Sporting CP 2 CD Nacional 1

Sporting CP v CD Nacional
Sunday February 1st, 2026
Estádio José Alvalade
Matchday 20

The warm up 

I've spent the best part of 40 years watching football of all levels. I'm of an age where on the pitch I've pretty much seen it all now, both good and bad. The faces change of course, the defeats as you get older become easier to park than when I was younger. You reach an age where you can remind yourself that everyone is human, that you're not perfect yourself and mistakes can happen. Things are only personal to you because you believe it to be the case. In football as in many spheres of life it's simply not the case so you're a fool to believe otherwise. We're all merely bystanders and witnesses and some weeks will be better than others. Ride the highs and lows like the waves of the ocean. If you get wiped out, pick yourself back up. When you ride the big waves such as weeks where you beat PSG and Arouca in additional time, don't kid yourself that it will always be like that, you're only ever 90 minutes away from the possibility of a crishimg disappointment. Always stay prepared for what could be thrown at you next. One of the reasons I love watching Sporting and the Portuguese league in general is that it's not yet been sanitised. I gave up watching the Premier League years ago now. Somewhere along the line they started selling the game in England as a narrative as if you're watching an episode of EastEnders. If I wanted to watch EastEnders there's a clue in what I'd do with my time. To some extent that may be true of the Portuguese league, but not being able to speak Portuguese if it is true it passes me by and having seen it all more than once on the pitch what I love more than anything is the emotion the spectacle brings. The little moments you see in the crowd as well as on the pitch. The passion of the fans on Matchday is what brings me back every week. I have a theory that everything sounds better in a language that's not your mother tongue and that you don't understand. Just don't ask me why. My two favourite things of the season to date have come in the past week and they weren't that Sporting had beaten PSG the current European Champions and then beaten Arouca in additional time. The first came watching the reaction of Rui Borges, the man who when Sporting went 1-0 up against PSG was calmness personified, dignified and professional. Yet when the second went in he couldn't hide his true emotions and the unbridled joy of him running along the touchline in celebration was magical for me. That's what football is all about. All those hours of coaching, the sacrifices made away from your family and loved ones, being able to answer all your critics in the biggest way possible. ‘He doesn't win the big games!’ some cry. Well you've just had to eat your own words there. Of course it's all nonsense anyway. Some people have short memories. His first game as the mister of Sporting was the Dérbi which he won. He won the Taça de Portugal… in the Dérbi. No coach wins every game. The man shows great humility and respect every day and he's lost one league game. ONE. He's taken a side wedded to a 3-4-3, dismantled it and rebuilt it in his own image. Os Três Grandes have lost 1 game between the three of them to date this season. The Portuguese league of 2025/26 is potentially going to go down as probably one of the worst in its history with AVS still only on 5 points at the time of writing still to win a game. If we don't win the title again it will be because presumably Porto were the best team and deserved to win it. Don't spend your lives getting caught up in the perceived fairness or unfairness of decisions that did or didn't go your club's way. Worry about loved ones, friends and the state of the world in general. Football is just a game. The second image that warmed my heart was the sight of Geny and Fresneda both dropping to their knees in synchronisation when Suárez scored the winner against Arouca. You'd have thought by their reaction that they'd just conceded to lose the game, not see their teammate win 3 points. A beautiful reminder that it means just as much to them as it does to the people in the stands and at home watching on. Whatever happens between now and May, those are the things that will stick with me. Those are the things that bring me the most joy and why I like writing minute by minutes because whilst I try paint a picture of what's happening on the pitch for anyone that might not be fortunate to be able to watch the game, I want to paint the entire picture as best I can not just the goals, the misses and what's happening on the pitch. To remind you what it is to be a fan on a Matchday. I can't give you the sounds and smells but if you've been I can at least try remind you all of what it's like on the terraces. I'm always eternally grateful for all that read my pieces so thank you one and all. I'll stop waffling now and get on with the next matchday preview.

The games seem to be coming again thick and fast. No rest for the wicked as my mother has told me since I was knee high to a grasshopper. Nacional the visitors to the José Alvalade, last season the two sides met 3 times in all competitions with the lions winning all 3 to an aggregate score of 11-2 which included a 6-1 thumping of the then newly promoted side away from home. This season's reverse fixture saw the lions capitalise on a first half sending off for the home side to win 4-1 with a hat-trick from Pedro Gonçalves and a goal from the now departed Conrad Harder. I wonder if he regrets his decision to leave? 

Nacional will go into the fixture in 11th place after securing a convincing 4-0 home win to Rio Ave on Sunday afternoon which saw them stretch their slender advantage over the sides in the relegation places to 5 points and leapfrog their opponents who now sit in 12th. The win was their first in five and only their second win in 12 games since mid October. To date they've still only won six games in all competitions from August through the end of January. How I'm sure we take winning most weeks for granted by way of comparison. Note to self. 

