Sporting CP 3 Famalicão 1

The warm up

Sporting welcome Famalicão off the back of three straight wins. It's a sign of the times where a mere three straight wins feels like overcoming adversity and a real achievement. Let us not forget that we started the season with 11 straight wins. If we had that same run now I'd be positively delirious and giddy. It's amazing how quickly and easily we take things for granted in life. 

This is the last game before the international break, after a derby away to Estrela awaits. Hand on heart I've zero interest in internationals however I'll definitely be keeping one eye on Sweden, Denmark and Japan to see if Gyökeres avoids injury and hoping our two returning midfielders in Hjulmand and Morita if used are done so sparingly. 

Back to the game at hand. Sporting are looking to complete the double having won away 3-0 with goals from Gyökeres, Quenda and Inácio. In recent seasons at the José Alvalade, Sporting have had the upper hand. Last season a Paulinho goal was enough to secure all three points in a 1-0 win. Going back each season; 2-1, 2-0, 2-1. April 11th, 2021 was the last time the lions failed to win as the game finished 1-1. The last time Famalicão came away with all 3 points was September 23rd, 2019 when an 88th minute Coates own goal saw the game finish 2-1. 

Famalicão have a real league of nations feel to their squad and I'm guessing they have one of the fewest number of Portuguese players in their numbers of any top flight team with just 8. There are 16 other nationalities represented besides which feels an impressive number. Amongst them Rochinha who represented Sporting if somewhat unspectacularly during the 2022/23 season. 

Monday nights 1-0 win at home to Rio Ave saw them stretch their lead in 9th over their opponents in 10th and they now sit a comfortable 11 points above the relegation places. I'm not sure how much anticipation their fans have on a matchday when playing at home. It reads like a proper hard sell having drawn 6, scored just 10 and conceded 9. That is unless low scoring games are your thing which in that case it must feel like all your Christmases have come at once. Away from home the goals have been more free flowing with 18 for and 17 conceded. A nice symmetrical 4-4-4 after 12 games played for wins, draws and losses. 

They're slightly out performing their xG of 25.1 with their 28 goals total scored. Gyökeres has one less for the league campaign for context. Only 8 players have found the net this season. Oscar Aranda the 22 year old Spaniard is top scorer with 8. 24 year old Brazilian Sorriso put a man of the match display in against Rio Ave and took his tally to 6 with the winning goal. Gil Dias has 4. If goals are hard to come by at least defensively you'd be thrilled with their numbers. They've kept a whopping 12 clean sheets, one more than Sporting I hasten to add and boast the sixth best defensive record overall. Sadly for them goals win games as we all know and it's all very well not letting them in but if you can't stick them in the other end your aspirations will always be limited. They have tried to solve their scoring issues with the signing of two strikers in the January window; Simon Elisor arriving from Metz and Vaclav Sejk from Sparta Prague. 

Their fortunes have certainly had an upturn in recent weeks. Their winter period reads even bleaker than Sporting's did. From November 9th in all competitions their results read DLLDDLLDLD until finally on January 31st they defeated the current bottom side Boavista 2-0 away from home. 

Famalicão are owned by Idan Ofer which sounds like the name Bart Simpson would give Moe on a prank call. It falls as part of the Quantum Pacific Group which also counts Atlético Madrid amongst the other clubs in its stable. Home is the Estádio Municipal 22 de Junho. Thankfully I asked DeepSeek where it got its name from and avoided upsetting all of Portugal before making an ill judged joke. I'm guessing someone else took the Carnation Revolution Stadium as a name before they could use it. This is the clubs sixth straight season in the top flight which is quite an achievement in itself for the small club hailing from Braga. That's not me being sniffy by the way reader, their average attendance is 3,879 against a maximum capacity of just 5,186. Incredibly only 5 teams enjoy an average attendance of 10,000 or more in top flight Portuguese football. Every day is a school day as they say. Their derby is against Gil Vicente with the two clubs separated by just 20 kilometres. Does it read like I'm struggling to find anything interesting to write about our opponents? Well you'd be correct. I even searched who their most famous player was and it suggested Pizzi which is worrying because deeper research about the former pigeon suggests he went to Braga. Right region wrong club. I've just tried asking DeepSeek for some interesting facts about Famalicão and that at least pointed out that Pedro Gonçalves used to play for them. 

