G.D. Estoril Praia 0 Sporting CP 1
G.D. Estoril Praia v Sporting CP
Saturday September 27th, 2025
Estádio António Coimbra da Mota
Matchday 7
The warm up
For those that love a coincidence, the two sides met on Matchday 7 of the 2024/25
season on September 27th at the Estádio António Coimbra da Mota. Far be it for me to suggest that the Portuguese FA is lazy and just copy and paste their fixtures into a spreadsheet for the following season. Sporting
incidentally won the Friday night fixture 3-0 with first half goals from Geny
and Morita and a goal from Bragança on 90 minutes.
Whilst this fixture isn’t a Dérbi it has all the essence of one with Estoril situated
just 25 miles West of Lisboa. Grupo Desportivo Estoril Praia to give them their
full name .Praia as I have learned today is the Portuguese word for beach. Every day is a school day as they
say and you cannot ever tell me that these posts are not educational. Amongst other
things this season we’ve also learned where apples originated from. Tell me, have you
read other such gems of information anywhere else in matchday buildups? No I didn't think so.
Their stadium whilst having a capacity of 8,000 is only licensed for 5,094 and is
situated in Alcabideche which is a parish located in the Portuguese municipality
of Cascais. As we learned in last weeks Moreirense post, I have no idea what
any of that fucking means. I could however deliver a lecture on ground safety as part of my actual day job and why they'd only be licensed for 5,094 but I don't want to deliberately bore you all to tears.
Since their promotion back to the top flight in the 2020/21 season average attendances had risen year on year until dropping back down last season. In the course of those 68 games however they’ve only sold out the one time which I guess is unsurprising when you’re competing for eyeballs with two of Os Três Grandes less than half an hour from your door. Given that fact however, if nothing else it should at least always mean a heavy contingent of away support when playing Sporting and Benfica. Those average attendances were as follows;
21/22 - 1,420
22/23 - 2,524
23/24 - 3,123
24/25 - 2,723
Since their aforementioned promotion they've finished 9th, 14th, 13th and then 8th last time out. Their away record an oddity last campaign in as such as it was better than their home and was the 7th best in the division. At home they played 17, winning 7, drawing 4 and losing 6, GF and GA 23. This ranked them 11th in the division overall. Yanis Begraoui and Alejandro Marques finished joint top scorers with 11 goals apiece. João Carvalho chipped in with 6, Andre Lacximicant 5 whilst the final 14 goals were shared between 10 players. That helped the Canaries to the 5th highest average goals per game with 1.4 which compared to the lions 2.6 which was the league's highest. Just 7 clean sheets last season and they had the highest XG conceded with 58.6 which compares to their actual total conceded of 53. Scottish coach Ian Cathro will need to find a way to shore his defence up this season but his 8th place finish meant he was one of just four coaches not to be replaced in the league last campaign. They did also have the highest average number of interceptions in the league with 9.6 on average per game. 8 penalties conceded which was the 3rd worst record in the division, averaging 15.9 fouls per game the second worst record which resulted in 85 yellow cards and 2 red, one of which came away to Sporting.
The club is a relative baby in footballing terms having first been founded in 1939 which some of you will realise was the year that WWII broke out so it might seem an odd time to form a club when other European Leagues stopped playing. Portugal were actually neutral for the majority of said conflict and Estoril in particular we are told became a hot bed for spies during that period. The club was originally founded for the workers of the many local hotels, spas, railway company and employees of the local casino of which it is said, along with Estoril itself, provided the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s James Bond novel Casino Royale. The Casino would also feature in one of the 007 movies - On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The club plays in yellow and blue, the yellow symbolises the colour of the sun and the blue the colour of the neighbouring Atlantic Ocean. Good job they don’t play near the North Sea is all I can say.
Estimated to currently have a population of around 23,700 Estoril is one of the most expensive places to live in Portugal. The Duke of Windsor briefly resided in Estoril Villa and António de Oliveira Salazar the former Portuguese dictator also had a summer house here and it is he that the residents have to thank for ordering the connecting motorway with Lisboa. As they say in Germany with Adolf Hitler, if only he'd stopped at the roads!
