Sporting CP 1 FC Famalicão 0

Sporting CP v Futebol Clube Famalicão
Sunday February 15th, 2026
Matchday 22
Estadio Jose Alvalade

The warm up

It's Saturday night as I write and I'm still trying to recover from Thursday nights 3-2 laboured win over the leagues bottom side AVS after extra time in the Taça de Portugal. That's the third time the lions have gone to extra time in this season's competition and the third time in doing so that they've recorded a 3-2 victory. Sporting or course the current holders after their win in the Dérbi after extra time in May though that at least was 3-1. Against Paços they recorded 39 attempts on goal over the course of 120 minutes. Thursday night they had 30 and missed all 4 of their big chances. They're definitely making life harder for themselves than it needs to be. Mind you if they average a shot every 4 minutes against Porto on Monday and score 3 I won't be complaining. Well as long as they don't repeat the Supertaça and concede 4 by way of reply. 

By the time we face off against Famalicão, both sides will have played on Monday night. Dave Brailsford and Team Sky were famous for finding marginal gains in their quest for cycling dominance. Well if there's anything to be gained by Famalicão kicking off two hours before Sporting it might be hard to quantify. However the fact they play bottom side AVS at home and we go to top of the table Porto for O Clássico may well have some type of baring. I thought it best to write this ahead of Monday night so that whilst I might be bemoaning the manner of the AVS win in the intro, it might read more upbeat than if we've just thrown away the chance to go one point behind the league leaders and instead find ourselves 7 points behind having failed to capitalise on their recent 2-1 defeat away to Casa Pia. The good news is after both games going into extra time we have at least won the next games, coming against Marseille and Vitória. By the time you read this you'll no doubt know the result and will either be convinced the repeat is well and truly on or consigned yourselves to the fact that at least we're still Champions until May and no one can take that away from us until then. 

The last time Sporting failed to beat Famalicão at home was in April of 2021 when the game finished 1-1. They last lost at the José Alvalade in September 2019 when a Coates own goal 3 minutes before the end of time gifted them a 2-1 win. Head to head in all competitions in the last 16 meetings have resulted in 11 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats for the lions. Sporting if they win will make it 10 straight wins in all competitions. 

The visitors sit 8th on 29 points with 8 wins, 5 draws and 7 defeats. GF 24, GA 19. 6th best record on the road, played 10, won 4, drawn 3, lost 3. GF 8, GA 11. Their remaining 7 away fixtures alongside the trip to Lisboa, also includes visits to Porto and Braga in addition, so that record may be slightly skewed at present. How their season could have been different of they had someone capable of sticking the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis. 

Of the 24 they have scored, 16 have come from open play, 6 from set pieces, 1 free kick and our old friend own goal on the score sheet with an additional goal to add to their tally. They're underperforming their XG of 26.7. 

Midfielder Gustavo Sá is joint top scorer with 4 goals. Despite still being only the tender age of 21 years old he is the sides club captain and rated as one of the best prospects in Portuguese football. I don't know what his release clause is set to but I'd not be unduly upset to find him in a Sporting shirt next season when Morita, and we assume Hjulmand have departed. Having watched Mateus Fernandes again for West Ham against Burnley this afternoon, I'm wondering if we can take legal action against Ruben Amorim for signing off on his departure. My god he's already one hell of a player and we really dropped the fucking ball there firstly in letting him go and secondly for relative peanuts. Anyways, you have to imagine at some point in the non too distant future, Sá will be on his way. Zabiri the other player on 4 though any future goals to his tally will come in Ligue 1 in the colours of Rennes. Dias and Sorriso with 3 apiece, 7 others excluding our old friend own goal share the remainder with either 2 or a single goal to their names. Mathias de Amorim is another 21 year old with a seemingly big future on the horizon. File him with Sá under the header - enjoy them whilst you can. 

They average 1.2 goals per game but that may creep up slightly after Monday night. They concede on average just 1 goal per game which is the leagues 6th best record. That's owed to their ten clean sheets which has only been bettered by Porto and Benfica. 

An average of 4.2 shots on target per game the 7th best record but someway off the lions who top that statistic with 7.3. It doesn't bode well ahead of this game that no two sides have missed more big chances than Sporting and Famalicão with 47 and 34 respectively. Refer back to my earlier comment about how their season could have been so much different if they had someone capable of putting the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis. For added context are their game breakdowns further down below this post. Four games in particular will jump out for big chances missed and how! 

Top for accurate long balls per game with 24.4 on average. Top for accurate crosses per game with 5.3. 3rd most saves per game with 3.2. Top for most fouls per match with 17.5 although that's not necessarily translated into much more punishment than free kicks with 2 sending's off and 51 bookings which is only the 10th highest in the division. 

Famalicão's season to date

A reminder of how Famalicão’s season had gone before the two teams had met at the Estadio Municipal 22 de Junho on Matchday 5. They won their opening match at home to Santa Clara comfortably 3-0 and followed that up with a 1-0 win away to newly promoted Tondela. Points shared at home to Gil Vicente in a 0-0 draw and a third win in 4 came away at AVS 1-0, a game in which they went down to 10 men in the 55th minute, but held on for the victory.

