Sporting CP 4 CD Santa Clara 2

Sporting CP v CD Santa Clara
Friday April 3rd,  2026
Estádio José Alvalade 
Matchday 27

The warm up

We pause for the march international break with a host of lions called up for their respective international sides for a mixture of qualifiers and friendlies. Those selected are as follows;

Simões and Muniz - Portugal U21s

Gonçalves, Trincão, Inácio and Rui Silva - Portugal 

Suárez - Colombia 

Debast - Belgium 

Vagiannidis - Greece

Fresneda - Spain U21s

Hjulmand - Denmark 

Araújo - Uruguay 

Diomande - Côte d'Ivoire

I'll update with news of their respective exploits as and when they happen though in the case of those involved with the Seleção that won't probably be much more than an unused substitute though the mister Roberto Martinez was in evidence at the 5-0 remontada against Bodø/Glimt so you never know. Amazingly Pote avoided being injured before the international break as has been his want and misfortune in recent times. 

Rest bite for Morita who hasn't been called up for Japan's internationals. Ioannidis remains injured and therefore unavailable for selection for the Greek national team alongside Vagiannidis as is also the case with Kochorashvili with the Georgian national team. Quenda who has been a mainstay of the Portugal under 21s is at least set to return to action with the lions following rehabilitation with Chelsea in London.

The postponed match against Tondela has been rescheduled for April 29th. No surprise to learn I'm sure that Porto are threatening to take legal action. I wonder how many lawyers they keep on retainers? Imagine having that little confidence in your playing staff to win you the Championship that you constantly have to try gain an edge through the Portuguese courts whilst continuing your propaganda war on Sporting through plants in the media questioning the mister Rui Borges. Varandas having won another term of office post elections has now opened talks to extend the contract for him and his support team. The Portuguese FA should really consider docking Porto points for continually bringing the game into disrepute and tarnishing the reputation of the game. If you were a multinational company with a budget to burn you'd not want to associate yourself with Porto and it must be costing them financially through lost revenues at a time where Sporting's continued run in the Champions League is keeping the euros rolling in. Following the continued success of Portuguese clubs in Europe the top two at the end of the season are set for automatic qualification into the group phase of next season's competition with the 3rd place side with an opportunity to enter via the playoffs. 

Last season we saw the lions doing some of their summer transfer business early with the signings of Alisson Santos and Kochorashvili but they're yet to follow suit this campaign however talk continues in regards to possible exits for Hjulmand, Diomande, Geny and Fresneda who've all been linked with the Premier League. Napoli have the option to make Alisson Santos' loan move permanent so we'll wait and see whether they exercise that option. 

The lions will face Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Estádio José Alvalade on Tuesday April 7th, with the return leg at The Library on Wednesday April 15th. A reminder that should Gyökeres play in either game, the lions will be the only Portuguese side that the former Swedish talisman has never scored against. Given his somewhat acrimonius departure in the summer I had been hoping that we would avoid having to face him but sometimes you just cannot hide from your destiny. 

Before then all eyes will be on the home game against Santa Clara, a fixture that has turned into a grudge match after a series of high profile incidents in recent fixtures, mostly it should be added, owing to the gross incompetence of Portuguese match officials to the detriment of both clubs but mostly Santa Clara if we're being honest and I'll give them the right to be miffed. 

The two sides last met on December the 18th when Portugal experienced the longest VAR check known to man only for the lions to be awarded a penalty after 14 minutes of deliberation for a non-existent foul on Hjulmand which Luis Suárez converted 15 minutes into additional time at the end of the 90 to make the score 2-2 and take the game into extra time by which point the islanders had also been reduced to ten men following the sending off of Paulo Victor on 88 minutes. João Simões had opened the scoring on 11 minutes assisted by Fresneda. Lucas Soares made it 1-1 on 27 and when Gabriel Silva put them 2-1 ahead with five minutes to go at the end of the 90, the current Taça de Portugal holders where heading for an early exit from this season's competition. With the game taken into extra time, an Ioaniddis goal six minutes into the first half assisted by Hjulmand gave the lions an unlikely 3-2 win. The result only exacerbated the controversy from their first meeting in the league which had taken place the month previously.