They're nicknamed the Canarinhos (Canaries) which they share with Kovačević's new club Norwich City and Estorilistas which I'm pretty sure they don't share with Norwich City though I have been wrong before. Their joint highest top flight finish was 4th place in 2013/14 and came under Marco Silva which prompted Sporting to poach the young mister and was coincidentally the season that I started watching the lions in case anyone cares about such things. No? OK forget I mentioned it, I’m sorry.
I've already mentioned the corresponding fixture in my opening paragraph, at the José Alvalade the lions 3-1 winners with a brace from Gyökeres having been given the lead through Gonçalo Inácio. The last time the Canaries triumphed against the lions in any competition was way back in October 2018 when they won 2-1 away in a group game of the Taça da Liga. The last league win at home in February of the same year 2-0. Since then 8 straight wins for the lions scoring 20, conceding twice and keeping six clean sheets.
*The Portuguese FA have clearly had a busy summer with all the transfers that took place involving Portuguese clubs. I'm genuinely shocked I'm still recording these after the last 6 but I'm nothing but dedicated it would appear.
Incoming for Estoril
Luis Gomes and Fernando free from Sporting B
Antef Tsoungui from Feyenord £581,000
Or Israelov from Hapoel Tel Aviv on loan (Or is his name that's not a typo)
Richard Sánchez from Granada on loan
Ferro from Estrela on loan
Patrick de Paula from Botafogo on loan
Martin Turk from Ruch Chorzow on a free
Nodar Lominadze from Dinimo Tbilisi £456,000
Peixinho from Gil Vicente on a free
Khayon Edwards from Arsenal on a free
Pizzi from Apoel Nicosia on a free
Outgoing
Francisco Pereira - Coimbra on loan
Diogo Brasido - Polonia Warszawa on loan
Finn Dicke - released
I'm sorry but having a surname called Dicke must be hard enough at school for any kid but quintessentially giving your kid the name thin dick is guaranteeing the lad a miserable childhood and surely tantamount to child abuse. I thought calling you kid Jug was bad who plays for Kairat.
Raul Parra - Johor Darul Ta’zim for free
Israel Salazar - Eldense on loan
Wow so in turns out being called Finn Dicke doesn't seem so bad after all when you share your name with a country committing genocide and a Portuguese dictator.
Manga Foe Ondoa - Oliveirense on loan
Ismael Sierra - Villarreal B on loan
Michel Costa - Felgueiras for free
Martin Watts - Nacional for free
Daniel Figueira - Gil Vicente for free
Pedro Álvaro - Aris Thessaloniki for free
Wagner Pina - Tranzonspor for free
Alongside Luis Gomes and Fernando current squad member Gonçalo Costa also began his career at Sporting B.
Estoril began the current campaign at home to Estrela and led 1-0 at half time through a Parente goal only to finish 1-1. (XG 0.67 - 1.37). SC Vitória away next and again they took the lead with a goal from Guitane. Vitória turned the tables to lead 2-1 before an Abascal own goal levelled the scores. A Silva penalty settled the game to see the canaries lose 3-2. (XG 1.88 - 0.92). Newly promoted Tondela away followed. For the 3rd straight game they took the lead when Begraoui scored before half time. Tondela thought they were set to take all 3 points when Cavaleiro scored on 90 minutes but Guitane equalised in additional time to gain their second point of the season. (XG 2.87 - 1.85 with Tondela recording 8 Opta defined big chances but sadly for them missing 6).
Santa Clara at home didn't bring any joy or points for that matter with the islanders winning 1-0. (XG 0.79 - 2.11). Finally a win on Matchday 5 as Portugal's Sad birds departed beaks down away from home. Estoril 2-0 up against AVS at half time through Lominadze and Carvalho. Sanchez extended their lead before AVS scored their consolation. (XG 1.97 - 0.92).
Tough night away to Gil Vicente on Sunday as the Canaries lose 2-0 (XG 2.39 - 0.32). The win moved GV up to 3rd above the lions before their game on Monday at home to Moreirense. Estoril sat in 12th place with a record of played 6, won 1, drawn 2, lost 3, GF 8 GA 10.
* It appears never a truer word written in jest as Portugal recorded the second most transfers in European football when including loans, frees and returning loans.