In the reverse fixture they lead through a Sá goal on 16 minutes. Gonçalves equalised on 22, Suárez with the winner in minute 65 to condemn them to their first defeat of the campaign.

https://outsideofthepride.blogspot.com/2025/09/fc-famalicao-v-sporting-cp.html

Matchday 6 – Casa Pia (A) Famalicão took the lead a minute into the second half through Realpe who had missed the game against the lions through suspension having picked up a red card in the win against AVS. A Livolant penalty 3 minutes before the end of the 90 saw the points shared in a 1-1 draw. XG 1.10 to 2.08. Casa Pia scored their only big chance, Famalicão guilty of missing 4 of their 5

Matchday 7 – Rio Ave (H) Points shared again in a 0-0 draw. Famalicão once more guilty of being wasteful in front of goal missing 4 of 4 big chances. Rio Ave missed both of theirs. XG 2.42 to 0.49.

Matchday 8 – Arouca (A) Trezza opened the scoring for the home side on minute 57. Fontán saw red in the 83rd minute to reduce Arouca to ten men and De Haas capitalised with an 85th minute equaliser and the game finished 1-1. XG 0.72 to 1.75. Arouca scored their 1 big chance, Famalicão missed both of theirs. A third straight draw and how different their season could have looked at this early stage had they taken just 1 extra of their big chances over the past 3 games, missing a staggering 10 of 11 created.

Taça de Portugal Round 3 – SC Joao Ver (A) Another comfortable win. A Sorriso goal on the stroke of half time was added to in the second half with goals from De Amorim on 54 and Ribeiro on 77. Final score 3-0 to the visitors and a place in Round 4 secured.

Matchday 9 – Vitoria (H) De Amorim and Sorriso scored for the second straight game to give Famalicão a 2-0 win. XG 1.68 to 0.50. This time Famalicão scored their 1 big chance, the visitors missed their sole opportunity.

Matchday 10 – Nacional (A) Summer signing Joujou put Famalicao 1-0 ahead a minute into added on time at the end of the first half and his goal enough to secure all 3 points. Nacional not helped when Ze Vitor saw red on minute 62. XG 0.39 to 1.62. Both sides missed their one big chance.

Matchday 11 – Porto (H) Famalicão welcomed the league leaders and despite a 1-0 loss, struggled to create any real opportunities in front of goal. Froholdt with the games only goal just after the half hour mark. XG 0.27 to 1.24. They created 0 big chances, Porto missed 3 of 4. Their XG the lowest of their campaign beating the 0.51 recorded against Gil Vicente. Still only 2 losses in 11 league games and both of those coming against two of Os Tres Grandes.

Taça de Portugal 4th Round  - Estoril (A) Famalicão put the disappointment of the Porto defeat behind them as they scored within seconds of the first whistle through Van de Looi. Bondo increased their lead to 2-0 on minute 77. Marques pulled a goal back 4 minutes from time but Famalicão progressed to round 5 with a 2-1 win.

Matchday 12 – Moreirense (A) Zabiri opened his account for the season with a goal on 20 minutes to give the visitors the lead. Schettine drew the sides level a minute after the restart. Sá with his third of the campaign restored the visitors lead but a Pinto goal 11 minutes from time was enough to see the points shared in a 2-2 draw. XG 1.41 to 2.25. Moreirense scored their 1 big chance, Famalicão wasteful again in front of goal missing 3 of 4 big chances.

Matchday 13 – Braga (H) Horta gave the visitors the lead on minute 23. Zabiri scored his second in two games 5 minutes before half time to see the two sides go in level. Pau Victor secured all 3 points for the Fraggles on minute 71 with a 2-1 win to the visitors. Despite the scoreline Famalicão with a high XG of 2.76 to 1.40, reflected in them missing 2 of 3 big chances. Braga missed 1 of their 2.

Matchday 14 – Estoril (H) Back to winning ways with a 4-0 win. Zabiri scores for his third straight game as he opened the scoring in the 1st minute of the match. He becomes their first player to score a brace when he added his second on minute 77. Sá with his 4th of the season made it 2-0 on minute 24. Dias had made it 3-0 after 49 minutes. XG 3.00 to 0.79. NINE big chances for the home side. Importantly they at least scored 4 of those 9. To the best of my knowledge that is the highest recorded total of any side in the campaign. Estoril missed their 1 big chance.

Taça de Portugal Round 5 – Porto (H) Having scored 4 the week before, they found the tables turned as they crashed out of the Taca with a 4-1 loss. Gomes gave Porto the lead after 5 minutes. De Haas equalised after 12 but Froholdt, Aghehowa and Pepe put the game far beyond their reach.