In conclusion to my research they're a bigger club than; Burton, Barrow, Morecambe, Bromley, Fleetwood, Salford, Harrogate and Accrington Stanley. Accrington Stanley, who are they? Try explaining that cultural reference to someone under the age of 20 in Portugal. Yes milk came in a glass bottle. I know right. A Scouser? Erm someone famed for stealing the wheels off your cars. 

So last week I brought you British Spies and orphanages. This week I bring you my defeat which I fully accept if it brings us victory on Saturday night. 

With the neighbours crashing out of the Champions League on Tuesday night with ex-Sporting player Raphinha scoring his fifth goal against them this season, their focus turns back on the league. They play away to Rio Ave on Sunday night. The home sides only defeat in 12 games came against the lions in a 3-0 loss. They secured a 2-1 win over Braga last time out and have also recorded a 2-2 draw with Porto. Whilst they've drawn half those 12 games they will hopefully still pose our city rivals a big threat and come away with a positive result as the title race starts to hot up. 

Congratulations to Conrad Harder who has been called up to the Denmark squad to face Portugal along with Hjulmand. Home advantage awaits the two lions with the second playoff game being held at the José Alvalade. Diomande travels to represent the Cote d’Ivoire and Geny is once more amongst the squad for Mozambique.

Friday update - Sporting have confirmed the sales of both Quenda and Essugo to Premier League Chelsea. Quenda will remain with the Lions for a further season whilst Sporting's youngest ever player Essugo will make the switch this summer. I'd love to know what Chelsea fans would make up of the honest summarisation of both their new signings. You've a 17 year old who can't cross and can't shoot. You've a 20 year old midfielder who'll be remembered for crying on his debut, who once scored a wonder goal for the Portuguese kids at U17 against France, got farmed out to Chaves and Las Palmas and was last seen playing four minutes in a Sporting shirt as a substitute. I mean we've literally seen nothing of the kid to form an opinion other than the crying part. Still €25m for a kid that can't even get into your squad can't be bad. Matheus Reis has failed to agree a contract extension so could join Morita and St Juste as more names leaving in the summer as the club look to avoid losing them on a free at the end of their contracts. We have known for a long time an agreement is in place to allow Gyökeres to leave for less than his release clause. It appears it will be a busy summer for the clubs hierarchy. Let's hope they invest in replacements with stronger muscle sets than the current crop of players in the squad. I've a feeling we'll be in for a long arduous season next time around. 

In the markets

Sporting 1/3

Draw 17/4

Famalicão 15/2

Team News

Starting XI

Silva, Debast, Diomande, Reis, Fresneda, Morita, Hjulmand, Araújo, Trincão, Gyökeres and Quenda

Substitutes

Israel, Silva, Quaresma, Geny, Esgaio, Felicíssimo, Arreíol, Harder and Biel.

Debast moves back into his more familiar defensive role with Esgaio missing out. Similarly on the left Inácio is replaced by Reis who also drops back. Morita makes his long awaited return to the starting XI with Araújo also restored wide left.

Israel returns from injury as backup to Rui Silva and Quaresma a welcome return in addition to the substitutes bench.

It's turning into a potentially fascinating title race with the top four sides still in with a chance of being crowned Champions. At present Sporting sit top from the pigeons in second followed by Porto and Braga level on points. Braga have to play both Sporting and Benfica. Porto have to play Benfica. Sporting in addition have the derby. The lions should find themselves in an unusual position for this season post international break with players actually returning from injury. However a lack of match fitness with a dwindling number of games remaining could naturally quell any perceived benefits. At least we're seeing signs today with Morita in the starting XI.

First half

Sporting in black with green and white horizontal stripes attack right to left. Famalicão get the game underway.