Saturday November 5th saw matchday 11 played out under the lights of the Estádio de São Miguel in Ponta Delgada with the needle surrounding Sporting's win there in April still looming large. That being the fixture where post final whistle Conrad Harder had been sent off for gratuitous use of the word ‘Yeah.’ That doesn't get any less bizarre any time I've subsequently typed it in. Anyways to avoid repeating myself from previous posts which I'll add a link to below at the very bottom of this post, both sides I'm sure will have been hoping to avoid any additional controversy. Vinícius gave the islanders the lead with just four minutes on the clock. However the current Portuguese champions (use it until you lose it folks) equalised just after the half hour mark to make it 1-1. That scoreline stood right up until the 89th minute when referee João Gonçalves decided to light a match and send the entire game up in flames. First he showed Maxi Araújo a red card to reduce the lions down to men. Then he awarded Sporting a corner despite the ball having come off a lion last and as is the way with these things, Hjulmand powered in a header in the 93rd minute to make it 2-1 to Sporting. Santa feeling a tad miffed as you'd expect saw themselves go down to ten men when Adriano was shown a second yellow and would finish with nine men when Sydney Lima was shown a second yellow two minutes later. Move along folks nothing to see here. 2-1 the final result and the lions would have to wear just the suspension of Araújo but with three points in their pockets. Karma served some might suggest for the histrionics that led to the scenes at the end of the game in April and Harders expulsion. Not me though, but some might do. 

So yes, in short, this game has a tendency to deliver more drama than your average EastEnders episode. 

In the last sixteen meetings the two sides are yet to draw. The lions with the upper hand of 14 wins to 2, their last win coming last season in this same fixture when they won 1-0 in what was João Pereira's first league match in charge following the departure of Ruben Amorim to Manchester United. That had followed off the back of the 5-1 drubbing of Arsenal and you'll be forgiven for thinking history has a way of repeating itself, only this time the video tape is being rewound and we'll face Arsenal the game after and not before. Everything is cyclical, everything a carbon copy of what's been before.

As I write Santa Clara are set to face Gil Vicente in the teatime kick off in their last fixture before the international break. They'll be desperate for a positive result with the bottom of the Portuguese league currently tighter than a ducks arse with Alverca in tenth separated to Nacional in 16th by just seven points. AVS's still bottom with ten points have 8 fixtures to try and avoid the unwanted record of being relegated with the fewest points in history from the Portuguese top flight which I believe stands at 16.

Away from home Santa have played 13, won just twice, drawn 5 and lost 6. GF 11, GA 17. Ahead of matchday 27 they sit 14th just 3 points above Nacional who occupy the relegation play off berth. Played 26, won 6, drawn 7, lost 13, GF 23, GA 31. Such a hugely contrasting campaign to the last which has seen them finish fifth and qualify for European competition, this following on from their promotion back to the top flight the summer before. Averaging less than a point and goal scored per game is frankly a recipe for disaster, not helped by failing to win a single game between December 15th and March 1st. Neither does failing to meet your Xg help which stands at 28.3. 

Of the 23 goals scored 8 have been from open play, 7 from set pieces, 1 free kick, 6 penalties and our dear old friend own goal has stuck one in for them as well. Top scorer Vinícius with 5, Gabriel Silva and Serginho have 4 apiece. 9 others have a solitary goal apiece not including the own goal. Despite their lowly league place and inability to score goals, they still boast the seventh best defensive record at the time of writing in terms of total clean sheets kept - 7 and the total number of goals conceded. Regular readers will be aware of my utter distain and loathe for having to watch Santa Clara which I rate as being akin a criminal offence and an afront to my senses. You can expect ten men behind the ball, time wasting from the first minute and a reminder that this is your life and it's ending one minute at a time. If you get another offer, whatever that offer is do that instead. You can thank me after and read my minute by minute as I describe in fine detail the torture I'm sitting through on your behalf and not asking you for a penny for in return. However if you have small children who misbehave frequently remember as punishments go, making them sit and watch Santa Clara play for 90 minutes, even possibly just 45, is good enough to make most kids decide to behave themselves. 