Sporting back up to second place following their 3-0 win at home to Moreirense on Monday night. The goals shared around as Suarez, Goncalves and Ioaniddis on target late in the second half.
Tuesday update - the neighbours slipped to another draw conceding in additional time to finish 1-1 with Rio Ave in the Special One's second game in charge. They play fourth placed Gil Vicente on Friday night and both sides have the potential to leapfrog the lions into second place before we play Saturday evening.
Friday update - Geny, Rui Silva and Diomande back in limited training. Samuel Justo and Mauro Couto called up to train with the first team. Couto especially making waves with Sporting B. One wonders how close Flávio Gonçalves is to being called up at some stage in addition.
Sporting B
The youngsters in action Saturday morning at 11am at home to Maritímo. Vizela won Friday night to push Sporting into second place. Maritímo sit 3rd.
The young lions recorded their second defeat of the campaign not helped by a straight red card for Eduardo Felicíssimo in the second half. Maritímo made their numerical advantage count with five minutes remaining to come away with a 1-0 win. Certainly some questionable refereeing during the game including a penalty awarded and the referee pushed over one of the opposing players during a melee.
Starting XI
Callai, Dias, Muniz, Moreira, Blopa, Justo, Felicíssimo, Silva, Couto, Ribeiro and Gonçalves.
Substitutes Used
Nel, Besugo, Mendonca, Silva and Cardoso
Sporting CP Feminino
The ladies at home to Valadares Gaia at 4pm.
Half time the lions lead 1-0 through Carolina Santiago's opener for her fourth goal of the week.
Waltzing Matilde Nave at the tender age of 17, secured all 3 points in additional time for a 2-0 win. Lions second behind the dirty pigeons on 7 points with a game in hand.
In the markets
Estoril 8/1
Draw 17/4
Sporting CP 3/10
Team News
Starting XI
Silva, Araujo, Inácio, Debast, Vagiannidis, Morita, Hjulmand, Gonçalves, Trincão, Quenda and Suárez
Substitutes
Virgínia, Fresneda, Quaresma, Mangas, Geny, Kochorashvili, Simões, Alisson and and Ioannidis
A fit again Araújo starts at the left of a four with Mangas replaced and the same in midfield as Morita comes in for Kochorashvili and in goal as Silva replaces Virgínia. All three are amongst the substitutes. With Silva fit again it meant Callai could return to Sporting B this morning. No Reis either but Geny is fit again to take his place in the squad.
Estoril Starting XI
1 Robles, 4 Ferro, 25 Bacher, 44 Boma, 10 Holsgrove, 2 Sánchez, 45 de Paula, 24 Amaral, 12 Carvalho, 9 Marques and 99 Guitane
First half
Sporting in their traditional green and white horizontal stripes. Oasis blares around the stadium “You gotta make it happen!” Portugal up to date with its music choices on a matchday as always. Swaps to Queen We Will Rock You. I'm convinced the country is stuck in a time warp. Estoril get us underway, Sporting attack right to left.
2 The lions make it across the half way line for the first time in the game. That's one for the books. Long ball to Quenda and he's got a head like a trampoline and put for a goal kick
4 The lions happy to concede possession for now. Sportinguista's winning the battle in the stands at least
5 Sublime skill from Araújo to play himself out of danger evading two defenders and tries to set Suárez free down the left but the move broke down
6 Another side who looks well drilled in defence with a 3-1-4 or a 5-3-1 defending on how deep they are. Going to be a long night
7 Corner far side to Sporting. Almost 1-0 as Morita takes a shot first time from 8 yards but wide of the left post. Head in hands, he knows he should have done better
9 Finally the lions the more dominant in possession. Inácio and Debast sat 12 yards inside the opposition half
9 Nuts from Morita as he looks for Gonçalves with a return pass inside the box but the forward had strayed offside and he lets it run out of play
11 GOAL Estoril 0 Sporting CP 1. Hjulmand with a lovely raking ball wide left found Araújo unmarked. His pass was adaptive when off balance first time to Suárez who fired into the bottom right hand corner through a defender's legs.