A wet miserable night ahead for both clubs. Sporting traditionally shoot themselves in the foot when it rains. It's absolutely pissing it down. Unsurprisingly given the weather a sparse crowd in attendance.

1 GOAL Sporting CP 1 Famalicão 0. Well those who have turned up have been dealt a treat. Gyökeres picks up the ball three yards inside the Famalicão half and drives all the way into the penalty area having beaten a defender en route, squares the ball for Trincão who gets his feet all wrong and misses it entirely but fortunately for him Fresneda was behind to sweep in from eight yards. Not sure of the exact timing of the goal but it must have been as close on dead 60 seconds.

6 Strong challenge on Quenda sends him flying. This is a night where any ill timed challenges could result in your marching orders.

7 Famalicão have barely made it over the halfway line. On this evidence they are in for a long night

8 Corner Sporting on the near side taken by Debast cleared all too easily. The lions of course missing Inácio tonight who is suspended and his threat from set pieces

9 Yellow shown to Haas as he leaves Gyökeres crumpled in a heap two yards outside the D.

10 Free kick 24 yards centrally. Gyökeres beats the wall of five but the shot goes over by six inches. Well struck nevertheless

12 Push on Araújo in the area sends him flying. Referee quickly waved the appeals away.

14 As Sorriso received treatment on the near side for a bad fall they're reshowing the replay of the goal from behind Carevic’s net. Had Fresneda not been behind Trincão we'd have been looking at miss of the season

16 Whistles ring out around the stadium as a challenge on Reis goes unpunished and Famalicão mount their first serious attack of the game.

17 I was about to say in what world was that not a foul and then the replay close up shows he was a yard away from Reis and never made any contact. Well done referee

18 Sorriso clearly a big fan of Neymar is rolling about again. Either that a big fan of Neymar and water sports. I'd not be rolling about in that sodden pitch longer than I had to

21 First shot from the visitors from 22 yards from Soares who goes to place it with his left foot but it flies well wide of the left hand post

22 Reis has a touch of the woe is me tonight feeling he's not getting any decisions. Let's hope he doesn't do anything stupid

23 Gyökeres now wide right picks out Araújo on acres of space who tries to cut the ball back but it's put out for a throw. Great vision and awareness from the Swede

24 Gyökeres causing problems again this time inside the area. Tries to loft a ball to the edge of the six yard box but the keeper reacted quickly to intercept

25 Quenda has tried a few more tricks and flicks tonight almost as if he's trying to convince a new audience post Chelsea signing of what he is capable of. Call me cynical

28 Interesting to see … come back to that point. Powerful header from 16 yards is saved by Rui Silva down smartly to his left. Sa with the effort. I was going to write after being happy to let the opposition have possession of the ball last two games Sporting have reverted to type and controlled the game tonight. Whether they do it for the full 90 remains to be seen.

30 Fresneda header from 8 yards straight at the keeper.

31 Sejk header goes over from six yards. He's clouted by Diomande after. Yellow card is shown to the Ivorian. VAR check ongoing for a possible penalty. The forward got his header away before the contact.

33 Penalty has been awarded. I don't get that if the ball was already out of play how can that be a penalty? He's not been prevented from a goalscoring opportunity he's already fucking missed.

34 GOAL Aranda sends the keeper the wrong way from 10 yards to make it Sporting CP 1 Famalicão 1

37 The home fans are ready to erupt. Hjulmand shown the yellow for remonstrating with the referee.

38 Corner to Sporting on the far side. Quenda to take. Headed behind for a second corner. Sporting go short. Cross into the six yard box somehow evades everyone and is eventually blocked by the keeper to safety

42 Ironic cheers as a foul on Gyökeres is given.

43 Another Sporting attack comes to nothing as Quenda goes for a backheel in the box which goes to a Famalicão

44 Araújo somehow misses from from 8 yards when it seemed easier to score. Just doesn't get the connection right and goes a yard wide of the left post

Plus four shown

48 Gyökeres pulls the ball back from the by line to Araújo. It ricochets from defender to keeper back off the defender and out for a corner

Half time

Sporting CP 1 Famalicão 1

I said early on Sporting have this habit of shooting themselves in the foot in the rain. This time they've not been helped by the match officials. Sporting have been dominant in terms of attacking threat. It all started so well with a goal inside a minute. The weather hasn't helped their cause but all too often it's the lack of quality in the final third that proves their downfall.

