Clube Desportivo de Tondela 0 Sporting CP 3

 

Clube Desportivo de Tondela v Sporting CP 
Sunday October 26th, 2025 
Estádio João Cardoso
Matchday 9

The warm up

It's set to be a busy couple of days for the lions as they travel first to Tondela in the league on Sunday and then face Alverca away on the Tuesday night in the Taça da Liga. Whilst they are definitely potential banana skins, in reality you'd expect the lions to coast through in both games given their respective starts to the campaign following promotion in the summer to the top flight of Portuguese football. 

Tondela finished top of Liga 2 by a point last season and are owned by the Chinese businessman Jiang Lizhang who also owns the Spanish side Granada CF who currently play their trade in the Spanish second tier. He previously owned Parma in Italy as well as Chongqing Dangdai Lifan FC. I imagine their chants take an age for their fans. 

Founded in 1933 they play at the 5,000 capacity Estádio João Cardoso. They were merged from two village sides, Tondela FC and Operário Atlético Clube and spent a large part of their history in the Portuguese regional leagues before latterly becoming from 2004 onwards what is commonly known in football parlance as a yo-yo club. Or possibly a yo-yo clube given they are Portuguese and one assumes the yo-yo is a ubiquitous term. 36,513 bums on seats total in their promotion winning season at an average of 2,148 per game. One day I'll be bored and work out how many Portuguese teams fans it would take to fill the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille, you've been warned. Despite promotion their current average attendance is way down at 1,552 and given their proximity to Lisboa or lack of it should I say, I'm guessing even the visit of Sporting and Benfica isn't going to do much for them. Their popularity peaked in the 2015/16 season when they managed to average 3,352 per game following promotion to the top flight. The novelty soon began to wear off as attendances diminished season on season and they were relegated in the 2021/22 COVID season after a six year stay. OK so maybe a slow yo-yo which could well accelerate given their poor start to the season ahead of this game. 

Tondela share their nickname with the same name given over to the Brazilian flag - the Auriverdes, meaning gold and green. Whether the words ‘it’s just like watching Brazil’ have ever been sung at CDT however is highly implausible. Maybe more a case of ‘it's just like watching Grange Hill,’ not that, that joke will mean anything to anyone under the age of 40 or who didn't grow up in the UK. 

Tondela as a place shares a huge similarity with our near neighbours in that it's famous for its whining. Oh no wait my bad, apparently the region is famous for its wineries. Easy mistake to make. They're found in the municipality of the Portuguese sub region of Dão-Lafões and if you've ever wondered why these are written in long format and not spoken, there's your reason right there. The town gets its name from a spring of the mermaids where a woman with the horn would toot her flute to warn of impending danger - ao’tom’dela, which literally translates to at her sound, would become Tondela and yes those were clearly euphemisms. Circling back to the wine for which the Dão region is most famous, I could deliver you a lecture on what altitude and the climate does for the sugar in grapes but if I didn't lose you on the mermaid thing I'd probably lose you with that so I'll stop while I'm behind. 

When they were promoted their record read 1 win in 2. Played 34, won 17, drawn 13 and losing only 4 times. GF 58, GA 35. Their home record the second best in the division behind Alverca, played 17, won 10, drawn 4 and losing 3. GF 28, GA 18 and for those eagle eyed and quick witted you'll have already spotted that means they only lost once away all season which is pretty impressive at any level of football in any jurisdiction. After just eight games this season however they've already lost more games in total than the entire course of the last. Played 8, won 1, drawn 2, lost 5. GF 4, GA 14. They've only two more goals currently than sending's off. They're yet to win at home which is never a good sign for newly promoted teams a shy under a quarter of the way through the season. Drawn 2, lost 1, GF 2, GA 3. Christ this game doesn't exactly scream goal fest based on those numbers does it especially with an average of 1.1 goals per game. They're second bottom with AVS propping up the table with their solitary point, one point off Estoril and two off Estrela. We seem to have an inordinate amount of shite in the league this season so maybe there is still hope for Tondela? Just don't let it start this Sunday. 