Matchday 15 – Benfica (A) – Just what a side needs after getting thumped by one of Os Tres Grandes the week before, an away trip to the Stadium of Shite. Pavlidis converted a 33rd minute penalty for the only goal in a 1-0 loss. XG 1.28 to 0.21 which was their lowest recorded in the campaign, beating the 0.28 in the 1-0 defeat to Porto. 0 big chances created, Benfica scored their only one. Still despite the defeat, in the league at least discounting the cup loss, Famalicão could at least point to the fact they had lost to Sporting, Porto and Benfica by a 1 goal margin even if they came away without a single point from the 9 on offer. A moral victory at the least.

Matchday 16 – Estrela (H) Famalicão slumped to a 3rd straight loss in all competitions. They were handed the lead on minute 7 through a Patrick own goal but held onto it for all of 2 minutes when Kikas equalised. Ex-Sporting forward Jovane put the visitors 2-1 ahead on minute 23, only for them to throw away the lead 3 minutes later when Sorriso levelled. Jovane however completed his brace in the 50th minute and the goal enough for a 3-2 win to Estrela. XG 2.45 to 0.70. Famalicão missed 2 of their 3 big chances, Estrela 1 of 2.

Matchday 17 – Alverca (H) The second newly promoted team provided an ideal opportunity to stop the slide. However they clearly didn’t read the memo when Chiquinho converted a penalty 4 minutes into additional time at the end of the 90 to see them leave with all 3 points and a 1-0 win. XG 1.10 to 2.10. Famalicão missing all 3 of their big chances, importantly Alverca scoring 1 of their 3. Four straight defeats now in all competitions.

Matchday 18 – Santa Clara (A) Famalicão completed the double over the islanders as Sorriso scored 15 minutes before the end of the 90 to secure a 1-0 win and put an end to their losing run. XG 1.42 to 1.23. Famalicão again guilty of missing too many big chances with 2 of their 3. Santa missed their only one

Matchday 19 – Tondela (H) Another double completed, the promoted side losing 3-0 with goals from De Amorim, Dias and Santos. XG was a bizarre 0.65 to 0.13. Tondela managed 2 attempts all 90, one a blocked shot and another off target that went well wide of the right hand post. Famalicão have started their second half of the season with two wins as they had begun the campaign.

Matchday 20 – Gil Vicente (A). After sharing a goalless draw, Famalicão threw the baby out with the bath water after De Amorim saw red 4 minutes before half time to reduce them to ten men and the high flying visitors ran riot after. Murilo put away a 43rd minute penalty to make it 1-0 to them at half time. Buatu made it 2, Varela scored 2 in the space of 4 minutes and Garcia made it 5-0 to the visitors a minute before the end of the 90. XG 2.69 to 0.11, Famalicão’s lowest total of the campaign. Gil scored five of their SEVEN big chances, the most Famalicão had faced to date. The previous highest being against Sporting and Porto who both created 4 apiece. They failed to create a single big chance.

Matchday 21 sees them host AVS on Monday night as the lions will have travelled to Porto A for O Clássico. For Famalicão at least the benefit of playing a side who were taken to additional time on the Thursday night before, coupled with the fact that since they met on matchday 4, AVS are still yet to win a single game in the league home or away.

Transfers 

Note - the summer window had closed by the time the two sides met on Matchday 5. 

Winter window 

Incoming

Vojin Serafimovic joined on a free transfer from Cukaricki.

Again I swear they make these names up.

Antonio Machado-do-do push pineapples shake the tree from AVS for free. 

I bet he couldn't wait to sign that contract. 

Outgoing 

Yassir Zabiri to Rennes for £8.3m

Hugo Cunha to Galway for free

Off to join the county of my forefathers in Ireland. 

Riccieli to Vitoria on loan. 

Brazilian Vitoria not Portuguese Vitória S.

If you want to know more about our opponents history and where they're based please check out previous blog posts. There's even a bonus blog post still there for the game that never was, cancelled at the 11th hour owing to a local police strike. 

Monday update 

Despite falling behind to AVS in the 49th minute through a Duarte goal, Fama would win the game 3-1 with goals from De Haas, Joujou and Abubakar. XG 2.18 to 0.49. The visitors scored their only chance, Famalicão converted 2 of their 3.

Thursday update 

Mateus Reis has been confirmed as having signed for CSKA Moscow and I for one am sad to see him go. You see players kiss the badge and vanish into the night but the Brazilian always left me with the impression that he genuinely cared about the club and the fans. 222 appearances, 3 goals and the well earned love of Sportinguista's and the boiled blood of opponents especially those of the dirty pigeons and the grape crushers. As free signings go you couldn't have asked for more commitment and entertainment from his antics. 

Saturday update 

Pedro Gonçalves all set to be the main man when he faces off against his older employers tomorrow night with Luis Suárez out through suspension. Pote it should be noted also one booking away from a suspension himself. Inácio and Mangas have 3 bookings apiece so safe for a while yet. Any other players have 2 or less cards to their names. 