14 Shot from range spilled by Silva from Holsgrove. I think that may have taken a bounce before it got to the keeper
14 Follow up fired low and wide of the near post again from Holsgrove from 20 yards
17 Shove in the area on Sánchez by Inácio and he goes down theatrically. Nothing given and replay shows just how much of Inácio's shirt he had in the buildup i.e. an awful lot
20 Debast tries to find Suárez in the six yard box but despite his best efforts he can't connect and the only thing sliding into the net is the Colombian a la Jürgen Klinsmann. Reference for the kids there
23 Morita tries from 21 yards but slices the ball with the outside of his left foot. If there's a golfing equivalent of the Ryder Cup in Asia he's not getting picked off the strength of that tee shot
25 It's amazing how much space Araújo is being afforded down the left. I wonder if he's sprayed top to toe in deep heat
25 Trincão down in the centre. He fell heavily on his wrist rather than anything necessarily wrong with the challenge from de Paula.
27 I might by lying about the above as Trincão rolls his sleeve up to reveal two large grazes of where his skin used to be unless he has two odd giant red tattoos. Times like these you know I'm not lying when I say I don't edit them after the game to make myself sound clever
29 Corner far side for the lions aimed at the near post and headed out for another corner. Quenda tries the same again but out for a third which this time Robles punches clear as far as I think Vagiannidis who connects with nothing but air on the edge of the area
31 So close to 2-0. Quenda passes into the six yard box where Suárez lunged and took out Gonçalves who was better placed but actually looks offside and he knocked the ball over the bar before being sent in the air and landing on Robles. All that was missing was the Benny Hill theme and the flag from the assistant referee
32 Late challenge by Araújo leaves Sánchez in a heep. He certainly looks in a lot of pain
33 ➡️⬅️ Sánchez is aided off the pitch by staff either side. Carvalho on
34 Corner near side for Estoril. Similar to the lions corners played looking for the first man at the near post but claimed by Silva
36 There's a lot of crackling sound. Either fireworks are going off or someone is grilling some monster sausages
37 Morita's chip shot better than his tee as he tries to find Trincão inside the box but despite his best efforts he cannot connect and the ball goes out for a free kick
40 Estoril close to an equaliser. Debast turned with two players behind him and dispossessed. Thankfully they got in each other's way which allowed Silva to rush out and he saved from Marques and the ball fell behind and out for a corner. You wonder if they'll get a better chance all night to score
41 Quenda shot blocked from 20 yards. Think that might have actually come off a Sporting player
44 Volley from wide left on the edge of the area from Amaral has Silva stretching but never really in any trouble. I think he was offside anyway and wouldn't have counted had it found the target
+3 shown
+1 Clash of heads inside the area as the substitute Carvalho took an elbow into the face by Araújo who headed clear. Ironically the same happened in the pigeons game last night and certain Sporting fans were questioning why it wasn't a penalty. I imagine they're not now. Hjulmand actually pushes him into the path of Araújo as well. Suárez limps off the field as the whistle is blown.
Half time
Estoril Praia 0 Sporting CP 1
Halloween must be fast approaching with Debast’s horror show just before the end of the half and he'll owe his goalkeeper a drink for getting him out of trouble. Five shots a piece but the XG tells the real tale at 0.19 to 0.84 and whilst its not been pretty on the eye, the lions deserving of their slender lead. With one eye on Napoli on Wednesday we'll have to see if Suárez returns for the second half.
Araújo the real danger man and the difference between him at Mangas attacking and defensively is night and day. Morita has had plenty of involvement from midfield but maybe just lacking sharpness in the final touch. Quenda with a great ball into the box when Gonçalves and Suárez got in each others way but has largely been ineffective on that side albeit they seem to think he's the danger man and have overloaded that side of defence and largely ignored anything on the left which is the key I think for Sporting getting a second goal. Once more the lions guilty of wayward passes which is fine against a faltering Estoril side but they won't get away with it on Wednesday night against Napoli it's fair to suggest. There's always a danger with these games that one eye is on the Champions League. They need to open the other and get the job done here first.
Second half
Suárez back out for the second half so whatever was bothering him clearly passed.
➡️⬅️ Kochorashvili on for the second 45 replacing Morita.