Two goals from open play, one from a set piece and one from a penalty. Their top scorer held jointly between four players. I'll refrain from making my Sitole joke this season. Their XG is a comparatively whopping 11.2 in relation to their goals scored of 4. You'll see why later in this post when I break their games down to date in more detail. That's the sixth highest in the league for reference, Sporting top with 19.3 and having scored 20 which again highlights the massive disparity for CDT in front of goal this season. Total big chances missed sees the lions the most guilty with 24 and I'm sure by now you won't be surprised to learn CDT are second on that list with 18. They've been awarded 3 penalties, converting just the 1. Third worst defensive record conceding on average 1.8 goals per game, above Arouca on 2.4 not helped by the lions scoring 6 past them and AVS on 2.5 who still have us to play. Second in another two tables - Hurrah. Average interceptions 9.6 per game and saves per match 3.9. As I've written before I'm sure there aren't kids in the playgrounds of Tondela rolling that stat out trying to win an argument but you never know, I was a child once. 

They're coached by Nuno Campos who's been in charge since March of 2022 which probably now makes him the longest serving manager in the top flight of Portuguese football albeit that's a guess on my part. 

Head to head not great reading for CDT. Their last 7 meetings all wins for the lions. Their last meeting was in January of last year in the Taça de Portugal and finished 4-0. Braces for Pedro Gonçalves and Lord Voldemort/ Candyman / He who shall not be mentioned. Assists by both Bragança and Nuno Santos. Not heard those names in a while other than to point out they're still injured. I can't remember if I wrote St Juste is injured AGAIN but that's pretty much a given let's be fair. That loss came just a couple of weeks after a 2-1 loss in the Taça da Liga. I bet someone was cursing the Portuguese FA when both those draws were made at CDT. Bragança and Paulinho on the score sheet that night. In their last corresponding league fixture in April of 2022 the lions won 3-1 with goals from Inácio and a brace from Pablo Sarabia. I miss his happy little face and salute. I'm wondering if he was our last loan signing? Possibly, probably…

November 2019 the last time CDT recorded a victory with a 1-0 win and a Bruno Wilson winner in the 87th minute. 

Their campaign began in earnest away to Braga where they suffered a 3-0 defeat. The Fraggles 2-0 up at half time. XG 1.98 to 0.78 and what is going to become a common theme in this thread, Opta defined big chances 3, missed Opta defined big chances 3. They record 7 attempts to Braga's 8. You will be left with the impression all they need is one player capable of sticking the ball in the net on a fairly consistent basis and they might be OK. 

A 1-0 loss at home to Famalicão follows. XG both 1.08, attempts 15 to 14 and again CDT guilty of missing their 1 big chance presented to them. Dirty Pigeons away at the Stadium of Shite who were 2-0 up at half time and finished 3-0 winners. XG 2.96 to 0.47 but to be fair they're playing away against the side with the biggest budget in the league and registered 9 attempts, though 0 big chances. 

Estoril at home. 1-0 down at half time they equalised and went ahead on 90 minutes and their first three points were beckoning. What's always the most dangerous time in football? Yes, correct, when you've just scored. Final score 2-2 as Guitane scored in the 92nd minute to equalise. XG 2.87 to 1.85 albeit their total attempts were 14 to 21. Big chances… 8! Fucking EIGHT and missed SIX. 

Battle of the newly weds. Sorry newly promoted as they travelled to Alverca probably full of hope only to see their chips pissed on with a 1-0 loss coming from an own goal two minutes before half time. Always the hope that kills you. Their XG 2.36 to 1.65, 14 attempts to 12 and probably no real surprises at this juncture to learn they missed 100% of their 3 big chances. I'm starting to wish I'd not re-watched the highlights of Marseille 4 Sporting CP 1 during the week. I say highlights. I called it for what it was in my champions League post, a shit show in which both Adán and Israel were equally as woeful. At some point it has to click for CDT. Just don't let it be against us please. 

