Sporting CP 3 G.D. Estoril Praia 0

Sporting CP v G.D. Estoril Praia
Friday February 27th, 2026
Estádio José Alvalade
Matchday 24

The warm up 

There’s a strong case to be made that since the 27th of December, no side has been involved in more entertaining matches in the Portuguese top flight than Estoril. In fact you could make an equally strong argument that no side has been involved in more entertaining matches throughout the entire season than them. Although, maybe exclude the first meeting between them and the lions. Ian Cathro’s men finished 2025 with a 4-1 win over Alverca and then opened 2026 with a 3-1 away loss to Benfica. They thumped ten men Estrela away 5-0, then proceeded to smash Vitória at home 4-2 and Santa Clara by the same scoreline away and then at home to Tondela both sides had shared four goals before the half time whistle had blown. Not satisfied with that, they became the only side to lose to AVS this campaign on Matchday 22. Box office stuff indeed and never a dull moment. 

Star man of the campaign is the 24 year old forward Moroccan Yanis Begraoui who after 22 games played has found himself a goal off his best ever tally of goals for a campaign which he achieved in the 2019/20 season playing for Auxerre B when he scored 16 times in 15 appearances. Whilst at Auxerre he represented both the B side and first team over the four seasons with limited success other than the one just mentioned. Sold to Toulouse in 2021/22 he failed to score a single goal in 29 appearances for the first team though did score 8 in 6 for their B team. Sent to Pau in the French second division he averaged a goal every other game with 9 in 18. The 2023/24 season a frustrating one with 2 in 19 for Pau and 0 goals in 18 for Toulouse. It was in the summer of 2024/25 that he moved to Estoril where in his debut season he scored 11 in 35 games and contributed 3 assists and doesn’t look like he’s done with scoring this campaign either. Ahead of Sundays game at home to Gil Vicente he’s scored 15 goals in 22 games with 1 assist. 

Coach Ian Cathro continues to improve his reputation in Portuguese football and Estoril bucking the trend for changing coaches as so many sides have done the past two campaigns. This time around the first to go was Bruno Lage replaced by the ever cheerful José Mourinho at the neighbours. José Mota was sacked by AVS and Fábio Espinho came in as the interim coach. José Faria was sacked by Estrela and replaced by Luís Silva, again as an interim. AVS decided that João Pedro Sousa was the man to turn around their fortunes and Estrela went with João Nuno. Casa Pia dismissed João Pereira and Gonçalo Brandão came in as interim. Ivo Viera given the boot at Tondela, Cristiano Bacci appointed. AVS decided João Pedro Sousa wasn’t the man for the job after all and he was sacked. Portugal’s favourite Uncle Albert lookalike Álvaro Pacheco appointed full time at Casa Pia. 

The last time Estoril recorded a win against the lions in any competition came way back in October of 2018 in the Taça de Liga when an Andri Pinto own goal 9 minutes from time secured a 2-1 victory for them. Since then it’s been 9 straight defeats for them in all competitions. 

After the 1-0 home win to Famalicão, the mister Rui Borges became the first Sporting coach to win 13 straight games at the José Alvalade in 52 years. Alongside another clean sheet at home, the 2 attempts for the visitors was the lowest total recorded by any side after 37 games played in all competitions. The previous lowest was Nacional away with 3 and even lower league AC Marinhense achieved double the amount of efforts. No surprise to see online post game people questioning the foul on Araújo that led to the goal being disallowed. We’ll just ignore that it was offside in the initial play. Good job we've got the referees in our pocket. Would hate to have started that game without top goalscorer Luis Suárez having been given a yellow in the Clássico for passing the ball back to Bednarek in a show of sportsmanship. Oh no wait…

Ahead of their home game against Gil Vicente on Sunday night, Estoril go into the weekend 9th in the table. After 22 rounds their record reads won 8, drawn 6, lost 8, GF 43, GA 38. That's the same total goals scored as Porto atop the division. That's more goals per game than the lions (68). Their away record reads played 11 won 3, drawn 2, lost 6, GF 20, GA 22. Of their 43 scored - 23 from open play, 11 set pieces, 5 penalties and 4 own goals as they blow their Xg of 30.9 out of the water. Top scorer as already mentioned Bergraoui with 15, João Carvalho has 6, Marques 4 tied with our old friend own goal. The remainder shared between 9 others. 

Joint fourth highest goalscorers, sixth worst defensive record. Fifth highest average possession with 52.6%. Just 3 clean sheets to date, sixth highest average shots on target per game with 4.5. 28 big chances missed, seventh highest total. The lions up to 50 now in the league some 14 ahead of the nearest side Braga. Third for accurate long balls which means our defence needs to stay awake when keeping their obligatory high line. Only two sides have less accurate crosses per game - Moreirense and Rio Ave. Get it launched laddies. 