In the markets

Sporting CP 27/100

Draw 15/4

Famalicão 9/1

Sporting CP Feminino  

Sporting CP v Racing Power 

January 31st, 2026

Taça da Liga Matchday 5

Starting XI 

Wellmann, Fonseca, Barron, Fontemanha, Cancelinha, Bravo, Hernandez Gray, Nave, Neto, Bonseguendo and Raphino 

Substitutes 

Potra, Pérez, Santiago, Arques, Armengol, Lino, Cherry, Maia and Rodrigues.

The lionesses secured their place in the semi-finals of the Taça da Liga as they secured a 2-1 win on Matchday 5 of the group phase. 15 minutes in Hernandez Gray with a driving run from midfield went close with a 19 yard effort that flew just over the bar. Just two minutes later Nave broke the deadlock as she ran onto a through ball into the area and calmly slotted home into the bottom left hand corner from 15 yards. On the half hour mark Fontemanha made it 2-0 from the left hand corner of the 6 yard box. A mixup at the back saw the lionesses concede in the 69th minute but they held for the victory.

Sporting CP v SF Damaiense 

Friday February 6th, 2026

Matchday 11

Starting XI 

Wellmann, Fonseca, Cherry, Gonçalves, Cancelinha, Bravo, Lina, Hernandez Gray, Neto, Bonseguendo and Raphino 

Substitutes 

Potra, Pérez, Santiago, Arques, Maia, Rodrigues, Schmit, Gonçalves and Tomaz.

With the score level at half time at 0-0 Arques and Santiago were brought on to replace Lino and Raphino and the introduction of the 19 year old Portuguese forward proved to be an inspired one. 

Fonseca had the ball in the back of the net on 58 minutes but her header from 7 yards was ruled out for offside but well worth watching for the delayed reaction of their goalkeeper who seems to jump more as an after thought when the ball had already passed her. Santiago finally broke the deadlock as she rifled home from just beyond the far post pass the onrushing keeper. She grabbed her second on 85 minutes coolly slotting into the bottom right hand corner from 11 yards. The match ball (assuming the women's budget stretches that far and I don't write that to be comical) would be coming home with the youngster when she slotted home a penalty 3 minutes into additional time into the bottom left hand corner to secure her hat-trick, 3 points and a 3-0 win.

Sporting CP v Hammarby IF

Wednesday February 11th, 2026

UEFA Women's Europa Cup Quarter Finals first leg

Starting XI 

Wellmann, Fonseca, Barron, Cherry, Cancelinha, Bravo, Bonseguendo, Arques, Encarnação, Santiago and Hernandez Gray.

Substitutes

Potra, Woźniak, Fontemanha, Pérez, Raphino, Lino, Nave, Maia, Rodrigues, Laura and Tomaz.

A place in the semi finals at stake for the lionesses who take on a side who've not played a competitive game since their 3-1 win over Ajax in the previous round on November 20th. Their last domestic fixture was on November 16th when they routed Brommapojkarna 6-0 at home. Despite their lack of football recently definitely not a side to be taken lightly and to progress you feel they have to take a lead away from Alcochete. Having come on to score a second half hat-trick last time out the 19 year old Santiago is rewarded with a start. The lionesses boosted by the return of Encarnação from suspension following her recent red card.

A 68th minute strike from Emilie Joramo was enough to give the visitors a 1-0 lead to take back for the second leg. The lionesses failed to cut out a Stina Lennartsson cross from the right and it was met with the simplest of finishes from 8 yards out past the flying Wellmann in the Sporting goal.

One day the women's game will have the same significance as the men's. Maybe that's wishful thinking as the club nearly a week on still hasn't put up any highlights of the game. Compare that to the men's where outlets are falling over themselves to upload highlights straight after the final whistle and even with videos of goals during play. How they ever expect to grow the women's game is beyond me and after the nonsense of the Clássico you imagine there's a lot of families out there that would rather their girls and boys were brought up on a diet of honest football that you still get in the women's game when compared to the men's. I say men's which of course means compared to the league leaders Porto. 

Sporting B

Paços de Ferreira v Sporting CP 

Tuesday February 10th, 2026

Matchday 21

Starting XI 

Callai, Moreira, Ramos, Muniz, Dias, Justo, Rayan, Gonçalves, Cardoso, Couto and Nel

Substitutes Used 

Blopa, Felicíssimo, Taibo, Rômulo and Mendonca 

Having beaten Paços 3-0 at home way back in August with goals from Gonçalves, Couto and Ribeiro, the young lions would surely fancy their chances in general in the return fixture. They were boosted by the return of Salvador Blopa to the matchday squad returning from injury. In addition Gonçalves has dropped back down to the B team and despite being on the bench for the Clássico last night, having been an unused substitute Nel was called upon to lead the line. They raced to a 2-0 lead with Nel grabbing the opener on 15 minutes and Gonçalves scored the second on 23. The opener came from a Moreira shot wide left of the area which Ze Pedro could only palm into the path of Nel who was left to tap into the empty net from 5 yards. A goal of real quality from Gonçalves who pinged the ball into the bottom right hand corner from just outside the area. A scare at the back as João Pinto smashed the bar from 20 yards in the 42nd minute. He was made to rue that missed chance minutes later when Nel was fouled on the far right of the area and a penalty was awarded. Dias sent Ze Pedro right and the ball in the bottom left hand corner. In the 49th minute João Pinto took his anger out on the bar for a second time smashing a free kick against it from 24 yards. It clearly wasn't meant to be his night. Callai made a double save with ten minutes to go that ensured his clean sheet. 3-0 the final score.Three points that lifts the B team back above Academico Viseu into second place. 