A 0-0 at home to Estrela-ela-ela. Renan Ribeiro the man of the match. When the fuck did he sign for the visitors? Who knew? Clearly not me. 17 shots to 8, 1 big chance missed and an XG of 1.22 to 1.09. I skipped the highlights of that game. Finally a win, 2-1 away to Santa Clara. Christmas had come early and even though they conceded at 2-0 up, this time they hung on for all 3 points. The home side with an XG of 2 to 1.53, CDT score with 2 of their 3 big chances. Which leaves us with last time out away to Rio Ave where both sides had a player dismissed. Seems a pattern for them away, 2-0 down at half time and lost again 3-0. Total attempts 13 a piece, CDT missed all 3 of their big chances, XG 2.3 to 0.85. 

Transfers 

Incoming 

Jordan Pefok on loan from Reims
Rony Lopes, free from Alanyaspor
Ivan Cavaleiro, free from Stal Mielec

No me neither.

Remy Vita, free from Fortune Sittard
Yarlen on loan from Botofogo
Christian Marques, free from Yverdon
Joe Hodge, free from Wolves
Xabi Huarte, free from Osasuna
Brayan Medina, £1.7m from America de Cali 
Afonso Rodrigues, free from Desire, mind and senses purified. No I lie. Free from Famalicão.

I noticed there's a few players who've played at Wolves by the way in their squad. Anyone else smell Jorge Mendes' hand at CDT?

Outgoing 

Miro, £1.2m to FC Dynamo Makhachkala

Now you're talking. There's a fucking club name and a half. Makachackalakaboomboom.

Nuno Cunha, free to Paços de Ferreira 
João Cesco, free to Enosis Paralimni

That sounds like what an Irishman might say to his sister when asked to borrow something. 

Cascavel on loan to Academica

Shortest one yet. Thank you Jiang Lizhang.

Next up for Tondela at the time of writing is Vila Real away on Saturday October 18th in the Taça de Portugal. I wonder if there's a fake Vila? Before you come for me I know it means Royal. Well in Spanish at least, I'll assume the same for Portuguese. Yes I know jokes aren't funny when you have to explain them either. 

SC Vila Real 1 CD Tondela 5

The visitors took the lead against their Campeonato de Portugal hosts with a minute on the clock through Yefrei Rodriguez with a vastly changed side from their 3-0 loss to Rio Ave. Vila equalised just before the half hour mark through Chiquinho before João Afonso restored the one goal advantage on the stroke of half time. Yarlen and Henryque scored two in 3 minutes to put the game out of reach and Silthole scored the 5th with 6 minutes remaining. The win only Tondela's seconds of the season in all competitions. 

Sporting B

The youngsters face Lusitania Lourosa at home on Saturday October 25th at 11:00.

Starting XI 

Francisco Silva, Moreira, Felicíssimo, Dias, José Silva, Justo, Mendonca, Romulo, Gonçalves, Nel and Cardoso

Substitutes Used 

Besugo, Gabriel Silva, Rafael, Couto and Costa

Sporting B took to the field in white with pink trim once more highlighting the club's annual campaign for breast cancer. The lion cubs preserved their lead at the top of Liga 2. Lusitania were already on the back foot when goalkeeper Vítor Hugo, not to be confused with the French classic novelist Victor, was shown a straight red card for a foul on 16 minutes just outside the area. Ricardo Moura came on as his replacement and his morning didn't go much better than Hugo's. The visitors' morning was to get even worse when on 25 minutes Josué Sa talked himself into a second yellow card and they were now down to nine men against the league leaders.

A Rodrigo Dias cross was met by a Flávio Gonçalves header into the far corner from 8 yards to make it Sporting B 1 Lusitania 0. 8 minutes into additional time at the end of the half José Silva’s cross from the right found Rafael Nel whose powerful header from 8 yards made it 2-0. Both goalscorers were substituted at half time for Rafael Besugo and Gabriel Silva. 

On 53 minutes a cross from the left found José Silva unmarked wide right and his shot back across goal found the bottom left hand corner to make it 3-0. On 63 minutes Gabriel Silva found himself one on one with the keeper and with a deft touch flicked the ball home past the onrushing keeper from 10 yards to complete the 4-0 rout. 

After a 1-0 loss away to Chaves, Vizela in second place could only draw 2-2 at home to Felgueiras 1932 last night throwing away a 2-0 lead.