Nacional have a record of one win against the lions in the last 26 games in all competitions, 7 draws and 18 losses. The last point they claimed was in October 2016 in a 0-0 draw and have lost nine on the spin since. That one solitary win came in the February of 2011. Whilst Sundays win against Ave was their biggest of the campaign, the 4-1 at home to the lions remains their biggest defeat. They'll be under no illusions going into this game with a record of five wins, five draws and nine defeats having kept just 3 clean sheets all season that Sporting in the José Alvalade even after a midweek trip to the Basque country is as tough a game as they'll face all season. Goals for 26, goals conceded 28. Of their 26 goals 12 have come from open play, 9 from set pieces and 5 from penalties and they're running almost level pegging with their XG sat at 25.2. 

Top scorer is Jese Ramirez with a highly creditable 13 goals with 5 from the penalty spot. Ze Vítor has 4 and the other 9 goals shared between 6 players. It's tight as a ducks arse from second bottom upwards with AVS looking a certainty to be relegated so every three points is precious and if they lose Ramirez's goals you have to imagine they'd be in big trouble. For a side who've struggled to win they've the sixth best goals return level with Moreirense on 1.4 goals per game. Goals conceded per game - 1.5. still 28 isn't bad when you compare to the sides below; AVS 47, Casa Pia 38, Arouca 44 and Estrela 36. That Porto have conceded 4 ahead of their game to Gil Vicente tomorrow is an astonishing feet and credit where credit is due. They're not top by accident. 

38 big chances created which is the seventh highest record. In total Nacional have missed 21 big chances which averages out to 1.1 a game so if they could just improve that by say 25% in the back half of the season that could be the difference maker alongside the chances that Ramirez is already taking. On the road they need to pick up more points having collected on average 1 point per game. Played 10, won 2, drawn 4, lost 4 averaging just 1 goal a game and conceding 1.1 which in truth isn't a bad record. Their strength is also their Achilles heel in that they benefit from sides having to fly onto the island for games but then struggle when they have to do it the other way. I've written plenty about the Madeira based side before so I won't repeat myself again but after 9 home games they're averaging 2,333 spectators per game with a total of 20,999 bums on seats and in a tight small stadium even just half full to capacity with mostly partisan homes will be to their benefit. Bad weather is a great leveller in Portuguese football and it's not all sunshine and smiles as we saw on Thursday in Braga when they hosted Nottingham Forest and whilst Arouca wasn't nearly as bad Saturday it did stop Sporting from their normal game. Being located near the ocean in winter will have it's advantages I'm sure. 

Second highest record for interceptions per game on 9.4 and again with clearances per match with 31.9. Third for the most average fouls per game with 15.1 which equals the second highest total of red cards with 5 and joint third highest number of bookings with 50. The lions as already mentioned benefiting from the sending off in the reverse fixture. Nacional will have the added benefit of 3 days extra rest going into the fixture with Sporting playing Wednesday night in the Champions League and their players and coaching staff will have seen what happened when Arouca took the game to them in the second half on Saturday. However let's caveat that poor second half performance by pointing out that PSG had them pretty much non stop chasing after the ball for a full 90 minutes whereas Athletic Club are more likely to be happier to see Sporting in possession of the ball or if not it'll be more evenly matched and Nacional unlikely to draw the same type of advantage and certainly not if they cannot keep eleven on the pitch. 

Since the two sides met last in August they've added two new faces to their squad, one in each window. Daniel RW signed from Vitória in Brazil for £581,000 and Gabriel Veron a 23 year old RW has on loan from FC Porto. Outgoing, again 2 players, 1 in each window. Festim Shatri released as a free agent in the summer and Josue has gone on loan to Democrata GV in his native Brazil. For all other summer window transfers please refer to Matchday 3 post for full details. 

https://outsideofthepride.blogspot.com/2025/08/cd-nacional-v-sporting-cp.html

Nacional's season to date

Matchday 1 – Gil Vicente (H) First Half goals from Pablo and Esteves are enough to give the visitors all 3 points with a 2-0 win. XG 0.79 to 0.62. Neither side creating a single big chance over the course of the 90.

Matchday 2 – Rio Ave (A) Nacional fell behind after just 12 minutes and their afternoon was made harder when Ulisses Rocha was dismissed 7 minutes before half time for a second bookable offence. However they were handed a lifeline when Ramirez equalised 8 minutes from time for them to collect their first point of the season in a 1-1 draw. XG 1.37 to 0.88. Ave missed 1 of their 2 big chances, Nacional missed their only one.