Five penalties awarded and a 100% conversion rate. Not only are they outperforming their Xg for goals scored but unsurprisingly also for Xg conceded with 38 to 34.3. Fourth for interceptions per match with 9.1. Clearly not enough in and around their 18 yard box. Only Benfica and Braga have committed less fouls although that being said it's probably only Braga and the dirty pigeons haven't had theirs called. 60 bookings the leagues third highest behind Casa Pia and Santa Clara. No red cards however. 

For more about the oppositions history and their locale please check out previous Sporting CP v Estoril Matchday posts on the site including the links to Ian Fleming's James Bond. 

A reminder of how their season was going before the 2 sides first met. Their campaign began with a 1-1 draw at home to Estrela having took the lead through Parente. They lost 3-2 away to Vitória having initially taken the lead through a Guitane goal. They found themselves 2-1 down and an Abascal own goal drew the two sides level on the hour mark. A Silva penalty converted in the 68th minute condemned Estoril to defeat. On the road to newly promoted Tondela they took the lead for a 3rd straight game but once more unable to find their first win of the season. Cavaleiro looked to have won the game for Tondela on the 90th minute but Guitane equalised two minutes later for a 2-2 draw. A 1-0 loss away to Santa Clara meant that Estoril had collected 2 points from a possible 12.

Their first win came at home to AVS 3-1 with goals from Lominadze, Carvalho and Sánchez putting them 3-0 up before the visitors scored a late consolation goal. A 2-0 loss to Gil Vicente away was the last fixture before the visit of the lions in which a Suárez goal after 11 minutes was enough to secure a 1-0 win. 

So after 7 games their record read won 1, drawn 2 and lost 4.

We pick up with their next game -

Matchday 8 – Casa Pia (A) Lominadze opened the scoring for the visitors on minute 13. Rocha equalised on 27 and Livolant made it 2-1. Carvalho equalised for Estoril 7 minutes before time to earn a point in a 2-2 draw. Estoril scored 2 of their 3 big chances, Casa Pia missed their only one. Final Xg 1.12 to 0.94 in the away teams favour.

Taça de Portugal 3rd Round - CF Os Belenenses (A). Pizzi put the visitors ahead after 26 minutes. Love made it 1-1 after 50 and the top flight side needed a Lacximicant winner four minutes into the additional time at the end of the 90 to progress through to Round 4.

Matchday 9 – Nacional (H) Vitor put the islanders ahead on 36. A Bergraoui penalty just before the hour mark secured both sides a point in a 1-1 draw. Xg1.74 to 1.47, 1 of 2 big chances missed by Estoril, 2 of 3 for Nacional.

Matchday 10 – Rio Ave (A) The home side reduced to ten men on 20 minutes when Panzo was given his marching orders. Estoril absolutely filled their boots on the day. Bergraoui scored on 40, 45+2 and a penalty on 69 to complete a hat-trick. Lacximicant scored the other in a 4-0 win. Rio Ave failed to create a single big chance, Estoril despite scoring 4 also missed 5 of 6 big chances. Final Xg 3.19 to 0.17.

Matchday 11 – Arouca (H) An incredible opening ten minutes for Fukui of Arouca as he opened the scoring on 4 and then equalised with an own goal on 9. Despite a Djouahara brace (30 & 73) Arouca’s 3 goals weren’t enough for them to take anything from the game as Estoril scored 4 for the second successive game through Boma (43), Holsgrove (50) and Carvalho with the winner 5 minutes from time to secure a 4-3 win. Xg 2.06 to 1.13, Arouca missed their only big chance, Estoril scored 2 of 3.

Taça de Portugal 4th Round - Famalicão (H) If conceding in the 4th minute the previous game was bad enough, Van de Looi made it 1-0 to Fama after just a minute. Bondo made it 2-0 on 77 and despite a Marques goal 5 minutes from time, Estoril’s brief run in the Taça was over as they lost 2-1. 

Matchday 12 – Porto (A) For the third successive game Estoril conceded in the opening ten minutes. A Gomes goal on 7 enough for a 1-0 win to the league leaders. Xg 1.05 to 1.35, Porto missed 2 of 3 big chances, Estoril missing their only one.