Sporting B return to action in Liga 2 on November 1st at 11am home to Feirense. 

Sporting CP Feminino 

The lionesses in action November 1st at home to Torreense at 11:00.

Champions League future opponents roundup

Wednesday night 

Real Madrid v Juventus 1-0

Vinícíus Junior owner of the lions Tuesday night opponents somehow managed to get past three Juventus players inside the area to get a shot away from 8 yards which struck the right hand post and Jude Bellingham was on hand to tap home in the 56th minute for the goals only game. The Old lady with just 2 points from their opening 3 games. The Italians up next for Sporting in the Champions League away from home. 

Athletic Club v Qarabag FK 3-1 

The visitors went ahead after just 49 seconds when two defenders misjudged a throw and could only watch in horror as the ball went over their heads and found the unmarked Andrade whose low shot from the edge of the six yard box nestled into the far corner of the net. They equalised on 39 minutes with a long ball from their own half which caught two defenders napping and Guruzeta burst clear and fire home a shot from just outside the box which their keeper got a hand to, but couldn't stop from hitting the net. The Spaniards took the lead on 69 minutes through Navarro with an almost carbon copy of the Paixão for Marseille, this time from 18 yards flying again into the top right hand corner. Guruzeta grabbed his second on the night with 3 minutes remaining as his first touch lifted the pass to allow him to swivel and volley home from 19 yards into the bottom left hand corner. The 3 points the first on the board for the Spanish side. 

Bayern München v Club Brugge 4-0

Two future opponents for the price of one fixture. With just 4 minutes gone the 17 year old Karl received the ball 38 yards out. Despite the attention of three players around the teenager he was allowed to run into the D and smashed the ball home for 1-0. Didn't take long for things to look ominous for the Belgians. 2-0 came when Harry Kane was left unmarked at the far post with the goal wide open to tap into an empty net from 2 yards. He's already on 20 goals for the season. Bayern the only side in Europe with a 100% record still. On 33 minutes Luis Dias made it 3-0 as he smashed it past the hapless keeper from 13 yards who ended up just waving at the ball as it went past his right arm as if wishing it bon voyage into his net. His night and Club Brugge’s misery completed in the 78th minute when Jackson was on hand to tap in a deflected shot from 3 yards to complete the rout. The Belgian's next up at the José Alvalade. I'm trying to pretend we've not got to face Bayern until I really have to think about it. 

In the markets 

CD Tondela 8/1
Draw 5/1
Sporting CP 6/25

Team News 

Starting XI 

Silva, Araújo, Inácio, Diomande, Fresneda, Hjulmand, Simões, Gonçalves, Trincão, Geny and Suárez 

Substitutes

Virgínia, Reis, Vagiannidis, Quaresma, Mangas, Kochorashvili, Quenda, Alisson and Ioannidis 

Change at the back with Debast's injury sustained on Wednesday night keeping him out of the matchday squad. Diomande comes into his place. On the right Geny swaps in for Quenda and Simões retains his position in the centre for his first start of the league campaign. 

CD Tondela Starting XI 

31 Fontes, 60 Maviram, 4 Marques, 20 Medina, 2 Bebeto, 15 Sithole, 97 Cícero, 17 Cavaleiro, 16 Lopes, 7 Henryque and 29 Pefok

First half 

The lions in black with silver trim. Tondela in their traditional yellow and green get us underway. Lions will attack right to left in the opening 45. Tondela is of course home to the odd things always flying about. It's been a while and I've never figured out what they actually are. 

1 Sporting benefit from a deflection from a defender onto Suárez and the rebound found Gonçalves wide open. Fontes quickly off his line to save Gonçalves shot from 8 yards 

3 Diomande heads wide from a corner on the near side from 8 yards wide of the right post 

4 Cícero heads straight into the hands of Silva from 8 yards 

6 Stinging shot Geny from 20 yards brings a flying save from Fontes 

8 Sloppy from Hjulmand as his misplaced pass ends in a counter attack. Lions regain possession to spare his blushes 

9 Jordy crashes the ball off the bar from 10 yards but was half a yard offside 

11 Gonçalves with his usual level of tantrum with a decision going against him. Parenthood hasn't helped him grow up I see 