Matchday 3 – Sporting CP (H) Nacional took the lead after just 2 minutes through Leonardo Santos, however were reduced to ten men in the 36th minute when Pablo Ruan collected a second booking. Gonçalves equalised 7 minutes into the second half. Luis Suárez had the ball in the back of the net in the 65th minute but the goal was disallowed. Finally with 15 minutes the lions took the lead for the first time as Gonçalves scored his second. Conrad Harder put the game beyond Nacional’s reach in the 83rd minute and the home sides misery was complete with a minute to go when Gonçalves completed his hat-trick to turn the game around fully from 1-0 to a 1-4 loss. XG 0.66 to 2.59. Nacional missed both their big chances, Sporting 4 of 6.

Matchday 4 – Casa Pia (A) One point from the opening 9 for the visitors going into the game. First half goals from Boia and Ramirez were enough to secure them their first victory of the campaign with a 2-0 away win. XG 0.66 to 1.27. Nacional scored both their big chances, Casa Pia missed their 1.

Matchday 5 – FC Porto (A) Nacional were punished in the 30 minute when Aghehowa converted a penalty to give the league leaders a 1-0 lead. From that point there was only going to be one winner with the visitors XG 0.09 to 2.18. Porto missed 2 of their 3 big chances, 0 created for the visitors as the game finished in a 1-0 loss.

Matchday 6 – Arouca (H) Nacional maybe wondered it wasn’t going to be their day when Ramirez missed a penalty after 3 minutes gone. However he redeemed himself in the 65th minute from the penalty spot to make it 1-0. Popovic made the scores level just 8 minutes later. In a crazy ending to the match, Nacional were reduced to 10 when Matheus Dias was given a straight red card. Fontán was dismissed for the visitors for a second yellow with 6 minutes remaining. van Ee scored the winner for Arouca with 2 minutes before time which resulted in the home coach Margarido being sent off. Ramirez would then have a goal ruled out in the 4th minute of additional time and also pick up a yellow for his troubles a minute later. XG 2.70 to 1.22. Nacional missed 2 of their 3 big chances, Arouca scored both of theirs in the 2-1 win.

Matchday 7 – Braga (A) With just one win in their first 6 games the pressure was already beginning to build for the islanders, however Ramirez relieved some of that with a 5th minute goal which proved to be the only one of the game. XG 0.61 to 1.77, Braga missed their one solitary big chance, Nacional missed 2 of their 3.

Matchday 8 – Moreirense (H) Buoyed by the away win in Braga, Nacional added a third win of their campaign 3-2 though not before falling behind to a Sousa goal with just 3 minutes on the clock. Ramirez equalised from the penalty spot on 20 minutes. Kiko put the visitors back ahead in the 55th minute before Santos equalised a second time just before the hour mark and a second Ramirez penalty 7 minutes before time secured the home side their first two wins on the bounce. XG 2.64 to 1.97. Nacional scored 3 of their 4 big chances, Moreirense missed 3 of their 5.

Taça de Portugal - Rebordelo (H) – Nacional raced to a 3-0 lead within the opening 35 minutes with goals from Goncalves, Witi and Watts. Marinho scored a consolation 10 minutes from time but Nacional had a third straight win all in competitions and a place in the 4th round secured.

Matchday 9 – Estoril (H) Despite a Vitor goal giving the visitors the lead, a Begraoui penalty just before the hour mark was enough to see both sides share a point with a 1-1 draw. XG 1.74 to 1.47. Estoril missing 1 of 2 big chances, Nacional 2 of 3.

Matchday 10 – Famalicão (H) After four games unbeaten, Nacional lost their first game of November. Joujou scored a minute into additional time at the end of the first half for the goals only game. Nacional’s misery was completed when Ze Vitor was shown a second yellow card in the 63rd minute and were reduced to ten men. XG 0.39 to 1.62. Each side missed their solitary big chance.

Matchday 11 – Estrela (A) Despite taking the lead 6 minutes before half time through a Gomes goal, Nacional were the makers of their own undoing once more giving away a second half penalty converted by Sidny Cabral in the 62nd minute. Final score 1-1. XG 2.16 to 1.27, Estrela missing 2 of their 3 big chances, Nacional their only 1.

Taça de Portugal - Braga (A) The Fraggles regained revenge for their shock 1-0 league defeat and were 3-0 up before the break with 2 goals from Horta and a 3rd from Lagerbielke. Baeza pulled a goal back 8 minutes into the second half and Ramirez gave them hope just before the hour mark making it 3-2. However a Gomez goal 4 minutes before time saw the home side through 4-2.

Matchday 12 – Benfica (H) Ramirez gave the home side the lead just before the hour mark. Their hearts broken 2 minutes before the end of full time denied a famous victory first by Prestianni to level and then Pavlidis in the 4th minute of additional time to score the winner in a 2-1 away win. XG 0.39 to 2.40. Benfica recorded a whopping 30 attempts on goal. Nacional scored their 1 big chance, Benfica missed 2 of their 3.