Matchday 13 – Moreirense (H) After two relatively calm games, the gloves came off once again as the two sides shared a point with a 3-3 draw. Sporting loanee Travossos took all of a minute to open the lead and that’s four successive games they’d conceded in the opening 10. de Paula equalised on 18, Sánchez put them 2-1 up on 53 and they were coasting 4 minutes later when Begraoui made it 3-1. Four minutes after that Assis made it 3-2 before Semedo completed the circle two minutes into additional time. Xg 2.32 to 1.93. Both sides scored 2 of their 3 big chances.

Matchday 14 – Famalicão (A) After being knocked out by Fama in the Taça, Estoril travelled away looking for revenge and instead had their arses handed to them. Zabiri made it 1-0 after a minute, can you imagine what their players must have been thinking for a second successive game and the fifth successive conceding in the opening 10 minutes. What time do Estoril kick off? About quarter of an hour after their opponents it appears. Or in the case of this game not at all. Sá made it 2-0 on 23, Dias 3-0 on 49 and Zabiri completed his brace on 77 as the home side finished 4-0 victors. Xg 3.00 to 0.77. Estoril missed their 1 big chance. Fama missed FIVE of NINE. Or scored FOUR of NINE depending on whether your glass is half empty or half full. Or 44.44% recurring empty or …

Matchday 15 – Braga (H) Would Estoril manage to make it more than a minute without conceding a goal? Yes they would and moreover they managed the full 90 for a precious clean sheet and a Lacximicant goal on 42 gave them an even more precious 3 points to boot. XG 1.99 to 1.94. After 10 goals in the previous 2 games, both sets of players tried to at least replicate a similar number of goals. Estoril missed 4 of 5 big chances, Braga an even 4 out of 4. 

Matchday 16 – Alverca (A) A brace of own goals from Meupiyou (OG) 35 & 59 and a brace from Bergraoui 42 + 46 provided a late Christmas present for Estoril. Alverca scored a scant consolation through Amorim on 66. Final score 4-1 to the visitors. Xg 1.3 to 0.82, Estoril missed 1 of 2 big chances, Alverca missed their only 1.

Matchday 17 – Benfica (A) After keeping both the lions and the grape crushers to a solitary goal how would they fair against the other of Os Três Grandes? Not great. A Pavlidis hat-trick (33 pen, 45 + 79). Carvalho 45+2 with a consolation goal in a 3-1 defeat. Xg 2.27 to 0.71. The Greek scored all 3 of the dirty pigeons big chances. Estoril missed both of theirs. 

Matchday 18 – Estrela (A) Their trip to Amadora proves extremely fruitful as they recorded their biggest win of the campaign once more helped by playing against ten men after Marcus was sent off a minute before half time. Carvalho had already given them a second minute lead. A second half hat-trick from Bergraoui (50, 54 pen + 69) and a goal from Marques (64) secure a 5-0 win. That the Moroccans second match ball of the season. Xg 0.19 to 2.17. Estoril converted 3 of 4 big chances. Estrela didn't create a single 1. 

Matchday 19 – Vitória (H) Another thrilling goal fest as last week's tally of 5 upped to 6. Samu opening the scoring on 26 to put the visitors 1-0 up. Bergraoui equalised 2 minutes later. Mitrovic restored the advantage on 33. A Marques brace (55 + 64) turned the game on its head and Bergraoui completed his brace on 77 for a 4-2 win. Xg 2.01 to 1.94. Vitória missed all 4 of their big chances. Estoril scored 2 of their 3. Five goals in two games for the Moroccan.

Matchday 20 – Santa Clara (A) Lightning strikes twice. Bergraoui opening the scoring with a 33rd minute penalty. Marques made it 2-0 6 minutes before half time. Calila pulled a goal back for the islanders early in the second half before Silva drew the scores level on 64. Guitane restored the advantage on 73 and a second penalty 3 minutes from time, again by Bergraoui secured a second successive 4-2 win. Xg 1.58 to 2.31. Estoril scored all 3 of their big chances, Santa missed 3 of their 4. 

Matchday 21 – Tondela (H) Tondela raced into a 2-0 lead within the first 15 minutes through an Henryque brace. Carvalho pulled a goal back on 25 and Ferro made it 2-2 just 3 minutes later. After the initial flurry of goals neither side able to find a third for a decisive winner. Xg 0.74 to 1.36. Tondela scored both their big chances, Estoril missed their only one.

Matchday 22 – AVS (A) Estoril suffer the ignominy of becoming the first team to lose to AVS in the top flight this season. Second half goals from Duarte (53), Tomané (74) and Algobia (90+5) finally broke their duck. Despite only having 29% possession AVS scored both their big chances, Estoril missed both of theirs. XG 1.08 to 1.10. 