Team News 

Starting XI

Silva, Mangas, Inácio, Diomande, Fresneda, Hjulmand, Morita, Guilherme, Araujo, Gonçalves and Trincão 

Substitutes 

Virgínia, Vagiannidis, Quaresma, Geny, Bragança, Simões, Faye, Gonçalves and Nel

The big news of course is the absence of top scorer Luis Suárez who is suspended following his fifth yellow card of the campaign. Six days on from the Clássico and I'm still scratching my head over the booking as he kicks the ball not away, not with any malice, but to Bednarek. Still given he was supposedly struggling with muscle fatigue during the game we'll try cling onto the fact that an impromptu rest will be of benefit. One game is certainly better than losing Aghehowa for the rest of the campaign as befell Porto in the Clássico. The injury will see him miss the World Cup in addition and we're now seeing the answer to the question I posed at the beginning of the campaign about what impact the Club World Cup and no pre-season would possibly have. Even having not participate, in mid February we've already played more games than some of the sides we're yet to play in the league will have done by the end of May. Geny is in the squad despite having picked up an injury that was set to keep him out for three to four weeks. Guilherme takes his place. Mangas technically therefore comes in for Suárez but don't panic as Araújo moves from left back to his preferred position on the left wing. Gonçalves and Nel both included on the bench having missed this morning's win over Portimonense. 

Famalicão Starting XI 

25 Carevic, 2 Garcia, 55 Ba, 16 De Haas, 28 Bondo, 6 Van de Looi, 80 Santos, 7 Sorriso, 20 Sá, 23 Dias and 12 Elisor 

One change to the starting XI for Fama as Elisor replaces Abubakar up front. 

First half 

The lions in their traditional green and white horizontal stripes. Famalicão get us underway. Sporting attack right to left.

1 Corner to Fama as Inácio sliced a cross into the air and Mangas took no chances 

2 A year ago today was the Arouca 2-2 at the José Alvalade where St Juste launched the ball five yards inside his own half at Rui Silva who could only turn it into his own net. Hjulmand gave away the most ridiculous penalty before half time and then saw red. 

3 First attempt to the visitors straight at Silva. Fresneda with a short pass lost possession. Sá with the effort from 32 yards 

4 Morita strike from inside the D is blocked. Guilherme with a turn of pace down the right and a smart ball into the six yard box caused Famalicão's defenders confusion initially who could only clear to the Japanese 

5 Araújo with a miss touch inside the box and the ball goes out for a goal kick 

7 GOLAZZO Sporting CP 0 Famalicão 1. Ba dispossessed Araújo and smashed the ball into the net from 20 yards with real violence 

9 VAR check. The referee is going to the monitor to look at a foul on Araújo in the build-up. There appears to be contact from a player behind who took Araújo out

10 The referee fails to connect his microphone. Not that I can understand Portuguese but the goal is disallowed presumably for the foul in the buildup. I thought the initial pass on the far wing was offside but it doesn't matter. Big let off for the lions and it was some strike from Ba 

13 Guilherme finds Araújo open on the box who who was looking for the run of either Guilherme or Fresneda but instead found a blue shirt 

14 Cracking atmosphere as the fans try to lift the players 

14 Araújo fires a shot from 8 yards straight at Carevic. He times his run perfectly with three defenders chasing the Uruguayan down to beat the offside trap. His shot in the end from wide left of the six yard box and took narrow an angle to get any real purpose behind the effort 

15 Break in play for treatment to Elisor in the centre 

17 Araújo with a raking ball wide left to Guilherme opens up space once more but the move ends with Carevic sliding out to collect the ball and take Fresneda down with him 

18 Fresneda penalised for a foul on Sorriso and comically protests his innocence as the replay shows he nearly lifted the players shirt clean off his back 

20 Entertaining start to the game but the lions look like they need a goal to calm their nerves after Porto's win against Nacional earlier this afternoon 

20 Famalicão keeping a high line some 14 yards into their own half 

21 Mangas with a hair band on tonight to keep his curly monstrosity in place 

22 Sporting lose the ball twice again in the space of a minute. Gonçalves with a short pass, Inácio with the interception which set Guilherme away but he sold his attempted pass in the area to Trincão short