They average 3.4 shots on target per match with a shot conversion rate of just 7.3% not helped by failing to convert their 30 big chances. They have however converted all 6 penalties awarded. In turn conceding 7 of which only 5 have been scored. Their Xg conceded is 27.8 vs the actual conceded total of 31. Ranked 3rd for most fouls per game with 15.2 behind Famalicão and Casa Pia. Second most yellow cards with 74 behind Casa Pia with 78. Fourth most red cards with 4 in total behind Arouca with 9 and Nacional with 6.

Given we last played in the Taça de Portugal I’ll pick their season back up from the match after that.

Matchday 15 – Arouca (H) The two sides played out a 0-0 draw with neither side able to fashion a single big chance. Xg 0.46 to 0.36.

Matchday 16 – FC Porto (H) The league leaders left with all 3 points with an Aghehowa goal enough to secure a 1-0 win. Santa again failing to create a single big chance, Porto scored with their solitary one. Xg 0.26 to 1.08.

Matchday 17 – Nacional (A) Despite taking a 2-0 lead first through Vinícius after 3 minutes and Victor on 14, Santa found themselves going in at half time with the scoreline 2-2 after Ramirez first made it 2-1 on 20 and equalised from the penalty spot on 35. He further compounded their misery when completing his hat-trick on 49 minutes to turn the game on its head 3-2. Manoel secured a point with a goal 4 minutes after the end of the 90. The 3-3 draw sees the islanders without a win in all competitions now in five games. They’re guilty of missing 3 of 5 big chances, Nacional scored both of theirs. Xg 1.88 to Santa’s 2.64.

Matchday 18 – Famalicão (H) More misery as their winless streak stretched to 6 matches as a Sorriso goal on 75 enough to secure the visitors all 3 points. Xg 1.23 to 1.42. Santa missed their only big chance, Fama missed 2 of 3.

Matchday 19 – Moreirense (A) A Maracas goal 4 minutes before the end of time was enough to condemn the visitors to a 1-0 defeat. Moreirense managed a total of 3 attempts over the course of the 90 but despite that were able to come away with the 3 points. Santa registered 8 but both sides finished with an Xg of 0.23 and neither you’ll wont be surprised to learn created a single big chance.

Matchday 20 – Estoril (H) A third straight defeat, their winless streak now sitting at 8 games. Their heaviest league defeat to boot as they eventually lost 4-2. Estoril lead 2-0 from goal from Begraoui with a penalty on 33 and Marques with the second 6 minutes later. Santa drew level with goals from Calili on 51 and Silva on 64. However Guitane made it 3-2 on 73 and Begraoui made it a brace with a second penalty 3 minutes before the end of the 90. Xg 1.58 to 2.31. Estoril scored all of their 3 big chances. Santa on the other hand missed 3 of their 4.

Matchday 21 – Estrela (A) A fourth straight defeat. Ex-lion Jovane with the games only goal on minute 58 to give the Stars of Estrela all 3 points. Xg 0.94 to 1.26. Santa missed both their big chances, Estrela importantly scored 1 of their 3.

Matchday 22 – Benfica (H) Five straight defeats as the dirty pigeons took a 2-0 lead into half time with goals from Pavlidis on 15 and a Victor own goal on 37. Paciencia pulled one back a minute into the second half but the game finished 2-1. Santa with an Xg of 0.28 to 1.19. 0 big chances for them, 2 of 3 missed for Benfica.

Matchday 23 – Alverca (A). A point away in a 1-1 draw at least stopped the rot after 5 straight defeats but Santa still without a win since they beat Casa Pia way back on December 6th some two and a half months ago. Milovanovic put Alverca 1-0 up before Santa equalised 15 minutes before time through Fernando. They missed their 1 big chance, Alverca missed 1 of 2. Xg 1.28 to 0.59.

Matchday 24 – Tondela (A). Another point away, but another game without a win making it 12 in total. They fell behind to a Bebeto penalty on 9, Silva made it 1-1 5 minutes later. Conçeicão made it 2-1 to the yellow and greens before Araújo rescued a point from the penalty spot 3 minutes before the end of the 90.