Matchday 23 - Gil Vicente (H) After the disappointment of becoming the first side to lose to AVS on Matchday 22, Estoril bounced back with a 3-1 win. They went behind when conceding a penalty converted by Murilo in the 14th minute but quickly levelled through Bacher on 21. Begraoui with a brace (73 and 79) secured all 3 points. Xg 2.18 to 2.42. Estoril scored 3 of their 5 big chancs. Gil missed 3 of their 4.

Transfer Window 

The club opted against adding to the squad during the winter window, noting the summer window had closed by the time the two sides first met this season. 

Outgoing

Tiago Parente on loan to Felgueiras

Tiago Brito on loan to Oliveirense

Fabricio Garcia on loan to Alverca

Francisco Pereira on loan to Lusitano de Evora  

In the markets 

Sporting CP 19/100

Draw 6/1

Estoril 10/1

Sporting B

Sporting CP v Portimonense 

February 15th, 2026

Matchday 22

Starting XI 

Callai, Dias, Muniz, Ramos, Moreira, Tanlongo, Justo, Couto, Rayan, Cardoso & G.Silva

Substitutes Used 

Blopa, Felicíssimo, Mendonca, Bafdili and Oliveira 

The youngsters without the services of Gonçalves and Nel presumably on the basis of both being in the Matchday squad for the first team to face Famalicão in the evening. A win would see them climb back above Academico Viseu into second place after their win yesterday at home to Oliveirense.

The lions took the lead on 8 minutes through Ramos. Cargo equalised on 34 and Portimonense turned the game on its head when Sarara scored to make it 1-2 on 39 minutes and they led going into the half time break. Double change for the lions at half time with Felicíssimo and Blopa coming on and the latter wasted no time in making an impact as he equalised 3 minutes after coming on. Callai saved a penalty from Sarara in the 67th minute and Portimonense made to rue that missed chance as Cardoso gave the lions the lead once more just 3 minutes later. Justo made it 4-2 with ten to play. Dju made it 4-3, three minutes into additional time but the lions held on. The visitors with 9 shots on target over the course of the 90 but somehow the youngsters found a way for their third straight win with the six straight losses that proceeded seemingly fully put to bed now.

Maritímo v Sporting CP 

Saturday February 21st, 2026

Matchday 23

Starting XI 

Callai, Moreira, Felicíssimo, Ramos, Dias, Tanlongo, Couto, Justo, Cardoso, Nel and Blopa.

Substitutes Used 

Mendonca, Oliveira, Bafdili and Silva

Top of the table clash in Liga 2 and a tough test awaited against the islanders who look well on course to secure promotion to the top flight. Despite Sporting having the lion's share of shots on target, it was Maritímo who scored the games only goal with their solitary attempt on target in the 76th minute from Romain Correira. The lions recorded 5 attempts on target and 6 off as they couldn't find a way past Samuel Silva in goal. Academico Viseu leapfrog the lions back into second place after their 1-0 win away to Portimonense. Final score Maritímo 1 Sporting CP 0

Sporting CP Feminino 

Valadares Gaia v Sporting CP 

Sunday February 22nd, 2026

Matchday 12

Starting XI 

Wellmann, Fonseca, Barron, Cherry, Cancelinha, Bravo, Pérez, Armengol, Bonseguendo, Santiago and Raphino 

Substitutes 

Potra, Hernandez Gray, Fontemanha, Arques, Lino, Nave, Maia, Rodrigues and Tomaz.

After their heartbreaking defeat in Europe in midweek going out on penalties to Hammarby IF, the lionesses started with the big guns of Bonseguendo, Santiago and Raphino up front. It was Bonseguendo who went closest to opening the scoring with 13 minutes gone but her effort went wide from 20 yards. Raphino was then denied five minutes later when her effort from 6 yards was saved at point blank range by the quick reactions of the Gaia goalkeeper. 31 minutes and Raphino was withdrawn for Hernandez Gray with still over an hour to play. Despite five additional minutes added on at the end of the first half the two sides went in level at 0-0.

Bonseguendo went closest again on the hour mark but still no joy as a tame shot from 8 yards was stopped with ease.