Matchday 13 – Alverca (A) A point dropped away to one of the two newly promoted sides as Milovanovic scored the games only goal 3 minutes before the end of the 90th minute for a 1-0 home win. XG 1.90 to 0.96. Nacional missed their 1 big chance, Alverca 1 of 2.

Matchday 14 – Tondela (H) After 3 straight losses in all competitions, they welcomed the second of the 2 newly promoted sides to Madeira. Nacional reduced to ten men with just 18 minutes on the clock. Coach Margarido was given his second red of the second having seen his side give away a penalty which was missed by Henqyque in the 36th minute. Aurélio scored an own goal in the 48th minute to put the visitors ahead. The ten men equalised through Ze Vitor in the 67th minute. Pefok missed the visitors second penalty 8 minutes into additional time to secure all 3 points for Tondela. To compound their misery, Boia then scores to make it 2-1 to Nacional. Medina is shown a straight red 12 minutes into additional time so both sides are down to 10 and Ramirez converts a penalty awarded to Nacional in the 14th minute of additional time for a precious 3 points in a 3-1 win. It appears they do love a box office ending. XG 2.35 to 3.57. 3 of 4 big chances scored for the home side, 4 of 4 missed for the visitors.

Matchday 15 – AVS (A) Portugal’s bottom side raced to a 2-0 lead before half time with goals from Tomané and Akinsola and they must have been thinking they were closing in on their first win of the season. Ze Vitor pulled a goal back, Ramirez broke their hearts on the hour mark to make it 2-2. Ruben Semedo was dismissed with 22 minutes to go for the home side and the game finished level on 2-2 and Nacional avoided becoming the only side to have lost to the AVS. XG 1.24 to 1.08. AVS scored their 1 big chance. Nacional missed 2 of their 3.

Matchday 16 – Vitória (A) All the goals came late on in this match. Saviolo put the home side ahead with 21 minutes remaining, Abascal added a second 4 minutes from time. Labidi scored a consolation goal in a 2-1 loss a minute into additional time for the visitors. Final XG 0.86 to 1.49. The home side missed their 1 big chance, Nacional missed both of theirs.

Matchday 17 – Santa Clara (H) A chance to see who would be crowned King of the islands. Answer – neither as the points were shared in a thrilling 3-3 draw. Vinicius put the visitors ahead after just 3 minutes. They extended their lead after 14 minutes when Victor scored to make it 0-2. Ramirez made it 1-2 after 20 minutes then drew the sides level with 1 37th minute penalty. He completed his hat-tick in the 49th minute and looked to have secured a vital 3 points before heartbreak 4 minutes into additional time at the end of the 90 as a Manoel goal stole a point for Santa. XG 1.88 to 2.64. Nacional scored both their big chances, Santa missed 3 of their 5.   

Matchday 18 – Gil Vicente (A) Murilo opened the scoring on 18 minutes for the home side. Vitor quickly drew Nacional level 3 minutes later but a Garcia goal on 56 minutes gave Gil all 3 points with a 2-1 win. XG 1.51 to 1.57. Both sides missed 1 of their 2 big chances.

Matchday 19 – Rio Ave (H) Veron opened the scoring for the islanders in the 33rd minute to give them a 1-0 lead at half time. Ramirez made it 2-0 straight after the restart. Santos added a third in the 71st minute and Witi made it 4 a minute before full time to secure a valuable 3 points with their biggest win of the season and their first in 5 games. XG 1.53 to 0.47. Nacional’s margin of victory could have been greater as they missed 2 of their 3 big chances and Ave failed to create a single one over the course of the 90.

Saturday update

Reis has been confirmed as having received a two match ban just for being Mateus Reis. It's alleged he jumped up from the bench, shouted "suck it, dick" and flicked the V sign. All of which doesn't sound as daft as sending Harder off for saying yeah but does read like they were clutching at straws and 2 games and a fine of €2,754 does make you think it was on a page marked with just his name at the top.

Ioannidis is set for a return to the matchday squad on Thursday for the Taça de Portugal game at home to AVS.

Biel has seen his loan cut short in Brazil and has been shifted to Al Taawoun on loan in the Saudi Pro league with no option to buy. 

Chris Grombahia has joined Club Brugge on loan until the end of the season with a potential deal for €2m in place with the lions retaining 20% of his future transfer fee. 

The lions earnings from their current Champions League run now sit at €66.3 million after Wednesday's win away to Athletic Club in Bilbao. Benfica's reward for beating Real Madrid? Two legged tie against Real Madrid. I guess their team talk will be a photo of Trubin and not much more. 