Matchday 25 – Vitória (H) Finally after 3 months and 2 days of trying, Santa ended their winless streak with a 2-0 win courtesy of goals from Lima on 5 and a Charles own goal on 13. Unlucky for some as they say. Xg 0.61 to 0.99. Santa missed 1 of 2 big chances, the side from Guimarães missed their solitary one.

Matchday 26 – AVS (A) Wins are like buses, you wait 3 months and then 2 come at once, though caveat that with the benefit of playing the top flights worst side. Still you can only beat what is in front of you and that they duly did 1-0 with a goal from Silva on minute 67. Xg 0.23 to 1.40. AVS created 0 big chances, Santa missed their solitary one.

Matchday 27 - Gil Vicente (H) They say things come in threes as a Vinícius goal 4 minutes into additional time gives Santa a 1-0 victory and climbs them temporarily at least up to 13th place. Both side's missed one big chance. Xg 0.30 to 0.79.

Winter Transfer Window

Clearly fearful that their stay in the top flight may well be a short lived affair Santa were busy in the winter market.

Incoming

Vitinho from Palmeiras for free
Henzo from Desportivo Brasil for free
Evertow from Internacional for free
Andrey from Avai FC for free
Darlan Mendes from Wuhan Three Towns for free
Marcos Victor from Bahia for free
Luis Fernando from Cruzeiro for free
Guilherme Romao from Atletico GO for free
Goncalo Paciencia from Sport Recife for free
Welinton Torrão from Athletic Club for free

Outgoing

Jader Barbosa to Atletico GO on loan
Wendel to Ceara on loan
Daniel Borges to Uniao de Leiria on loan
Adriano to Wuhan Three Towns for free
Luis Rocha to Vizela for £108,000
Ewandro Santos to Caldas SC on loan
Matheusinho to Ceara on loan
Denivys to Betim Futebol for free
Luquinhas to Radomiak Radom for free
Antony Carter to Farense on loan
Jader Barbosa to Atletico GO on loan
Alisson Safira to Juventude for free
Matheus Pereira to Toronto for £664,000

Friday update

Luis Suárez started for Colombia in their 2-1 loss to Croatia. 71 minutes played he was guilty of missing his one big chance. 

Morten Hjulmand plays all 90 minutes for Denmark as he and they put to bed the ghost of Scotland in their World Cup Play off with a 4-0 win against North Macedonia. They move on to play Czechia who progressed through the play offs on penalties against the Republic of Ireland.

Wouldn't you know it, ahead of the Champions League clash against Arsenal, Viktor Gyökeres back amongst the goals for Sweden as he scored a hat-trick in the defeat of Ukraine. Noteworthy in turn for Benfica's goalkeeper representing the Ukraine and the match official? Sunday's referee João Pinheiro.

Portugal's under 21s defeat Azerbaijan 4-0 in their EURO qualifier. João Simões started and scored the fourth on minute 75 before being withdrawn 2 minutes later. João Muniz an unused substitute. I've watched the goal several times and still can't work out whether it was deflected. The midfielder starts just inside the edge of the 18 yard box, feints to his left to make himself space and gets a shot away from half a yard inside the area which either goes straight into the top left hand corner with the help of a touch by the keeper or it takes a slight nick off the defenders leg en route. The muted celebration either confirmed that or was out of deference and politeness with the score 4-0. 

Vagiannidis comes on for the last 14 minutes in Greece's 1-0 defeat to Paraguay.

Araújo started for Uruguay against England. Withdrawn after 64 minutes thankfully had a quiet game by his standards allowing him to slip under the radar of anyone watching on from Premier League clubs. He makes 8 of 9 attempted passes. The game finished 1-1.

63 minutes for Fresneda as he started in Spain U21s 7-0 away demolition of Cyprus. 

Saturday update 

Diomande comes on as a 79th minute substitute in the Côte d'Ivoire 4-0 win against South Korea.

Debast started for Belgium in their 5-2 demolition of the USA in and smashed in a goal from 27 yards during his 62 minutes on the pitch. The less said about their kit though the better. 