Double change with Armengol and Bravo being replaced by Arques and Nave. It took the former just 4 minutes of coming on to be shown the yellow card. With six minutes of normal time remaining and the scores still level Bonseguendo Was replaced by Tomaz with a last roll of the dice. Five minutes additional time indicated at the end of the 90. The gamble paid off as Tomaz scored a brace. The first after 90+3 wasn't pretty but crept in from 8 yards after she was found on the edge of the box unmarked. Her second on 90+5 a more spectacular affair as she collected the ball ten yards inside the opposition half and drove to the edge of the box before pinging the ball past the flat footed keeper from 20 yards. Final score Valadares Gaia 0 Sporting CP 2

UEFA Youth League 

Eintracht Frankfurt v Sporting CP

Tuesday February 24th, 2026

maxwork Sportspark

Round of 16

Starting XI 

Gouveia, Mota, Taibo, Costa, Momade, Bafdili, Felicíssimo, Blopa, Gonçalves, Kissinga and Silva

Felicíssimo starting as captain was booked in the fifth minute for a foul 20 yards out. The initial free kick fores into the wall, a second chance for the home side headed into the hand of Gouveia from 6 yards out. On 13 Osei is shown a yellow for pulling back Silva on the left wing as the lions tried to break. Sporting took the lead on 18 minutes when a Blopa cross from the right was turned into his own net in bizarre circumstances by goalkeeper Siljevic who stretching for the ball on the edge of the 6 yard box saw the connection loop back into the net and his defender smashed him in the face to compound his misery. 

Blopa went close on 48 minutes drawing a save from 19 yards which was pushed out for a corner. Silva fired over from 20 yards 3 minutes later. Momade saw his effort from 8 yards deflected for a corner on 57 and a Silva header on 63 from 10 yards went over. Unable to find a second goal the lions had to thank Gouveia for a world class save low to his right to stop a goal bound effort from ten yards. In the 82nd minute Osei was booked for a second time and the Germans down to ten men. With six minutes remaining Gonçalves was denied when one on one with Siljevic who got his hands to an attempted chip. Full time Eintracht Frankfurt 0 Sporting CP 1. The lions booked their place in the quarter finals where they'll face either Real Madrid or Chelsea. 

Team News 

Starting XI

Silva, Araújo, Inácio, Diomande, Fresneda, Morita, Hjulmand, Guilherme, Trincão, Geny and Suárez 

Substitutes 

Virgínia, Nuno Santos, Vagiannidis, Quaresma, Gonçalves, Bragança, Simões, Faye and Nel

The mister able to name an unchanged starting XI from the win over Moreirense. Not sure I've ever written that before for this mister. Pedro Gonçalves returns to the bench from his suspension. Nuno Santos also fit enough to be in the matchday squad. Flávio Gonçalves makes way as does Fotis Ioannidis, his name back on the injury roster. Debast is apparently back in training. Kochorashvili still coming back to full fitness. I'm not entirely sure how long Mangas is set to be out for. 

Estoril starting XI 

1 Robles, 4 Ferro, 25 Bacher, 2 Sánchez, 20 Costa, 10 Holsgrove, 6 Orellana, 12 Carvalho, 14 Bergraoui, 9 Marques and 99 Guitane 

First Half 

The lions in their traditional green and white horizontal stripes get us underway and attack right to left in the first half.

Estoril get us underway.

2 Rui Silva palms away a shot from a narrow angle on the right of the area but the offside flag was up and wouldn't have counted. 

2 Marques runs through the back of Fresneda and a foul awarded 

3 The lions win a corner near side. Hjulmand heads over from 8 yards 

4 Whistles ring out around the Alvalade as just 4 minutes into the game Robles has begun with the time wasting 

5 GOAL Sporting CP 1 Estoril 0. Well that didn't take long for the lions to get around the Estoril high defensive line. Trincão picked out Suárez with a cross from the right who jabbed the ball from 2 yards past Robles 

8 Inácio penalised for what looked a soft foul on Bergraoui around the half way line 

9 Diomande alert to head clear a cross from the right. Estoril are forward in huge numbers and at some point the lions will hit the right ball on the counter attack and Estoril will be chasing shadows

10 Geny with a toe poke between two defenders in the area nearly creates a great opening but the canaries clear

11 Jeers as Geny clearly taken out by Costa and the decision not awarded 

12 I've just made the mistake of looking up the Porto result who must have scored again late to make it 3-1. 

12 Double chance for Sporting. Suárez draws a save from Robles and the rebound fell to Guilherme who skies it from 16 yards 

14 Estoril with a flat back 4 and a line of 3 midfielders maybe 4 or 5 yards in front trying to close the space as Sporting attack down the right flank 

15 GOAL We saw it last season and it's déjà vu this, as a simple ball over the defence fell to Suárez who brought it down with his first touch and struck the ball in off the arm of Robles to make it Sporting CP 2 Estoril 0 from ten yards. Hjulmand with the assist 

17 Estoril have learned the sum total of fuck and all from last season. Borges side were more than happy to let them have possession knowing they kept a high line

