’s the end of Geny and Reis’ night.

73 Oh Edwards slowly makes his way to the sides…and is booked for time wasting. Reis clearly didn’t learn as he walks off even more slowly than Edwards did for which he got a booking. The lack of consistency by referees really is staggering. Not that I want Reis to be carded. Again Edwards really unfortunate to have been pulled. I don’t think I’ve seen Gonçalves in the second half.

76 Bollocks. Boavista 1 Sporting CP 1. Ball in from the right hit on the swivel by Bozenik from eight yards past the diving Adán. Offside by a gnats bollock? We can hope. Looked like it on the still. Wait and see. Must be close because they’re still checking. Disallowed. Presumably that was for offside then. Won’t have been for much but it looked off on the replay. Sporting fans taunt the Boavista fans with the Free from Desire song they’ve just been singing last two minutes in celebration.

81 27cms. That’s an inch shy of a school ruler. So quite a bit offside then. In fairness it’s in the centre of the goal and I’m watching on a phone. Still I said it was offside so doesn’t matter.

82 Santos let’s fire with a wicked strike that Adán saves at his near post. I do like it when a player leaves the ground with both feet when striking a ball.

83 Tavares tries from long range. That shot was like his hair. Lacking in quality.

84 GOAL Sporting hit the post from Gonçalves who was pulled down in the box but managed to still get a shot away on the ground. The ball was cleared but played back into the box from the right from Esgaio. Gonçalves thankfully had picked himself up and ran back onside and with an audacious flick diverts the cross into the net to make it Boavista 0 Sporting CP 2

85 Gyökeres off for Paulinho, Trincão for Geny.

86 Nearly a goal with his first touch for Paulinho who runs onto a through ball and fires low to the keepers left but he’s down well to save and push the ball out for a corner

Jesus does that say six or eight minutes. Guess I’ll find out if the clock hits 97.

+1 Beautifully disguised pass from Eminem into the box finds Paulinho but he can’t apply the final touch

+2 Eminem again on the left decides he’ll have a shot on goal from distance but it goes over the bar.

+3 Sporting look to make it 3 as they attack in numbers but Morita’s shot is blocked on the edge of the area

+5 What’s the Portuguese for ‘is there a fire drill’ as the home stands empty

+6 Hjulmand enters the book. He’s remonstrating with the referee and to be fair on the replay you can understand why. He turns to chase the ball down and gets run into

+7 That answers my question about 6 or 8 minutes at least

Final whistle blows as Adán launches the ball down field.

Full time

Boavista 0 Sporting CP 2

The Final Word

I shan’t lie when I wrote the opening piece Saturday morning I was genuinely fearful we were going to come away empty handed from tonight or with just a point. I still wasn’t convinced at half time but I think we can say we deserved that win. Maybe 60/40 on a count back. Reis had a great game at the back, Geny and Edwards were equally outstanding up front. I think the only thing to separate the two in the man of the match stakes is the goal so for me it goes to Geny. I could watch this kid all day long. It would have been interesting to see how they reacted had the equaliser not been offside. God bless VAR. Do I believe a bit more after tonight we could mount a serious title challenge? Yes I do. If Amorim shifts back away from Reis and Geny next league game I’ll be more than a bit pissed off. Those two look the most effective combination out wide for me. I’m grateful Boavista switched their attention to the right flank second half. That was the sort of game I’ve seen us lose far too many times in the past. I criticised Amorim’s tactics Thursday but I’ll give him his dues he got them spot on tonight. Next up Farense on Thursday night.

Footnote and for the sake of transparency I was going to add that Edwards must feel particularly aggrieved to be the one to make way again as Gonçalves had been a passenger second half before the latter scored. I definitely don’t edit these to try make myself look better after the final whistle has blown.