I'm sure that to the letter of the law the penalty will have been given correctly but it does seem utterly bizarre to me that an attacking player can have their attempt off target and be struck after and a penalty be awarded. I wouldn't dispute that Diomande deserved a yellow for afters but had the ball gone for a throw on the half way line they'd not have given a freekick. These decisions can be the difference between winning a title and a place in Europe. Millions of pounds of potential revenue rest on them. Genuinely if that was given for us I'd have been baffled.

Sporting have had their chances though. Araújo should have scored at least once. Fresneda's header either side of the keeper would have made it 2 for the lions. Famalicão have offered nothing really in an attacking sense which makes it all the more bizarre that the two teams should be level at the break.

Once again Gyökeres has been the best player operating wide for Sporting. I've said it before though he's the man you want on the end of these chances.

I sense Quenda is trying too hard. Trincão has his head somewhere warm and dry. I'd put Geny on at half time and let him occupy the space on the right and let Gyökeres be in the position he can do most damage.

I have that horrible feeling that this is all going to go wrong second half. Let me be wrong. I don't mind being wrong. Please prove me wrong lions.

Second Half 

Whistles greet the match officials as they re-enter the pitch. Big 45 awaits for the lions. The rain at least seems to have stopped as Sporting get us back underway.

46 Morita cuts out a pass in midfield. His presence back in the XI certainly makes a huge difference 

46 Gyökeres tightly marked by two defenders inside the box runs out of options and over hits a pass out of play for a throw in 

47 Reis fouled and awarded a free kick pushes the player away. Said it in the first half he needs to watch himself. Touch of the crazies in him tonight 

48 Great patient buildup play from Sporting. Trincão picks out Araújo on the far edge of the six yard box. His header across goal can only find a defender 

49 Sporting knocking on the door once more. Keeper punches a cross clear 

51 Sporting fortunate as a Famalicão player does a Trincão and gets his feet all wrong and can't get a shot away from 14 yards when unmarked 

52 Quenda drives at the defence and into the area. His shot from 16 yards goes through the legs of a defender and wide of the right post 

53 Beautiful ball over the top from Hjulmand finds Gyökeres who cuts back to make space for a shot which is blocked 

54 Sporting keep knocking at the door. Quenda now wide right fires in a shot from 19 yards which the keeper pushes onto the post. If he was a little too eager first half, he's certainly come out firing on all cylinders second half 

56 Debast curls a ball into the danger area but no one there to meet it. Infuriating 

57 Home crowd have abandoned their whistles and are now making one hell of a racket as they try spur the players onto victory 

58 Geny ready to come on. I'm guessing for Morita 

59 Proving once more how little I know Geny on for Fresneda who I thought had a really good game capped by his goal 

60 Debast shown the yellow for a blatant short pull on the half way line. That decision you cannot have any complaints about at least 

61 Gyökeres stings the hands of the keeper from a tight angle 

61 Sa gives away a free kick for a foul on Araújo. That's well inside the area surely... Penalty check ongoing 

63 Penalty awarded. Gyökeres spots the ball. GOAL Sporting CP 2 Famalicão 1. Sends the keeper left as he places the ball low into the right. 