19 Offside flag up again on the right flank against Estoril. 

22 Despite the efforts of some inside the ground the atmosphere very flat despite the 2-0 scoreline after the grape crushers won earlier 

23 Trincão tries to dance his way into the box but the ball fell straight back to the lions and they carefully look to fashion another chance. Sporting are everything that Estoril hope to one day be 

25 Sánchez tests Silva at his near post from 8 yards and the Portuguese more than equal to it

26 Long ball over the top again, miss controlled by Geny who took a tumble in the box. Referee uninterested and in fairness to him he didn't complain and gave the thumbs up for the pass. Estoril refuse to learn their lesson

28 Estoril’s last man is a a yard inside their own half 

28 Morita sets Geny free with another long ball and he beats the last defender tracking back and blasts over from ten yards 

29 Replay of the Geny miss and I'm worried Costa is going to have to go in a decompression chamber after this game with a bad case of the bends as he's twisted left, right, then left, right again 

32 Even the BBC carried a full piece editorial on Ian Cathro this morning and if you'd tuned in to see what all the fuss was about you'd be left still wondering on tonight's showing 

33 Araújo with the acrobatics inside the area to get on the end of a loose cross but he could only send it goalwards and I'm not sure they will count as an attempt 

35 Trincão whips in a shot past a defender from 15 yards but straight at Robles

35 Araújo is down on his haunches. Something to do with his vision. Replay shows he got accidentally headbutted by Bergraoui and to his credit didn't make anything of it initially 

38 Araújo is back on but the physio talking to Borges on the sidelines 

39 Suárez is down after a hand into the face from Bacher. I think he got poked in the eye in fairness to the Colombian who in fairness can make a meal of things 

40 Hjulmand concedes a free kick and looks like he's in a barn dance as he moves whoever it was around his body. We know what the Dane does in his spare time now 

41 It takes 3 men to converge on Geny and finally stop his run. Free kick centrally 34 yards out 

42 Cross from the right fell to Hjulmand and he looks horrified as he passed the ball forward to 3 yellow shirts 

43 Replays suggesting that the ball may have hit the arm of Bacher but if it did it was by his side 

Plus one shown 

+1 Pass from the right inside the area intercepted by Morita 

+1 Strike from 20 yards from Carvalho tipped round the post by Silva for a corner near side 

Half time 

Sporting CP 2 Estoril 0

It's fair to say the canaries have offered pretty much the sum total of fuck and all in terms of attacking threat or defensive nous. Two shots on target for an Xg of just 0.21, the second coming ten seconds before the end of the half and neither effort giving Rui Silva any trouble. 

It's amazing how coaches the world over subscribe to Einstein's theory of stupidity, doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Both the goals were oh so simple. Just a long ball over to the top and no one around Luis Suárez to put the Colombian off his stride. Their XG by comparison 1.54 and have registered 7 attempts to those 2 from the canaries. Sporting now blessed with pace in the form of Suárez, Geny, Guilherme and Fresneda really should have their fill by the end of the 90. The only question at half time feels not if the lions will win but by how many and can Suárez grab his second match ball of the season? 

Second Half 

Estoril out first go through their warm up on the touchline. Double change for the visitors. No sign of the lions for a good two minutes. Not sure if they're late or the Canaries were sent out with a flea in their ears. 

45 ➡️⬅️ Tsoungui and Carvalho on for Marqués and Costa. The latter presumably off to the decompression chamber 

45 Sporting get us back underway 

46 Araújo cross from the left can only pick out a yellow shirt and the danger averted for Estoril 

47 Estoril's last man again half a yard inside his own half. Glutton for punishment 

48 With no one around Bacher concedes a corner near side. Estoril clear 

48 Geny back on the left of defence to tidy up. That's what I love about this current crop of players 

49 Great defending from Araújo to tidy up on the edge of the 18 yard box. Not sure who the Estoril player was but he got the ball stuck under his feet and he'll be kicking himself there after Trincão was dispossessed in the final third originally 

51 Morita provides the pivot for the lions to work the ball out of defence 

51 Suárez pings a shot at Robles and brings a save from 20 yards on the right hand side 

52 Tsoungui with a deliberate pull back on Araújo wide left. How is that not a booking?

54 Hjulmand left in a heap on the ground inside the Estoril half but Estoril allowed to continue their attack. The defender mops up the danger 

55 Yellow shown to Tsoungui for bringing down Suárez. That should have been a red after ten minutes of him coming on having escaped a booking for pulling Araújo back 