14 Trincão and Fresneda link up well on the right and the former tries to then thread Suárez free in the box but Tondela clear. That move came from a far better ball from Hjulmand in the centre to allow the lions to counter attack 

16 Trincão runs clear and gets a shot away from 17 yards which flies wide of the left hand post 

17 Whatever has been on Trincão's mind of late it appears to have passed as he's been far more instrumental tonight

18 GOAL CD Tondela 0 Sporting CP 1. Suárez with a stunning goal to open the lead from 8 yards. He dribbles right between two defenders, cuts back between them both again to the left before firing his shot low past Fontes into the bottom right hand corner. 

19 Yellow to Cavaleiro for catching Geny late 

20 Sporting now level on points with Porto before their game away to Moreirense. The northerners goal difference +18 to the lions +16

24 Clever ball in from Geny found Suárez who brings another save from Fontes from a narrow angle outside the right of the six yard box 

25 Suárez drops to his knees having headed over from 4 yards. Corner far side was met with a Hjulmand header which deflected up and landed at the Colombian who tried to guide it goalwards. This is the sort of game you'd have expected a certain someone to have come away with the match ball last two seasons so would be nice for Suárez to do the same tonight. That's his third chance 

27 Bebeto with a crunching tackle left Araújo in a heep. Free kick awarded but surprisingly no yellow shown 

28 Trincão loses possession in the final third allowing Tondela to counter attack again but Inácio wise to the danger 

29 Marques comes to his sides rescue clearing a ball into the centre from Geny with Suárez wide open behind him 

30 Araújo on the receiving end again as Henryque went through the back of the Uruguayan and shown the yellow 

31 Diomande tries from 24 yards. The end result at least allowed him to get back quickly 

32 So close to 2-0. Suárez found Gonçalves who tries a flick with the instep of his right behind his standing left leg which deflected off his marker for a corner 

33 Hjulmand with a vicious shot from 19 yards which Medina takes on the chest and I can imagine knocked the wind out of both lungs 

35 Three chances from the lions. Geny smashes a shot from 23 yards saved by Fontes. The rebound came to Gonçalves who found Suárez whose shot from 8 yards saved again and a third chance again by Suárez from 4 yards could only be forced forward towards Fontes 

37 Suárez turns Bebeto and his shot from 10 yards is superbly saved by Fontes 

39 The Tondela coach with pen and board in hand. Not sure if he's about to play pictionary or hold up a sign saying wake the fuck up to his outfield players in Portuguese 

42 Save from Silva from Henryque on the right of the Sporting area  

Half time 

CD Tondela 0 Sporting CP 1 

No time added 

The gulf in class all too evident. If the lions were fatigued from extra time last weekend and their midweek exertions against Marseille then they certainly didn't show any signs of it. Fontes has single handedly kept his side in this game with a string of saves in the first half. Suárez will leave the field kicking himself that he's only found the net the once. 

Tondela with an XG of 0.09 to the lions 2.23, recording 4 shots to 16. 3 out of 4 Opta defined big chances missed for the lions which has been their Achilles heel to date all season. Again they have been guilty of misplacing passes which have allowed Tondela to try hit them on the counter but the defence more than alert to the dangers presented. 

Geny a constant threat down the right with Fresneda again clocking up the kilometres in support. Araújo on the end of some rough treatment the other side as Tondela have tried to stop his progress by foul means. Gonçalves has pulled the strings in the final third. Trincão drifted out of the game towards the end of the half but certainly had a much brighter opening as did Hjulmand who is benefiting from Simões youth and eagerness to do the running off of the captain. Silva with an unorthodox save towards the end of the half was also beaten by the shot which hit the bar (which wouldn't have counted as it was offside in the buildup). He needs to switch on more just in case a misplaced pass catches the lions out. Plenty of positives and Suárez must surely add to his tally in the second half and start paying off some large chunks of his transfer fee.

Second half 

Definitely now autumn as the scarves are out from both sets of fans. Alisson and Reis enjoy a joke at half time. Not sure what the Tondela mascot is supposed to be as it poses for photos in the crowd. Maybe a giant crocodile? The lions get us back underway in the second half. 