65 Debast with a wonderful run past three players to bring the ball out from defence over the halfway line. He is a talented young man 

66 If the rain had dampened the spirits of those inside the stadium first half they're showing no signs this half buoyed by the penalty 

67 Araújo with a poor first touch allows the keeper time to close the angle. His shot from the edge of the six yard box blocked. Header off the line in the second phase. Sporting aren't done yet 

70 Araújo tries to find Trincão in the centre but the defender clears. He's another player who has done well tonight just not with his final shot

71 Trincão shot from 16 yards blocked. Ball rolls to Morita who leaves it believing himself offside. He would have been on an incredible position otherwise to turn and shoot 

72 Quaresma returns to the fold for Morita who gives his coach a wink and gets a huge round of applause from the Sportinguista's 

73 I imagine Debast will push up now into midfield and Quaresma will go right of the back three 

73 Whistles as Famalicão waste time on a goal kick. Let them waste time 

74 Great tackle on the edge of the area from Quaresma who then carries the ball up field. 

75 Rochinha on for the visitors. 

75 Gyökeres penalised for a foul in the centre. Second game on the spin he's not been yellow carded for a foul that deserves one. That was naughty. Comical. But naughty nonetheless 

77 Sporting now with acres of space to run into as Famalicão try find an equaliser. Counter attack came to nothing but positive signs nonetheless 

79 Debast down injured after a boot to the top of his foot. Free kick centrally to Sporting 

79 32 yards to goal. Debast with the effort on target beat a three man wall but no keeper should be beaten from there and indeed he wasn't 

79 RED Araújo shown a straight red as he catches the calf of Sa from behind 

81 Araújo still on the field presumably whilst VAR checks or to offer Sa his apologies or both. Poor challenge but I'm not sure it was a straight red 

82 Sending off stands. Sporting down to ten. What did I write in about minute five?

83 This season is taking years off my life. 

85 Sorriso with a bouncing effort from 20 yards towards the bottom left hand corner pushed away for a corner by Rui Silva . That's his last involvement in the game 

87 3 minutes plus additional time. My heart is going like the clappers. Free kick for a foul on Gyökeres wastes a few more seconds 

87 GOAL Sporting CP 3 Famalicão 1. Gyökeres cuts the ball across the six yard box from the right, it goes past Trincão and a defender and slotted gone into an empty net by Geny from 3 yards. Excuse me whilst I wipe away a tear of joy. FUCKING GET IN 

89 Trincão yellow for a forwards challenge. He shakes his head but that was poor and late 

Six minutes shown 

90 Free kick 30 yards out straight at Silva who falls straight to the floor

91 Harder and Felicissimo readied. Gyökeres turns and shoots from another narrow angle. The defenders will have twisted blood and have the bends when they come up for air later tonight 

91 Quenda with a standing ovation. Hjulmand also departs. Trincão also off. Esgaio the other man on 

93 Corner Famalicão from the near side. Finds a man unmarked on the edge of the six yard box who air kicks it. Been one of those nights for a lot of players on both sides 

94 Corner Famalicão far side. Finds it way out to Soares whose shot goes high into the stands from 20 yards and he punches the floor in frustration 

95 Clever play from Harder, kicks the ball off his markers legs for a throw. Few more seconds gone. 

96 Gyökeres eyes wide in shock at something. Looked like The Scream by Edvard Munch

96’51 Finally the final whistle blows. 

Full time 

Sporting CP 3 Famalicão 1 

The final word 

I have seen us lose those games a dozen times or more. Sometimes through individual moments of genius but frequently of our own making. Did we deserve the win? Yes undoubtedly. Did we make it hard for ourselves? Possibly. Did the referee make it harder for Sporting? Unquestionably..

It'll come as no surprise to learn I'm not a qualified referee. It's entirely plausible the penalty was awarded within the laws of the game but like the penalty disallowed midweek in the Champions League it doesn't mean it's right. The player got his header away and he missed of his own volition. The contact after hasn't caused him to miss. He's not been denied a goalscoring opportunity. Again with the red card. It's clumsy but you can't say there was intent. Why is contact with the back of the calf deemed a red whereas the contact with the same part of the boot on a player's foot is a yellow? *Shrugs 

Critically Sporting won. Three valuable points which takes them nine above Porto and Braga who've all played 26 game each and the pigeons who have two games in hand with the first away to Rio Ave tomorrow night off the back of their midweek defeat to Raphinha… sorry to Barcelona. 