57 Morita ends up on the floor from a challenge behind and again nothing shown 

58 Hjulmand tries a dummy which didn't come off and Estoril's counter attack fooled by Morita wise to the danger 

59 Bergraoui sends one into the stands from 20 yards 

60 Sánchez goes through Geny right under the referees nose and again escapes a booking 

61 This game needs a third goal 

61 Fuck me near instant regret at typing the above as Silva saves smartly down to his right from Guitane. Be careful what you wish for. Prove as ever I don't edit these things to make myself sound clever 

62 Fresneda clears inside the area for Sporting and tells someone in no uncertain terms to get up. Handbags behind the goal line. Morita trying to act as peace keeper as Fresneda and Rui Silva stood over the Estoril man. The player got up and reacts with a shove. In the end yellow to Carvalho and Fresneda 

64 Estoril will be wondering how it's not 2-1. Guitane with the perfect through ball for Pedro Carvalho who shanked it into the stand from ten yards to the right of the six yard box 

66 Blatant trip on Geny outside the box ignored 

66 Thunder flaps from the home fans trying to entertain themselves as much as anything. This could be Ai of last season's game with Suárez having been superimposed over Gyökeres, same reaction from the stands...

67 Whistles again from the home fans as Morita taken out and Bergraoui allowed a half chance from 14 yards which he puts wide of the right post. Why is it that referees in this fixture seem to turn a blind eye to fouls on the Sporting players? I'm thinking the 1-0 away when Gyökeres one leg already has lumps kicked out of him all game 

70 ➡️⬅️ I was just thinking we should make some changes and two seconds later they cut to the sidelines. Faye and Simões for Guilherme and Morita 

72 There's so little of interest on the field that the editor cuts to Morita walking around the pitch to get back to the dug out 

73 Huge cheer for Faye as Trincão finds him open down the left. He cuts inside his man and puts a pea roller into the hands of Robles from 18 yards and he grimaces knowing he should have done better. Right idea wrong execution 

74 Fuck me how has Araújo not scored there? Wide open from 8 yards it hits the outstretched foot of Tsoungui and out for a corner far side 

75 I think the lions have had their defending practice and are about to put this game to bed 

76 Yellow to Sánchez for checking the run of Geny which is exactly what Tsoungui did on the other flank and he's just stopped the goal bound effort when he shouldn't be on the pitch 

77 Blood dripping down the leg of Sánchez and Estoril down to ten temporarily 

78 We're treated to a view of a blonde in a baseball cap who goes oh when she realises she's on screen. If she's famous I've not got a fucking scooby 

79 ➡️ ⬅️ Pizzi and Edwards on for Guitane and Orellana

81 I'm quite glad Guitane is off because he's the only one who looks like he's carried a threat in the final third 

82 Cathro down on his haunches on the touchline. This is a copy and paste of last season other than he's clean shaven 

82 ➡️ ⬅️ Geny, Fresneda and Trincão off for Vagiannidis, Bragança and Nuno Santos. Loudest cheer of the night reserved for the latter of the three 

83 Vagiannidis slips, somehow has time to get up and sees his shot saved from 7 yards. That would have been quite a substitution had that gone in

85 Close up of Gonçalves and whatever he says brings a rye smile to the face of Quaresma 

85 Vagiannidis penalised for a foul on the near touchline. Sporting clear the free kick 

86 Araújo booked for a foul on Tsoungui and he pleads with the referee to talk to his assistant to no avail

87 More play acting in the centre and you'd think Bacher had broken his leg. Book the cunt for simulation. This referee has been fucking wank 

89 Bacher recovered from his broken leg to stop a cross from reaching Suárez and out for a corner far side 

90 Header off the line and the follow up out for a goal kick. I think that was Tsoungui who headed away again. Faye with the first chance and Bragança with the follow up

90 Estoril miss from 12 yards as Tsoungui skews the ball wide 

Plus four shown 

+1 Faye bundled off the ball and the referee actually blows for a foul. Miracles will never cease.

+4 GOAL Sporting CP 3 Estoril 0. Just enough time to fashion one final chance and Nuno Santos picked out Bragança on the edge of the six yard box who turned his defender and slotted home from six yards 

Full time 

Sporting CP 3 Estoril 0

The final word 

I think Sporting guilty in the second half of part using the game firstly as a training exercise and secondly of having one eye on Tuesday's Clássico. Did I write that before Bragança stuck in the third? Yeah I might have done but the point stands nonetheless. Final Xg of 2.26 to 0.62 paints the picture of a game that Estoril really only fashioned one decent opportunity through Guitane and then decided to take him off and with him and chance of getting a goal back vanished. I'm loathe to criticise referees unless they were really poor and tonight Sergio Guelho had a stinker and got a host of calls wrong. The main one not booking Tsoungui for the pull back on Araújo and yet books Sánchez for the exact same offence later and it was the substitute who first blocks Araújo's goal bound shot and then heads off the line from Faye's effort. Not that it matters in terms of the overall result but some degree of consistency would be nice. Consistency and accuracy now I come to think of it. Araújo is convinced with the foul he's booked for that the player has conned the referee. I'll need to see how many bookings he's on. I thought it was 3 but that might have been before last week's game which I missed most of. 