23 Guilherme wins a corner off Sá far side 

23 Sá heads clears over the bar from 2 yards for another corner, this time near side 

24 Trincão with a somewhat lazy effort blocked from 28 yards 

25 Another break in play requiring treatment for the visitors. Looks like Sá the man down

25 Diomande from the second corner claiming a penalty with an arm around him from Sorriso. Referee uninterested 

26 Beautiful first touch from Gonçalves outside the box to continue his run but found himself surrounded by more blue shirts 

27 Gonçalves tries to turn and run again but once more there's a line of 5 blue shirts which stop his progress 

28 Fresneda with a smart run and pass back to Trincão who was wide open on the edge of the 18 yard box with time and space but his effort goes past the far post

29 POST Mangas smashes the left hand post from 14 yards. I think Carevic might have got the last touch to push it onto the post  

30 Araújo shanks his shot wide from 16 yards. Sporting finally getting to grips with the Famalicão back line and starting to cut them open at will on the edge of the box 

32 Having started with attacking purpose the visitors have barely been over the halfway line in the last fifteen minutes 

33 Having just written that Diomande failed to cut out a long pass from inside the Fama half and Elisor ran clear with only Silva to beat and somehow put it inches past the left hand post. Big let off again. Famalicão really should be 1-0 up 

33 Sporting come straight back down the other end and Guilherme's shot from the edge of the six yard box pushed out for a corner by Carevic 

34 Hjulmand heads wide from 7 yards 

35 Mangas claims a penalty under contact from Dias in the box but the referee uninterested  

36 VAR is checking the incident and nothing given 

39 Mangas finds Araújo inside the box who tries a backheel to Gonçalves just cut out 

39 Fresneda wins a corner far side 

40 Diomande shot from 11 yards blocked 

40 Dias leaves one in on Guilherme and Sporting with a free kick in a good position wide right 

41 Guilherme finds the head of Hjulmand but his effort goes over from 3 yards. Inácio behind him in the better position 

42 Mangas wins a corner off Garcia near side 

43 Ball finds its way into the hands of Carevic. Not sure who got the last touch there 

44 Famalicão coach looking like a poor man's Milk Tray man in his black roll neck parading the touchline barking out instructions 

Plus six 

45 Mangas cuts out a pass inside the area and Inácio clears 

+2 Gonçalves fires over from 20 yards 

+3 Booking to Gonçalves for a foul on Sá. He misses the next game 

+4 Gonçalves turns his marker but fires wide from 10 yards and the ball goes out for a goal kick 

Half time 

Sporting CP 0 Famalicão 0

Well unlike a year ago the lions have at least avoided going in at half time having conceded twice though in fairness the visitors should have had at least one goal having had the ball in the back of the net and then the Elisor miss. 13 attempts to 2 XG 1.15 to 0.49. The lions for all their industry in an around the edge of the box missing that final killer pass. At times you sensed the opener was coming and at others you start to doubt whether it'll ever come at all. Of course on a night where we can't buy a goal Alisson Santos has just scored for Napoli at home to AS Roma. Some shit you can't make up. 

Mangas looking impressive down the left tonight. Morita back to his industrious self in the centre. Gonçalves, Araújo, Trincão and Guilherme all with promise but all four of them look like they need their settings adjusted by 2 or 3 degrees for it all to click in the second half. Where a winner comes from at the moment I have no idea and that's never a good sign. The worry is if Famalicão finally punish the defence with something that counts in the second period. The lions need to switch on, make sure of their final passes. How this game finishes really is anyone's guess right now. 

Second Half 

Wry smile as Rui Silva puts his towel behind his goal. At least he'll find it still there tonight. Sporting waiting for Famalicão to enter the pitch. Finally the visitors reappear for the second half some two minutes after the lions returned. Sporting get us back underway. Big 45 ahead for the lions. No changes from either side. Does Borges give Nel his first minutes two years to the day after he made his debut against Young Boys in Switzerland? 

46 Sporting patient with the ball looking for a gap to open up and retaining possession moving the ball from left to right 

47 Inácio finds the head of Hjulmand who can only head backwards from 8 yards. Suspicion the Dane was offside anyway 

48 Sá with a shove in the back of Hjulmand in the Sporting box. Would he mind doing the same the other end?

50 Plenty of activity on the touchline as Sporting's substitutes go through their paces 

50 Famalicão actually have the ball inside the Sporting area but Rui Silva alert to the danger and claims inside the six yard box 

51 Yellow to Santos as he pulls back Hjulmand 

51 Sá takes out Araújo a yard outside the area. 

52 Gonçalves and Trincão over the ball. Five man wall for Famalicão 

53 After all that Gonçalves hits the ball into the wall and cleared for a throw 

53 How has the ball not gone in? Morita with a superb run from midfield sent the ball wide left. From the cross in Mangas shot blocked from 8 yards, then Trincão's effort saved from 4 yards 