In the markets

Sporting CP 1/11
Draw 13/2
CD Nacional 18/1

Team News 

Starting XI 

Silva, Fresneda, Diomande, Quaresma, Araújo, Simões, Morita, Geny, Gonçalves, Guilherme and Suárez 

Substitutes

Virgínia, Vagiannidis, Inácio, Mangas, Kochorashvili, Trincão, Bragança, Faye and Alisson 

Mateus Reis begins the first of his two game ban following his sending off at Arouca. Inácio named amongst the substitutes despite his early exit against Athletic during the week. His place is taken by Quaresma. A surprise absence from the matchday squad with captain Hjulmand missing and Morita takes his place in midfield. Gonçalves is preferred to Bragança and Guilherme comes in on the left wing with Trincão rested on the bench with one eye on the Clássico next up in the league. Faye is included on the bench following his protracted transfer move. Alisson for now at least still a lion with a move to Napoli on the cards. Silva, Gonçalves and Nel all drop out, however it should be noted Sporting B played and won 2-0 this morning. 

CD Nacional Starting XI 

1 Pereira, 5 Gomes, 38 Vítor, 34 Santos, 16 Nunez, 28 Liziero, 6 Dias, 26 Silva, 11 Boia, 9 Ramirez, 27 Veron

First half 

With Hjulmand missing for personal reasons, Quaresma is handed the captain's armband. Reis looks on his way to CSKA Moscow which has pissed on my chips before a ball has even been kicked. A warm embrace from the two coaches in the pouring rain. Suárez someone pointed out to me this week is on four bookings and thus could potentially miss the Clássico next week. We've a female assistant referee which is always nice to see. 

Nacional in yellow get us underway, Sporting in their traditional green and white horizontal stripes attack right to left 

1 Bum clencher from Rui Silva who miss controls the ball inside his area and nearly lets Nacional in but slides and gets the ball away 

3 Araújo breaks down the left flank and continues his run into the box but his pass only found a yellow shirt 

6 Nacional have completed all of 2 passes in the opening exchanges

6 Guilherme wins a corner nearside 

6 Close up of Quaresma complete with mask and you can see just how much it's pissing it down with rain. Sporting penalised for a foul in the box. Geny just in case fires a shot at Pereira from 20 yards 

8 A bending cross from the right from Fresneda cut out before it reached Suárez in the centre. Important touch there by the defender 

8 Not sure if the Nacional player from wide right was trying to lob Silva or miss hit his cross. Either way it went out for a goal kick 

11 Second corner for the lions as Araújo's cross cut out by Dias

11 Geny comes to the lions rescue. Nacional broke 3 on 1, Quaresma managed an initial block before slipping. Nacional continued goalwards, the ball squared for a shot. The winger had tracked back in the centre and he blocks a goal bound effort from Veron from 8 yards and celebrates stood like the Incredible Hulk as Sporting cleared their lines. HUGE let off for Sporting

16 Amazingly it's still 0-0 and only down to the fact two errors at the back haven't been punished by the visitors. They'll be kicking themselves if they leave with nothing tonight 

16 Suárez dances into the box but found himself in a sea of yellow and Silva won the ball back 

18 Nacional defending with a flat back… 7. That's not a typo. Seven bodies back in a defensive line

18 Fresneda wins a corner far side

19 Diomande's header from 8 yards goes well wide and despite his protestations that it came off a defender, out for a goal kick and no repeat of his heroics from Wednesday night. That's the first chance of the game for Sporting 

20 Suárez busy again inside the box turns Dias one way but loses the ball when trying to cut back against the same man 

22 Morita with a deftly weighted ball in the centre of midfield that looked like it was going to split the defence in two but an outstretched Nacional foot stretches and disappointingly cuts it out 

23 Sporting find themselves up against seven yellow shirts once more this time concentrated across the equivalent width of the 18 yard box in a space of no more than 5 or 6 yards from front to back 

23 Suárez header from 8 yards which was in fairness off target and going wide is deflected for a fortunate corner 

24 Guilherme tries from 18 yards but well wide of the right hand post 

28 Yellow for a hand in the face of Araújo by Santos

28 Geny tripped outside of the area and a free kick awarded. 

29 Diomande goes down in the box and appeals for a penalty as Araújo's free kick from 28 yards curled in. 

30 Replays show the Ivorian taken out by not one man but two. Presumably VAR are checking. Little nod of the head from Borges on the bench. Either a nervous tick or someone out of shot has said something to the mister 

32 Finger to the ear and a nod to the head from the referee. Nothing given as we're treated to another replay from behind showing the keeper collect the ball in the exact area Diomande would have been in had he not been taken down and has his run checked 

32 Suárez cross evades Suárez inside the six yard box and bounces off a defender up into the hands of a grateful Pereira 

34 Interestingly when attacking Nacional left three men at the back and a real high line so if Sporting can find the right through ball you imagine that will be their best chance right now 