45 The lions get us back underway
46 The lions unlock the Estoril midfield and defence but a poor first touch inside the box from Trincão and Estoril clear their lines
46 Sporting allowed space again wide left. Gonçalves cuts back and his cross headed out for a corner
47 Yellow de Paula. Lost control of the ball and stretched trying to recover and took out Suárez who took a whack on his shin for his troubles and is down receiving treatment
50 Debast finds Gonçalves with a lovely pass wide left. He hooks it over into the centre and Robles with a poor punch only found Hjulmand. Flag up against Gonçalves in the buildup. I'd have Alisson ready to go on that side
52 Araújo finds Quenda inside the area but his header back straight to a defender
53 Inácio with a misplaced pass puts the defence under pressure. They've not covered themselves in glory the central defenders tonight at various points
54 The Sportinguista's bouncing to the tune of Hitlers only got one ball in the corner on the far side. Indication of how interesting this game is. I'm always guessing they have no idea what is sung to the tune in England. Himmler had something similar and Mussolini had no balls at all...
55 Vagiannidis and Kochorashvili combine inside the box and Robles saves from the latter from 5 yards but the offside flag up again, this time against the Georgian in the buildup
57 Hjulmand on defensive duties cuts out a cross field pass and then clears the lines. Good work from the skipper
58 Suárez holds his head in his hands as he's penalised in a 1 on 1 with Boma. Correct call from the referee as the replay shows the Colombian stood on his foot albeit accidentally
60 Gonçalves back on defensive duties wins a free kick
61 Yellow Marques for not retreating 10 yards as the free kick was taken and blocked the ball. His side under no danger given the ball was yards from the Sporting goal. That was just stupid and Cathro's ginger will be fast turning grey when his players do things like that
62 Silva with supreme confidence to leave his goal unattended and wide open, passed to Debast who plays it to Hjulmand who went down under a challenge from de Paula. They're determined to shoot themselves in the foot
63 Yellow Hjulmand for a pull back in midfield
63 ➡️⬅️ de Paula off for Lominadze and Marques for Lacximicant
66 The only good thing coming from the visitors is the sound of support from the travelling fans. This game needs a second goal and preferably to the lions for obvious reasons
67 I'm surprised Quenda hasn't been pulled. He's offered virtually nothing in either half
68 Woeful from Gonçalves who shanks one into the boxes from 22 yards
69 90s music at half time and 90s football as Quenda hoof's it long for Suárez who held it up for Gonçalves whose pass found Trincão but Estoril back in numbers by that point and the move broke down
71 Gonçalves over runs the ball and gives it away. This is dreadful
71 Araújo wins a corner far side
72 Corner played short and Kochorashvili plays it out for a goal kick.
73 ➡️ ⬅️ Fresneda for Vagiannidis, Doris for Suárez and Geny for Quenda
73 Trincão takes one square in the place you don't want to take one. He clearly felt that. Not so GQ front cover material anymore as he lays crestfallen with his crown jewels smarting with pain
74 ➡️ ⬅️ Amaral for Begraoui and Guitane for Garcia
74 Geny concedes a corner near side. Fell to Carvalho who fires high into the covered stand from 17 yards
77 The longer this stays at 1-0 the more the home side will press for an equaliser. Can the lions keep their defensive shape and can they take advantage of any space left at the back?
78 Doris oddly penalised for a foul in midfield as he turned his man. Not sure how that was given against him but the referee was right on the spot so he must have seen something we didn't
79 If we play this badly Wednesday night we are going to be in a world of trouble
80 Good defending from Araújo cuts out a pass in the final third for a throw. I'm struggling to find anything good to write about this half
81 Araújo claps his hands and tries to rally his teammates into life after he heads back to Silva to cut out another cross
82 Calm from Fresneda to chest a cross back to Silva on the goal
82 Foul by Kochorashvili penalised. I'd forgotten he was playing
83 ➡️⬅️ As the rain now comes down heavily Sporting make their final substitution. Alisson finally on for Gonçalves. He stood with the rain falling down arms aside, hands up praying to God. Let's hope he answers my prayers because this game has been dog shite
84 Yellow Geny as he jumps into a tackle and clips one of the Estoril substitutes
85 If this was on DVD at least you could eject it or hit fast forward
85 Yellow to Begraoui for a foul on Fresneda
86 Alisson with his first touch runs at the defence and causes all sorts of issues. What minute did I say he needed to come on? Positive impact from the start again from the youngster. That was an electric run down the left and into the box
87 Inácio with studs into the foot of Holsgrove. Free kick thankfully cleared. Sporting living a dangerous life. Araújo with the calm head once more
88 Geny tries to split the defence but loses possession
88 Carvalho takes the yellow as he basically has to wrestle Alisson to stop him getting away again. I'd be in the same position of desperation the kid is fucking rapid
89 Alisson again causing issues almost found Trincão but Robles just got the ball. Deflected off a defender on the way through.