I'm fully aware that what I'm about to write is one of the oldest footballing clichés going but that really was a game of two halves. Prior to the last Clássico Sporting managed to find themselves going to extra time in the Taça against AVS so I'm not going to criticise the players or the mister at all for taking their foot off the pedal in the second half and conserving energy. The truth is they could have disassembled Estoril with the minimum of effort if only they had really put some in. That said in fairness had it not been for Tsoungui it would have been 5-0 and had that game been played in earlier in the season without a big game coming directly after it they'd have ruefully dismantled them and proved who the best team in Portugal is. Now they've got the chance to do it over two legs against Porto and after their win tonight any advantage they can take, even in a different competition, has to be taken with both hands. 

I'm still not convinced by letting Alisson go for Guilherme especially as the former continues to impress in Italy with Napoli. Geny on the other flank looked like he was thoroughly enjoying his night in the first half and it was no surprise to see Costa shanked at half time and there can be no better feeling for a player knowing you've not only got the better of your man but caused him to be substituted so he's my first vote for man of the match. It's also the little details like seeing him pop up as cover at left back second half. Letting Alisson go is baffling. The talk of letting Geny leave I find equally so. 

Years ago Sami Nasri came to West Ham very late on in his career and he delivered the most wonderful lesson in doing the most simple of things but doing them incredibly well and that's what Morita did tonight. I'm so glad he's regained his form after what has been a turbulent twelve months not helped by being flown around the world to help his national team qualify for this summer's world cup finals and suffering a string of injuries. He was the right man in the right place all over the pitch, doing those simple things well and calmly and a huge presence in helping the defence and transition into attack. He gets my second vote.

All of the back five had a decent night in fairness to them. No one looked overawed. Silva was equal to anything that came his way and deserved a clean sheet. Fresneda with his well timed tackle in the area and his reaction to Carvalho play acting at least brought some drama to the second half which was lacking in anything of real note. Araújo again a calm head when clearing the danger posed at one point and Diomande and Inácio equal to anything thrown their way. 

Hjulmand looked back to his best, claimed an assist and other than the misplaced pass inside the area in an attack I'm not sure you could find fault in his performance. Nice little cameo appearance from Faye down the left and hopefully that will boost his confidence if we forget his first finish from the edge of the 18 yard box. His second effort bringing the headed clearance off the line. I'd forgotten Simões was even on until they showed a close up of him towards the end of the game. Nuno Santos claimed the assist and Bragança with a smart finish to claim another goal so both worthy of a mention and a nice moment for both after the best part of a year fighting their way back to full fitness. Proof you need some wise old heads in the squad who can come on and make a difference. 

Gonçalves you imagine was saved for Tuesday night and you can't argue against the logic there. A week's rest at this time of the season is a huge plus and one we were not afforded at this stage of the season twelve months ago. How times change as we're only four players away from having a full squad to choose from. I mean it won't ever happen will it but you never know. 

Vagiannidis could have had his first goal as a lion seconds after coming on had he chosen his footwear better. I'm not convinced by him either defensively but he's got something about him going forward and if Fresneda departs he'll have to fight it out with Travossos who oddly is being deployed at Moreirense as a forward option. 

I can't look beyond the obvious for vote number three in Luis Suárez who scored two but like most of the players only really had to put in a decent performance over the first 45 minutes because the job had been done and even had the canaries pulled one back by some minor injustice, they'd have just moved up a gear and found the third earlier than they did in the end. 

Which just leaves Trincão who claims an assist, was entertaining to watch at points during the game as he looked to dance through the opponents defence. Was it a better performance than Hjulmand's one though? That is the million dollar question. Both claimed an assist, both had a clear and obvious error when Hjulmand misplaced his pass inside the six yard box and Trincão losing possession in a dangerous position. I think the Dane probably had a bigger influence on the game so he gets my final vote. 

Because I'm always left field and appreciate different parts of people's games I'm going to give it to Morita. 

Onwards we go to Tuesday night. I've never once entertained the notion we would be champions for a third time on the trot. But one thing is for certain they're not letting go without a fight.