54 Gonçalves effort goes wide of the far post from 24 yards 

55 Fresneda mops up and heads back to Silva 

55 Replay of Hjulmand taking an arm into the back of the head inside the area 

55 Mangas cleared out. Famalicão racking up the fouls now 

57 Guilherme with an interception in midfield wins a huge cheer. The pressure is ramping up on the visitors 

58 Gonçalves wins the ball inside the box and can't control it 

59 Sá with a vital clearance to take the ball off the toes of Trincão. Corner nearside 

60 Morita wins the ball and the foul given the other way as Garcia collapsed into him. Bizarre 

61 Geny stood ready to come on ➡️⬅️ He replaces Mangas who can feel unfortunate to be the one replaced because he's been great tonight 

62 Hjulmand overcooked his pass straight out of play. Guilherme now wide left was wide open and screaming for the ball that never came

63 ➡️⬅️ Santos and Dias for Pastor and Joujou

65 Twenty five minutes to find a winner. How we could do with Alisson or a Conrad Harder right now as an option to come on 

65 Ba with an unorthodox clearance flew through the air and got a touch to send it out for a corner far side 

66 Bondo goes down in the box and somehow a goal kick is given when it clearly looked like it struck the Famalicão player last 

67 Crowd is getting very restless. Presumably there's a VAR check ongoing 

68 Ball off the arm of Bondo is what is being checked 

69 After all that we finally restart with a goal kick 

70 This feels like 20 minutes to save a season. Trincão heads a Fresneda cross wide from 5 yards 

70 Bondo play acting in the corner. You feel like the José Alvalade might explode if someone put a match to it right now. The natives are getting restless 

71 Ba with an important touch somehow dispossessed Guilherme and Carevic claimed. Ba didn't know much about it 

73 Close up of Araújo far side and behind him my little Portuguese mate who has a wry smile on her face and dips her head 

74 Sporting set for a double change

74 The lions who were 1/3 now evens for the win 

74 Free kick just outside the area as Araújo taken out 

75 ➡️⬅️ Morita for Bragança and Fresneda for Nel 730 days after his debut 

75 Free kick header for a corner by De Haas nearside 

76 Free kick for a foul on Carevic by Bragança 

76 ➡️ ⬅️ Almeida for Elisor 

77 De Haas nips the ball of Trincão's toes and Famalicão somehow clear again 

78 Gonçalves attempted cross deflects goalwards and Carevic claims. I think he's had two saves to make all game 

79 Eleven minutes to save a season as Diomande hooks the ball clear in maybe the second time the visitors have had the ball in the area second half 

79 Bondo cross from the left claimed by Silva 

80 Garcia goes through the back of Guilherme but no yellow shown 

81 The ball just won't go in. Ba clears for a corner near side... 

81 GOAL Sporting CP 1 Famalicão 0. Hold that thought. The ball finally goes in as Bragança heads in and the deadlock is broken. He out jumps two defenders to send it from the front of the six yard box back into the far corner. In the buildup Hjulmand received the ball initially inside the six yard box but couldn't turn and get a shot away. He recycled the ball to Geny whose pass found Trincão whose shot was blocked for the corner 

84 ➡️ ⬅️ Gonçalves and Guilherme replaced by Simões and Vagiannidis 

85 ➡️ ⬅️ Romeo for Sorriso and Sá for Pena

86 One day someone will wire me up to a heart monitor during a game and my life insurance premium will treble 

87 Geny draws a foul nearside and the lions eek out a few seconds 

89 Yellow shown to Araújo as he sends Pastor up in the air. Pastor reacts and outcomes the tongue against the teeth we saw to Pepe on Monday 

89 Simões wins a corner far side with a fist pump

Plus seven shown 

90 De Looi heads for another corner 

90 Carevic punches clear 

+1 Araújo wins a third corner 

+1 Yellow to Vagiannidis as he stops a break. Tactical foul I believe that's known as 

+2 Twenty two attempts to two and yet still 1-0

+3 Time feels like it's slowed down as the lions try to keep possession 

+3 Diomande heads clear as Famalicão search for the equaliser 

+4 Inácio mops up but Vagiannidis misjudged his pass on the edge of the area but the danger passes. Fuck a duck 

+5 Silva takes the ball to the edge of his area and waits for the Famalicão player to arrive before finally picking it up

+5 De Haas concedes a throw level with the 18 yard box. 

+6 De Haas concedes another throw as the lions look to see the last minute out 

+7 Not a second more added on as the referee blows time 

Full time 

Sporting CP 1 Famalicão 0

The final word 

Well the visitors came with a clear game plan which nearly worked. A goal disallowed, they should have taken the lead before the break and had they done so might have come away with all three points. In the second half it was very much the case of kicking lumps out of our players and concede a corner or a throw and stick eleven men behind the ball and try leave with a point. The result however was the right one given only one side attempted to find a winner as Famalicão failed to add a single attempt to their two in the first half. 22 attempts to 2 with a final Xg of 2.15 to 0.49. 14 corners to 1, 70% possession to lions who completed 521 passes for the visitors 194. 