35 Corner far side for Sporting finds its way to Geny by way of a header clear and his shot from 20 yards blocked 

35 Simões forces a save low to Pereira's left from 20 yards and finally a shot on target from the lions 

36 Guilherme charged free inside the box but as he tries to cut onto his right one of two defenders cleared for a corner 

38 Silva has to come all the way up to the half way line to clear the ball and cut out a potential danger 

39 Gonçalves with a low drive from inside the D straight at Pereira 

40 Morita concedes a foul and somehow a booking as he pulls back Veron

42 Free kick curled in from the right flicked to safety by Diomande and all the way out for a throw on the opposite flank 

42 Good burst of pace from Guilherme to leave his marker like he was away on a bike but he overcooked the cross 

43 Look of disbelief on the face of Fresneda as he body checked Ramirez and free kick awarded 

44 Free kick punched clear by Silva. Dias crestfallen in the box holding his stomach. Referee rightly uninterested. Morita must have mystical eastern powers and cursed him because he made no contact with that area 

Plus two 

45 Pereira to the rescue as Suárez effort is saved low to his right from 10 yards and out for a corner. That's some save in fairness to get down that quickly though in truth the Colombian should have done better with Geny's cross in as Sporting finally broke the offside trap

Half time 

Sporting CP 0 CD Nacional 0

Neither side helped by the atrocious weather. Sporting incredibly fortunate not to have been a goal down in the first minute and really should have gone a goal down when they had their break with 3 players on 1 and Quaresma slipped. Having quite literally weathered the storm, with every pun intended, the lions finally clicked into gear with a series of efforts on target after the half hour mark and Suárez with a left foot effort just before the half time whistle should have given Sporting the lead. 

For the first time as a lion we've seen Guilherme's pace down the left but yet to see any end product. Araújo with plenty of attacking endeavours down the left in addition as Fresneda and Geny have provided from the right but Nacional have flooded the box with yellow shirts. They're happy for Sporting to have space on the flanks and as predicted the best opportunity arose when they committed bodies forward in attack and left themselves vulnerable. XG 0.76 to 0.35. the visitors with the one effort but for the fine effort of Geny to block the goal bound shot it would have been 1-0. 

Second Half 

Sporting out first for once at the start of the second half going through their warm up. Nacional nowhere to be seen. Nuno Santos watching on from the dry of the executive boxes. No changes for the lions as Borges under his jacket hood gives last minute instructions to Pedro Gonçalves. 

Sporting get us underway as Nacional finally reappeared. 

45 Thumb up from Simões to Araújo who tried to chase down a cross from the left into the box but over hit and Nacional clear their lines 

47 Araújo gets his feet all wrong and puts the ball wide from 16 yards 

48 I've got that little voice in my ear telling me this isn't going to be our night. Shhhh 

48 Geny leads a counter attack but his pass cut out. Once more it's when they attack that the space opens up and presents the lion with their best opportunity to get something from this game 

49 Suárez shot blocked from 7 yards for a corner far side. Pedro Gonçalves pass to Fresneda bounced off the Spaniard and fell to the Colombian 

50 Great defending from Araújo as the last man back to win the ball back on the edge of the box 

50 This game is now wide open. Nacional think they can win it. Maybe they can but it's making for a more open game. Let's hope it's not Suárez left in a 1 on 1 at some point this half 

52 This game has flipped with Sporting the side with 6 shirts packed into a tight defensive shape and Nacional the ones holding the high line 

53 Sporting's subs go through their warm up routine on the touchline 

54 Yellow to zé Vitor for a foul on Geny. 

54 We see Reis in the executive box. Still a lion for now 

55 Free kick 20 yards out on the right. Five man wall. 

56 Araújo beats the wall and Pereira palms the ball away two handed for a corner 

56 Corner finds Quaresma unmarked but his header from 7 yards flies over the bar. Possibly hesitated with a mask on there 

57 Geny wide open on the right charges towards the area but gets his touch all wrong as he changed his line and ran towards goal and the ball cleared 

58 Geny comes again carrying the ball down the right. His pass found Simões who was dispossessed inside the area 

60 Guilherme low cross cut out and the Brazilians second attempt over hit

60 Simões wins a corner nearside 

61 Not sure what the hold up is as Araújo talks to the female assistant. Someone has taped something on his hand. After all that an overhead kick clears the lines for Nacional. The camera picks up a tiny spot of blood on the Uruguayans hand. That answers that one 

62 So 0-0 with an hour gone. One attempt still from the visitors. Sporting yet to take advantage of all the space open to them second half 

63 ➡️⬅️ Guilherme for Trincão and Simões for Faye who makes his debut.