Sunday update 

Rui Silva plays all 90 minutes for Portugal and keeps a clean sheet in their 0-0 against Mexico. 9 minutes for Trincão as a second half substitute. Gonçalves and Inácio presumably got to work on their tans from the bench. 

Luis Suárez plays the first half of Colombia's 3-1 loss to France. His contribution 9 passes and 1 chance created. 

Tuesday update

Fresneda plays the full 90 minutes in the Spanish under 21s 2-0 victory over Kosovo.

Vagiannidis plays the full 90 minutes in Greece's 0-0 draw with Hungary.

João Simões started in Portugal under 21s 3-0 win against Scotland and plays 67 minutes. 

Diomande started in the Côte d'Ivoire's 1-0 win over Scotland and maybe more importantly in his preferred role as a centre back. He was replaced on 61 minutes. Hjulmand played 106 minutes in which he completed 89 of 99 passes and saw his single effort from outside of the box blocked. Whether that pushes her value down in the summer or has no impact we'll have to wait and see at a time where footballers who enjoy an extended period of rest may actually become all the more valuable to clubs. 

And finally it was Czech mate for Denmark's World Cup campaign as Czechia progressed 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw after extra time.

Trincão starts for Portugal and scored the opener in a 2-0 win against the USA before being withdrawn at half time. Inácio started and played 70 minutes. Rui Silva and Pedro Gonçalves unused substitutes.

Debast plays the last 18 minutes of Belgium's 1-1 draw away to Mexico.

In domestic news Quenda and Kochorashvili returned to training this week from long term absences. 

In the markets

Sporting CP 6/25
Draw 4/1
CD Santa Clara 5/6

Previous match reports

December 18th Taça de Portugal

https://outsideofthepride.blogspot.com/2025/12/clube-desportivo-santa-clara-v-sporting.html

November 8th Liga Portugal

https://outsideofthepride.blogspot.com/2025/11/cd-santa-clara-v-sporting-cp.html

Team News 

Starting XI 

Silva, Vagiannidis, Quaresma, Debast, Mangas, Bragança, Morita, Geny, Trincão, Gonçalves and Nel.

Substitutes 

Virgínia, Araújo, Inácio, Diomande, Kochorashvili, Hjulmand, Simões, Faye and Gonçalves. 

We already knew ahead of time that there would be changes to the starting XI with Luis Suárez handed down a one match ban for his gesture during the Porto match and Nuno Santos being taken off injured during the Alverca game. However with one eye on the Champions League tie coming up against Arsenal, the mister Rui Borges makes a wealth of changes from the win against Alverca. Nel replaces Suárez, Mangas in for Nuno Santos. Vagiannidis comes in for Fresneda and we see the return of a fit again Debast for Inácio. In midfield Bragança starts in place of captain Hjulmand. Kochorashvili fit again to return to the matchday squad. 

Santa Clara starting XI 

1 Batista 

42 Soares 

23 Lima

94 Silva

5 Romão

35 Serginho 

8 Ferreira 

77 Klismahn

10 Silva

26 Fernando 

49 Welinton

Santa Clara mister Petit opts to stick with the same side that started the win over Gil Vicente. Top scorer Vinícius who scored the winner last time out against Gil Vicente is once more only named as a substitute. 

First Half

Sporting in their traditional green and white horizontal stripes, Bragança captain for the evening in the absence of Hjulmand. The visitors shown in a 4-3-3 and I'll eat my hat if they play a flat back four. Inácio presented with an award on the sidelines and my friend is on the TV screen once more in front of them which is always a strange feeling. Sporting kick us off and attack right to left. 