Plus four shown
90 Doris wins a corner far side. Alisson shoots from 20 yards and deflected for another corner. Might have been a VAR check for handball given they showed the referee on the Mic after but not given
+1 Estoril clear their lines and the ball ends all the way back with Silva
+2 Cathro staring into space crouched down on the sidelines cutting a lonely figure. You could have photoshopped Amorim's head onto his body and never known the difference
Full time
Estoril Praia 0 Sporting CP 1
The final word
Huge cheers at the final whistle. Not for three three points but because the game was over. That was dreadful to put it politely. Still three points are three points however they come and it should make my summary all the easier and shorter if nothing else.
I get that players have a Champions League game on their minds and they're only human and being professional footballers doesn't mean they're any less fallible than the rest of us mere mortals. Sporting are always pretty crap in the rain. I don't know if it was like that for a full 90 minutes but I'm trying to give them an out. The important part was the three points to keep the pressure on Porto at the top ahead of their game on Monday night away to Arouca. It does at least leave the two sides level on points for now. Porto have conceded the 1 goal all season, scoring 15 the other end but given the 1 was an own goal they could claim to have scored all 16 in fairness to them.
So let's try pick the positives from the game. Clean sheet for Silva. Maybe fortunate with the shot that he spilled but he was still aware enough to keep it out and send it away from danger. His save from Marques definitely helped secure all three points. He's going to get my first vote for man of the match. Suárez with another goal to add to his growing tally. Who said am I clutching at straws? You get no points for stating the obvious. Look let's be fair the XG was 0.21 to 1.21 and the game finished 0-1 so it all ties up into a neat bow. I wish I'd screenshot Ian Cathro at the end of the game because his look on his face is the best summary of a game you could have without the need for words.
So if Silva was my first vote you know it's going to be tough pickings. Alisson despite being on the field for a total of 11 minutes looked electric and he gets my second vote which says how poor everyone else was in a green and white shirt pretty much. I was pretty rapid as a kid but I'd have been five yards behind him from the off. He was electric from his very first touch and missing out on Jota Silva seems a blessing with his cameo appearances in the last three games. He's raw but you can see he's got talent in abundance. I look forward to seeing how he develops very much and if he continues in the same manner he can't be far away from his first start especially with the Taça game on the horizon.
I'd give the fans a vote who were superb value but that's cheating. I'm going to go Fresneda for the third. Again says so much for the other players given he came on in the 73rd minute but he was cool as the proverbial cucumber and didn't put a foot wrong and a calm head when one was desperately needed. That just leaves my final vote and man of the match which goes to Maxi Araújo. Until Alisson came on he was the main threat for Sporting. Provided the assist for the opener. Looked great defensively and offensively first half and whilst his role changed second half, at the death, like Fresneda on the other side he cut out the danger time and time again. To be fair he had my vote pretty much sown up for me by half time.
So on to Napoli who lets not kid ourselves will be a much bigger threat. Going into tonight's game I didn't hold any hopes of getting anything from Naples and that performance hasn't changed my mind. In fact it's actually filled me with more dread. I feel sorry for Cathro because being a coach can clearly be a lonely place. I hope someone gives him a hug. I also can't wait to see the neighbours fans jump all over our fans who were claiming a penalty should have been awarded for the same thing that Araújo did in their game last night. Sometimes it's better to stay quiet. There will have been a rush before half time on the socials going delete, delete, delete. Still for any kids watching on tonight who badgered their parents to stay up late, they might not be so keen to ask again when we're playing Braga on Sunday week. Every cloud and all that ...
Thank you for taking the time to read this it is greatly appreciated. Please feel free to add a comment below. Also feel free to disagree with anything I've written.
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