64 ➡️⬅️ Witi for Bóia

65 Lions 1/2 for the win having been a massive 1/11 before kick off. Nacional still 18/1. They only need the one goal. 7/4 the draw which looks the best bet

67 Borges the man with the Casio looks pensively on from the dry of the bench 

67 Ball breaks to Gonçalves in the box but his effort blocked from 10 yards as he got it all wrong 

68 Free kick against Suárez on the edge of the area after zé Vitor pushed him over and he catches the defender with the faintest of contact on his calf as he fell and he goes down like he's been shot 

70 Twenty minutes to find a winner otherwise it matters little what we do in Porto. Veron throws himself in the box under contact from Quaresma and play continues 

71 Gomes brings a save from 19 yards 

71 GOAL Sporting CP 1 CD Nacional 0. Trincão sees his effort saved from 8 yards and it fell to the foot of Gonçalves who squeezed the ball home into the bottom right hand corner from 9 yards

73 That goal came from a fine run down the left from Araújo who found Suárez in the centre and the Colombian flicked it onto Pote who in turn found Trincão in space and the lions transitioned from left to right with perfect ease and made great use of the Nacional high line. It's almost like I can actually read a game after all

75 GOAL Sporting CP 1 CD Nacional 1. Disaster at the back as Silva can only palm a Veron shot from 16 yards wide left of the 18 yard box straight at Nuñez who tapped into an empty net from 8 yards 

77 FC Porto with one hand fully back on the league title as it stands. We've had late goals in each of the last three games, four seems a stretch 

78 Borges has left the safety of the touchline as is stood watching on in the rain 

79 ➡️ ⬅️ Gonçalves off Kochorashvili and Geny for Alisson the hero of Bilbao 

➡️⬅️ Da Silva for Labidi and Daniel for Veron

83 Trincão sees his shot blocked from 10 yards

86 Whistles as Nacional play keep ball and Sporting's slim title hopes slipping away with every minute 

85 Yellow to Nuñez for holding the shirt of Alisson for the best part of twenty yards

87 GOAL Sporting CP 2 CD Nacional 1. Suárez stretches to send the ball into the bottom right hand corner from 5 yards on the far left of the box. Suspicion of offside. VAR checking. It's definitely going to be tight. His arm is off but it's where the body is 

90 Finger to the ear of the referee. He makes the sign of the box. No goal. 

Plus six shown 

+1 Finally the game gets back underway. 8 cms Suárez adjudged to have been offside by. Fine margins 

+1 ➡️⬅️ Liziero for Sousa and Ramirez for João. Not sure when those substitutions happened in fairness. Sometime during the ongoing check whilst we were shown the referee 

+2 Pereira down holding his knee. Physio on to attend to the pretend injury. 

+3 This is your season and it's ending one minute at a time 

+5 GOAL Sporting CP 2 CD Nacional 1. He wasn't offside that time. Sensational ending for the fourth straight game. Fuck me. Fuck me. Alisson cross and Suárez with a Golazzo as he drags the ball in with his instep into the bottom right hand corner

+7 Nacional kick off. Thank you to Pereira for play acting in goal 

+7 Referee blows for a foul inside the lions area 

+8 As the José Alvalade erupts in song finally the whistle for full time is blown at 98’54 

Full time

Sporting CP 2 CD Nacional 1 

The final word 

Not for the first time in the last fortnight I feel like I'm in a dream. How have we won another game at the death for the fourth straight game? How has Luis Suárez put that shot away with the flick of the boot onto a pass behind him on the edge of the six yard box when he can't score with the goal open in front of him? I'm shaking my head in disbelief I really am. From acceptance that was our lot for this season to thinking… well if we can get a win in Porto next week. That has to do something to an opponent if they're sat at home watching on, don't you think? I guess we'll find out when they play each other in the Clássico. For now the gap back down to 4 points and we're needing Casa Pia to come up with some magic tomorrow night. A win in the Dragão would cut the deficit, presumably to 4 points. Stop thinking about it man. You've got a game to summarise. 

Well after the first half Nacional could have argued they deserved to be in the lead even if they only managed the one attempt. I've been saying it every game since Geny got back but he's grown in stature and even before he went to the African Cup of Nations I was frequently pointing out his assistance defensively. That we went in at 0-0 owed as much to him as it did to Suárez only poking the ball towards Pereira with his left peg. 

They certainly came out ready in the second half. The fact that Nacional allowed them so much more space was a head scratcher because had they played with the same game plan in the second half they'd have probably come away with a point. It was a game of water polo at points in the second half, really open and entertaining in fairness to both sides. In the 6-1 thrashing at the start of last season they played some good football in the opening 45 but the gap in quality was all too evident that day - A side newly promoted against the league champions, but they've grown since. A bit like Sporting in Europe. With every defeat comes a valuable learning experience and an opportunity to grow. 

I've just checked we did win that and I've not woken up from a dream. I'm 99.9% sure we did but you never know. 