You'll forgive me for shedding a tear or two at the third goal. It's been a long week but I'm nothing but truthful when it comes to these posts. Accumulation of physical pain, lack of sleep and anxiety that we might throw away another three points. Seen it all before. I say three. Could have been two. Was neither. Cue exorbitant celebrations on my part. I enjoyed that. Sometimes a proverbial punch in the mouth is quite the tonic and just what the doctor ordered. 

Contentious issues out the way let's go from back to front. Another imperious display from Rui Silva. He could prove to be signing off the season at this rate even if he only plays half of it between the sticks. Two vital saves and you can't blame him for the penalty. Diomande bar the penalty award was solid again all night in the centre of the defence and continues to garner a reputation as one of the if not the best young central defender in European football. Debast and Quaresma both demonstrated their skill at carrying the ball out of defence when under pressure which is always a joy to watch. Reis at 30 should really have learned to let decisions against him slide and get on with the game. He seems to be regressing. 

Morita's return was huge. He does the simple things so well and his smile at the end of the game was worth the admission few alone if you were there. He'll be a huge miss if he leaves in the summer. You can't fault him as a player or as a human being and a shining example for those in the academy to build their game on. 

Fresneda's work rate is second to none. I'd love to know the distance he covers. I apologise profusely to the youngster for doubting him when he first joined. He had another impressive game capped with another goal. Araújo on the other flank positionally was spot on all night. A performance let down by his final touch. He should come off with a goal and the sending off as discussed looked harsh. It was no worse a challenge than any other shown a yellow during the 90. You can see why fans feel there is a conspiracy against Sporting. I'm not saying there is by the way. Just that if you were that way inclined you'd have reason to add to your argument.

Hjulmand had another solid if unspectacular game. Trincão was for me off the boil but online they've given him the second highest rating of any Sporting player and Araújo the lowest which again makes me think what game were they watching? I get that the latters mark may be reduced for the sending off but I wasn't impressed by Trincão at all and twice he's been let off the hook in goalscoring opportunities by the man behind who did the business. 

That leaves two of the starting XI left. Quenda did his best to convince you that he's now a €51m player. Second half for me was his best in a Sporting shirt. Chelsea fans online would have you believe they'd signed Lamina Yamal from Barcelona. They haven't. This is the first game I've seen him driving on with the ball into the area and take a shot. Not the first time I've seen him strike a ball off target however. He's finishing needs a tremendous amount of work as does his crossing. However maybe the fact a deal has now been done is a weight off his shoulders and in turn he gets to continue his development for another year in familiar surroundings, close to his family and friends. You imagine knowing Chelsea he won't see London other than during pre-season of 2026 anyway unless his career goes to the next level in the next 15 months whilst still in the colours of Sporting. If he plays like he did in the second half then he has every chance. Otherwise expect him to be shipped around Europe and wishing he'd stayed in Portugal.

The final word as it so often has been since he came to the club belongs to Viktor Gyökeres who is back to his imperious best and will be living rent free in the heads of another set of defenders from a Portuguese team. He was left, he was right, at one point he popped up in a crowded midfield. He plays the role of winger, play maker, lone wolf. Holds the ball up, twists and turns and is a fucking pain in the arse for 90 minutes and when he needs to keep his cool from 10 yards does exactly that. Try wrestle the title from his hands because he's on a mission to leave Portugal as a two time title winner. In Viktor we trust. I've no idea how many times he's been my man of the match. Put it in a table format and some may claim we're a one man team, that he's a FIFA cheat code in real life. Well he's certainly the latter but we're not a one man team. Famalicão will go away knowing they didn't deserve anything from this game and they left with what they deserved. Nothing. Gyökeres was the icing on the cake from a performance not helped by the referee and for me deserved man of the match. If you gave it to Fresneda, Quenda or Morita for differing reasons I'd not argue against you. Or Rui Silva for that matter. That you can pick five players as potential man of the match bodes well for the final weeks ahead as the title race reaches it's climax. Will Sporting make it back to back title wins? I've no idea. But I know it will have aged me.