➡️⬅️ 11 Rodriguez and 48 Manso on for Lopes and Cavaleiro

45 Suárez recorded seven attempts in the opening 45. Hjulmand fires in a shot from 30 yards blocked 

46 Fresneda fouled but play allowed to continue. Suárez finds himself in a crowd of players and his shot from 17 yards blocked. Araújo tries with the rebound from 16 yards and brings a save from Fontes

48 Superb move from left to right ends in a shot from Geny from 7 yards saved low to the keepers right 

48 Gonçalves fires in a low shot from 20 yards straight down the throat of Fontes 

49 At this rate the lions may clock up as many shots as they did in 120 minutes against Paços last weekend 

50 Araújo cross fired towards Suárez put out for a corner near side 

51 Gonçalves shot blocked from 16 yards 

52 Geny has his marker on toast as Henryque can only do his best to chase him back down. The difference on this wing between him and Quenda has been night and day

54 Yellow Cícero for a late challenge on Simões 

55 Tondela cannot get a foot in this game, they'll be seeing black shirts in their sleep for a month 

57 Tondela getting all the more desperate with a succession of fouls to try stop the marauding lions

57 Suárez flicks the ball over the head of Marques and tries to round the keeper but Fontes quickly off his line to stop the danger. That would have been an incredible goal

58 GOAL CD Tondela 0 Sporting CP 2. Gonçalves fires into the roof of the net from 10 yards wide from the left. He turned his marker twice before firing his shot away

60 The fans in attendance who've not stopped singing all evening have had their volume turned up even louder after that second goal 

61 Geny shot goes wide of the left post from 20 yards 

63 Tondela XG 0.10 as Cícero heads over from 10 yards. Shot of one of the Tondela substitutes who has his head in his hand looking at the floor. Perfectly sums up their evening 

64 Suárez has the ball nipped off his toes. Referee has blown although I'm not sure what for. Drop ball to Sporting. Must have touched him en route and automatically play is stopped

66 Corner to Tondela on the near side headed clear and out for a throw 

68 Gonçalves and Suárez combine on the left and the Colombian rounds the keeper but cannot get the ball back under control quick enough and the chance goes begging 

68 Inácio blocks a shot from 20 yards from Manso as he threw himself in the way 

69 Wild shot from Tondela out for a goal kick 

➡️⬅️ Yarlen on for Perfok and Rodriguez for Cícero 

70 Danger at the back but lions equal to it and clear. Yarlen got a shot away straight at Hjulmand and Fresneda cleared the lines 

71 Yellow to Fresneda as he bounces Yarlen off the ball

72 ➡️⬅️ Geny for Quenda and Doris for Suárez. The Colombian as you'd imagine not overly impressed with being taken off unable to add to his opening goal as he shrugs one of the technical staff of making his way to the bench

74 The lions maybe finally starting to tire after their exertions tonight. They've been magnificent in all areas 

75 Araújo fires a ball into the six yard box and the Tondela defender threw himself at the ball to block the pass for a corner far side which found the head of Hjulmand but he couldn't get any power on it from 8 yards 

76 Marques rugby tackles Doris to the floor. Not sure how that's not a booking given this isn't rugby football 

77 Fresneda flattened by Medina who again escapes without being booked 

77 Alisson and Reis set to come on against the side in Brazilian colours 

78 Gonçalves shot blocked from 8 yards. Quenda had passed through the legs of the defender to find Fresneda whose pass trying to find Doris looked like it clipped the heel of the Greek and back out finally to his teammate 

80 Manso shot from 20 yards out for a corner far side and headed clear 

82 Doris heads clear on the edge of the 18 yard box and catches Sithole with his elbow who lays crestfallen on the floor. Not sure why he was trying to put his head on that and rightly the referee only stopped playing because of the head injury. There's no way Doris was aware of his presence with his eyes on the ball at all times and Silthole was incredibly late and will be wishing he'd not even tried at that late stage 