1 Rousing reception to the club anthem. Despite the changes they clearly expect a result as Quaresma clears an early break for the islanders for a throw far side 

1 No flicker of emotion as Borges watches on from the sidelines. 

2 GOAL Sporting CP 0 Santa Clara 1. A long throw was worked back outside the area nearside. Floated back in to Fernando whose cushioned header down to Klismahn was fired home from two yards

4 The play acting starts from the visitors as one of their defenders gets the slightest of touches to the face, thinks about going down and then seeing the danger had passed dropped like a fly 

5 Corner nearside to the visitors. Silva comes and claims 

6 Those in attendance undeterred by the scoreline and the atmosphere is as good as if the lions were leading 

6 Time wasting started from Batista and already I'm reminded why I fucking hate watching Santa Clara 

7 Silva catches the heel of Mangas on the edge of the Sporting box and sends the curly haired quaver flying 

8 Corner to Sporting nearside headed clear

8 Santa defending in a 4-5-1 crowding the central space then move onto a 6-3-1

9 Gonçalves with the lions first chance from 19 yards sends the ball into the stands and the whistles are deafening as Batista once more takes his time 

10 Trincão tries to pick out Mangas on the edge of the six yard box. Batista claims and connects with his defender. I was waiting for him to feign an injury. That will happen in about ten minutes time no doubt 

11 Santa on the attack again, Klismahn can only fire at Silva who was two yards off his goal line and I'm not sure that will count as a shot 

12 Welinton goes down in the box but rightly the referee unmoved as the forward slipped running into the box and given he appealed surely should have been booked for simulation if Suárez was against Alverca no?

13 Headed chance from Gonçalves 8 yards out deflected for a corner far side 

15 Santa with a line of six again in defence. Massive shout of handball from Sporting but the referee instantly waved away their appeals. Trincão fired in a shot from 22 yards and to be fair the replay shows it hit the defenders thigh 

16 Geny fires in a cross into the six yard box just about dealt with and cleared 

18 Cynical foul by Silva on Gonçalves only punished by a free kick 

19 Santa with a line of seven defenders. Penalty Sporting as Romão went through the back of Geny and the referee has no hesitation in pointing to the spot 

21 GOAL Sporting CP 1 Santa Clara 1. Gonçalves with the shortest of run ups sends Batista right and the ball left. Muted celebrations from the lion but certainly not from the crowd and I'm left wishing I hadn't taken him out of my original bet builder when I put him in to score anytime. Silly boy

22 Lima chops Nel down 24 yards from goal and nothing given 

24 Arm into the face of Geny not given and then Trincão booked seconds later for pulling back a player in the centre circle

24 Gonçalves shot from 16 yards hits a defender and balloons up and out for a corner nearside 

25 Morita with a flicked goal bound header from 8 yards brings a world class save to deny him a goal. Batista at full stretch to push it out for a corner 

26 Corner far side to the lions and Batista saves again this time from a stinging Geny effort from 20 yards 

27 Oh look there's the Batista injury. Water being poured on his thumb by the physio. Fucking pathetic. 

29 More time wasting to take the goal kick and the fans behind the goal becoming all the more incensed 

29 Debast clears for a corner far side 

30 Wow the lions literally with six defenders stood next to each other in the box, not seen that before as a defensive technique 

30 Fernando the latest with the play acting with the slightest of touches into the face from Mangas. It's fucking pathetic 

31 Geny draws another save low from 18 yards 

33 Corner Sporting far side as twice the referee gets in the way as they tried to build up outside the area 

34 Bragança shot from 18 yards blocked. He's then penalised for shielding the ball in between his legs on the floor and looks equally as baffled by the decision as I am 

36 Silva some six yards offside runs towards the ball and Silva ends up getting a touch on the cross for a corner on the far side. Should have left it. As it was Sporting cleared the corner 

38 GOAL Sporting CP 2 Santa Clara 1. Bragança fires home from 8 yards to give the lions the lead. That's some team goal as they zig zagged passes from the half way line into the area and literally bypassed every red shirt at every stage. 

41 Save from 20 yards from Morita's effort 

41 GOAL Sporting CP 3 Santa Clara 1. Morita flicked the ball forward to Trincão who turns and smashes the ball into the bottom right hand corner from 8 yards on the volley. 

43 Yellow to Ferreira shown for a foul on Nel. The youngster turned his marker on the halfway line brilliantly to get away 

44 Free kick 30 yards out. Finds Morita who gets his timing all wrong and pokes it out for a goal kick 

Plus two shown 

Half time 

Sporting CP 3 CD Santa Clara 1.