It reminded me of the 1-0 away win in Estoril in the first title winning season when the club staff had to scrape parts of Gyökeres off the pitch come the full time whistle where the referee seemed content to blow for a free kick but not show the yellow in any attempt to stop the ferocity of the challenges going in. Still three points are three points however they're won and at the end of the day that's all that matters. Gap closed once more to Porto and the pressure goes back on them. Benfica the side how are probably playing with the least pressure on them right now and still to lose a game this campaign. They'll be kicking themselves all the more for their failure to overcome Tondela away from home. 

Luis Suárez the obvious miss but the important thing is that they came away with all three points. They were like the wolf and the three little pigs if the wolf was traded for a lion in the fairytale. They huffed and they puffed but in this story they finally blew Famalicão's house down. 

At times the link up play around the box was really good on both flanks and players were finding space but not the finish. They made it a lot harder on themselves than it needed to be. Had the effort that Mangas had tipped onto the post in the first half fallen to someone else it might have been a much easier affair but that's not to take away from his performance tonight and I thought he was really unfortunate to be the first player withdrawn but with them providing no attacking threat second half it was a sacrifice they could afford so I'm not suggesting it was the wrong move just that it felt a little harsh on him. Had it been 2-0 he'd have probably been replaced with ten to go. Still I'm happy to give him my first vote for man of the match. 

Given how we tried to shoot ourselves in the foot against Arouca 12 months ago this win at least puts to bed that nightmare. Two years to the very day after Nel made his debut against Young Boys in Switzerland he can finally celebrate his league debut. For all the talent we produce from the academy though it always baffles me that we're unable to produce someone who seems capable of making the step up in terms of forwards. Tomás and Chermiti came and went. The Pony tailed wonder of Pedro Mendes came and went with the wonder goal against PSV and never kicked on. On a night where Alisson scored and Harder a fast fading memory we suddenly looked very short of someone capable of sticking the ball in the net. Still if you create enough chances and fortune smiles upon you then one of them will find the net eventually. 

I'm going to go Morita with my second choice. His run into the box second half was reminiscent of the player we all fell in love with and he finally looks like he's back to his best and Simões will have to wait to take his mantle until the summer and you imagine he'll grab it with both hands when he does. The yellow card looked harsh to me but I'm probably biased. Linked the play up well, fully committed into his challenges. Great performance, keep them coming. 

Rui Silva could probably do with someone pressuring him to try and claim the number one slot at present. He was beaten all ends up for the Ba goal that never was and was fortunate that Elisor didn't even hit the target when he was one on one. Perhaps I'll do an Arsene Wenger and say I need to see it again in the cold light if day and I'm not giving him the credit he deserves. Diomande had the moment where he failed to intercept the ball in the buildup to that chance but I'm not sure the blame lies squarely at his door for that one. Too many bodies committed forward. Second half he was no nonsense with his head a couple of times to clear and Inácio looked calm when he won the ball in the area only to see his pass to Vagiannidis go astray. His fault or the Greeks? I thought the latter at the time. Fresneda lost the ball that led to the Sá chance but again like Diomande and Inácio you couldn't really pick much fault with their performances other than one example each. 

For the second game I'm not sure if Hjulmand had a good game or not. That should suggest he probably didn't but I could easily be swayed either way if someone wants to make the case. 

Third vote goes to Guilherme who caused plenty of issues with his pace down the right and seems to thankfully be settling into life as a lion. Not a complete performance but he's showing something that can be worked on. I still think Alisson was the better option and given he's now scoring in Serie A for Napoli you can try make the case for Guilherme over him but I'm not sure I'd be swayed by it. But he did enough. 

Trincão and Gonçalves linked up well around the area but neither with any end product. The former especially showed his intelligence to create space time and time again. You feel he just needs a goal right now to kickstart his season again. Gonçalves is slowly working his way back and in fairness he's returned better from injury this season than he did twelve months ago. 

Geny impressed coming on as substitute and you could see the fear on the face of their defence each time he cut in from the right. If talk of his being sold in the summer is true then we'd better hope the hype about Guilherme prior to joining West Ham is real. I'd not let him go anywhere. Said the same about Alisson and Reis so what do I know. Clearly the club have other ideas. Bragança of course scores the winner, Vagiannidis claims the tactical foul to stop a break but alongside Simões wasn't really on long enough to effect the game. Nel had a grand total of 7 touches and despite one comment I read at the end of the game bigging him up did the sum total of fuck and all for me. Funny but as I say I'm always watching a different game to everyone else.

So my last vote goes to Araújo. His final touch wasn't always there tonight but he's the player that is always at the heart of it all at both ends of the field. Slotted back into the defence effortlessly. Box office entertainment as he winds the opposition players up. I don't think he's going to be a lion for much longer sadly and another we'll have to enjoy whilst we can. I just hope he goes to Spain or Italy where he'll thrive more than he probably would in the Premier League. 

Final vote for man of the match. I'm going to go with the curve ball of Mangas. Link up play was really good, especially in the first half. Could have had himself a goal. I've been overly critical of him at points this season and as always happy to be proven wrong. Perhaps it was the magic hair band that got his debut. Don't let him wash it out.