83 ➡️ ⬅️ Gonçalves for Allison and Reis for Araújo 

84 ➡️⬅️ Felix for Sithole 

85 Alisson straight into the action sees his shot from a tight angle blocked 

85 Quenda with three black shirts to aim at finds the red shirt of Fontes 

86 Medina with a wild swing misses the ball comically

87 Dancing feet from Reis a la Araújo against Marseille gets himself clear of the Tondela player 

88 So close to 3. Alisson with that great ability to slow down play again to open space up found Trincão whose shot from 18 yards somehow kept out by Fontes with a save at full stretch to his right 

89 ➡️ ⬅️ Simões for Kochorashvili 

Plus four shown

+1 GOAL Alisson beats two men having started his run from inside the lions half. He passed to Kochorashvili who supplied Reis and his cross found Quenda at the far post to head home from 2 yards. CD Tondela 0 Sporting CP 3 

+3 Alisson could have gone down under the weight of a challenge from 2 defenders on the edge of the box but kept his footing. The move finally ended in a corner near side 

Full time 

CD Tondela 0 Sporting CP 3 

The final word

The final goal sees Sporting level on goal difference with Porto but the northerners ahead by virtue of their head to head record. They travel for a tough fixture away to Moreirense tomorrow night who've won four from four at home. Bernardo Fontes takes the thanks of his teammates and so he should because without him that would have been a cricket score. He's had a heroic night in goal despite the scoreline of 3-0 and if Tondela are to stand any chance of avoiding the drop they'll need him in that form every week. 12 recorded saves in total which apparently is a league record for one game. Tondela with a final XG of 0.36 to Sporting's 3.17. Total attempts for the lions a whopping 29. Four of their six big chances missed. 

There was always a chance that Sporting could have shown signs of fatigue from midweek but their levels dipped for no more than 2 or 3 minutes in a second half in which they were relentless. To a man a great performance throughout though important to keep it in context that this was against a side second bottom who'd not won a home game to date. The lions now with a perfect record of five from five away from the José Alvalade. Of Tondela's efforts six of nine outside of the area and none on target. Their only two attempts on target coming at the start and end of the first half and that XG as a reminder going into the break was just 0.09. 

Certainly no complaints from the lions defensively across the 90 minutes. They dealt with what little was thrown at them and OK you could add a question mark when the shot hit the bar first half but they hadn't played the man onside so I'm just being generous to the hosts. Fresneda and Araújo providing plenty of support down either flanks defensively and offensively. I imagine we'll see changes aplenty Tuesday night in the Taça da Liga though. Hjulmand afforded acres of space in the centre which is incredibly rare and his performance certainly benefited from it and Simões alongside him was of great service. However all the plaudits should really go to those up front. 

Alisson once more with a wonderful cameo from the bench causing all sorts of issues and it was his run which led to the final goal. Doris looked totally unfazed and certainly played his part in both ends of the pitch and it's always pleasing to see a forward helping defensively with a level of self assurity and working hard for his teammates. Quenda with his first goal of the campaign put the gloss on the scoreline but in truth the lions should have been out of sight by that point. Reis with the assist for his goal and it was Kochorashvili who laid the pass for the Brazilians cross so four of the substitutes involved in the move. 

Final four for man of the match. Geny was thoroughly entertaining out on the right. Always positive, the only way to stop him in the end was to foul him. Created 3 chances and 3 of his 4 efforts on target. It's been a good couple of nights for him over the past two games. Luis Suárez will be scratching his head as to how he left the field with just the one goal. He was a constant handful for the Tondela defence. Took the goal superbly as he cut inside two players twice before applying a great finish. He should have had his first match ball to his collection as a lion. Trincão playing the roll of conductor completed 64 passes of his 70 and provided the assist for Pedro Gonçalves goal. Hopefully whatever was causing him issues the past few games is now sorted and we see more of that type of performance. That just leaves one player and my man of the match which goes to Pedro Gonçalves. Assist for the opener, scorer of a wonderful second goal. Like Suárez he was a real handful for the Tondela defence all night and his understanding with the Colombian is really starting to now grow and will hopefully be of benefit to Sporting more and more as the season progresses. 

Alverca up next on Tuesday and Friday.