Going back to front Rui Silva had a night to forget. His first touch indicative of his night as a whole as he sent the ball forward and then had the lightbulb above the head moment that shit he better slide in and clear it before it reached the Nacional player five yards in front of him. What he was doing palming the ball to the unmarked Nuñez is anyone's guess and he won't score an easier goal all season long. I guess you can throw shade on the entire defensive line for not tracking back quick enough as well. No Geny Catamo to bail him out a second time. 

Fresneda and Araújo again played well down both flanks and the second half saw the Uruguayan step up through the gears once more and become pivotal in another three points. Diomande maybe not at his best but credit to the man in the mask, his first win as Captain and 90 minutes safely under his belt as he comes back from a broken jaw. That's the commitment you ask of your players. Morita the better of the two in midfield and week by week he's returning to his old self as he looks to sign off his career as a lion in style. For all the running Simões did it was never really his night but at the age of 19 you can forgive him the odd off night. 

Guilherme showed plenty of pace on the left but also plenty of rust given his lack of game time in the past two seasons with West Ham. I'm not convinced he's the better option than Alisson Santos. I'll be gutted if he goes to Napoli but if he does I have no doubts he'll be a big star and if he signs off with the winning goal against Athletic Club and the assist for the winner tonight, well he's written his name into all our hearts. 

Gonçalves slotted into the conductor role vacated by Trincão and maybe it's better that the two of them aren't starting if they can provide the same function although that being said it was Pote who found the pass for Trincão whose shot rebounds back to him to make it 1-0 but still he'd have found someone else on the overlap. It certainly didn't hurt to give Trincão a rest ahead of the Clássico let's put it that way and whether Suárez was in danger of a ban or not I'm not sure but he didn't get booked so either way danger averted. As for Suárez how frustrating is the Colombian? Can I call him the Colombian Michael Antonio? Is that unfair on him? I'm not sure I'll have a think about it. Both players look like that couldn't hit a cows arse with a banjo from 2 yards at one moment, poor when they have too much time to think about it and yet both capable of a moment of genius when there's no time to think and it's purely a split second instinctive reaction. You'd have to be a rocket engineer to understand that one which clearly I'm not. 

Another big night on the right flank for Geny. That clearance in the first half. Alright I'll stop going on about it now but dear Lord, well done that man. Linked up well with Fresneda in the first half, caused plenty of issues for their defence. He's probably in his most consistent and best run of form as a lion. 

You could argue that Trincão came on a makeshift striker and I'd not argue with you. He used the space well and should have taken one of his two efforts but other than that no complaints. Faye came on with plenty of industry and drove with the ball forward in the centre. I'll reserve judgement on him for when he doesn't have to come on in wellington boots. You also feel there's a player in Kochorashvili, it's just we're yet to really see it. Perhaps he proves the difference maker when legs and minds start to tire in the later weeks of the season. Which just leaves Alisson Santos. The only thing he's guilty of is not grabbing his rare starts with both hands. Because as an impact player he always brings something to the table and to potentially lose him to Napoli really is gutting. The kids got talent in abundance and all he's missing is the game time and consistency. If we lose him for a deal worth around €20m I hope someone has the sense to add a decent sell on clause into his contract because his name will haunt us in years to come. He's clearly got the hunger to make it to the top and his highlights reel grows by the week. Despite his pace it's that ability to make his game slow down whilst everyone else on the opposition is still going at full speed and pick a pass that stands him apart for me. You rarely see that at any level. Special talent. 

So four for man of the match. First vote to Araújo whose importance in this side cannot be underestimated, understated, whatever the word. You imagine a lot of clubs are watching him with a keen interest. Showed his importance at both ends of the pitch as he starts the move that led to the opener and as the last man back on a Nacional attack won the ball back to avert the potential danger. 

Second vote to Luís Suárez just for that winning goal alone. What a touch for the goal and in fairness it was a great finish for the goal that was disallowed as well. Just fire balls into him so that he has no time to think, that seems to be the key. 

Third vote goes to Pedro Gonçalves. Last season he took an age to warm up coming back from injury but this time thankfully he's started back much quicker. A performance that other than the goal you might have missed and so often I do as I'm paying more attention down the wings but his link up play around the box whilst simple was still highly effective and his finish whilst unspectacular was still well taken given the amount of goal he had to aim at. 

Final vote goes to Geny for his overall performance at both ends of the pitch in much the same way as Araújo on the other flank. Did I mention he stopped the goal bound effort in the first half? I did? My bad, I'm sorry. 

Whilst he may not have come away with an assist or a goal I think Araújo shades it for me overall. I genuinely am dumbstruck that we've won it in that manner for a fourth straight game. Proof of the old adage that you always keep playing until the final whistle.

Next up AVS on Thursday night in the Taça de Portugal quarter final where the winner will face FC Porto in the semi final. Then the Clássico itself away at the Dragão in the next league game. Here's hoping Casa Pia can do us a favour tomorrow night. I won't hold my breath but you never know.