Despite an opening the islanders could only have dreamed about and Sporting fielding a much weakened starting XI, the lions spurred on by fantastic support have systematically taken the visitors apart piece by piece and go in with a deserved half time lead. Regular readers will know of my utter disdain for watching Santa Clara and my theory that if you want to punish your kids you make them stay up to watch them. Nothing changes. Usual time wasting antics, feigning injuries be that the goalkeeper or outfield players all going to ground with the minimum of contact from a stray finger nail. Welinton appealed for a penalty when he slipped over under zero contact and fell into Quaresma and yet Suárez told Pinheiro last time out he didn't get touched and gets booked. Explain that one to me please?

Morita has bossed the midfield. Gonçalves, Geny and Trincão have all looked threatening around the Santa Clara box and more than made up for the loss of Suárez who will have the benefit of rest ahead of the Arsenal game having been away with Colombia. When it all knits together you'd be forgiven for thinking Borges is a tactical genius. Whilst Trincão's finish will get the plaudits it's the Bragança goal that's the real standout for me as a team effort slicing open both the midfield and the defence. If you squint when you watch it you could pretend it was Arsenal.

15 attempts to 4, the Xg 1.64 to 0.31 with the goal accounting for 0.18 of that total. The lions have scored both their big chances.

Second half 

➡️⬅️ Gonçalves for Araújo 

45 Santa Clara get us back underway. Hopefully that substitution is with one eye on Arsenal and not because of an injury concern 

46 The lions waste no time going on the attack. Trincão sends Mangas free on the left and his cross is cut out. Bright start compared to the first half 

47 Sporting cutting through Santa like butter with a series of intricate crisp passes

47 Free kick for a foul on Geny 

48 Suárez watches on from the box away from everyone else with what I assume is Mrs Suárez. Perhaps he's a nervous watcher and prefers to be left alone 

48 Shot of Varandas watching on. One way to fill in the time whilst Santa Clara wait to take another delayed free kick 

49 First effort from the either side sees Silva fire the ball at Rui Silva from wide right 

50 Pass from the left poked forward and Rui Silva quick to come and claim inside the six yard box. Silva has to hurdle him and flies into the net. At least they've got something over the line 

52 Nel takes Silva's shoulder into his mouth and in credit to the youngster doesn't make a meal of it. Notice the difference between the two sides 

54 Trincão all smiles as he's penalised for a foul

54 Welinton pokes the ball out for a goal kick and sets about blaming someone else for his error

55 Double substitution incoming for the islanders on the sidelines. I imagine Welinton will be one of those replaced. Vinícius one of the two set to come on 

56 The atmosphere has gone flat this half like half the stadium decided to go to the pub instead of staying 

56 Trincão shot inside the D is blocked 

57 Santa player down and the referee ran over to him, took one look and ran off again. Hilarious. Silva the player down having been strong armed off the ball by Bragança 

58 ➡️⬅️ Vinícius and Tavares on, Welinton and Ferreira off. What a surprise Welinton went off as predicted. Telegraphed that one for you all ahead of time 

59 Nel gets it all wrong as he skews wide from six yards having been picked out on the wing by Trincão and bites his upturned shirt knowing that was a real opportunity 

59 ➡️ ⬅️ Simões replaces Bragança 

61 Nel turns on a six pence again and pulled back in midfield and free kick awarded. That's twice we've seen him do that to great effect. Miss aside two minutes ago he's played well 

62 Trincão has a pass hit his back and still drops favourably but somehow his pass into the area found a red shirt and the danger cleared 

64 Santa have three defenders in front of Geny. Seems like overkill

66 Geny wins a corner nearside 

66 Geny effort from 16 yards drops onto the top of the net 

67 ➡️⬅️ Morita replaced by Hjulmand and Mangas for Faye. Quaresma hands the captain's armband over to the Dane 

67 Another foul on a Sporting player. This game has descended into nothing more than a series of niggly fouls 

68 Klismahn diving header puts the ball out for a corner far side. This game needs a Hjulmand headed goal

69 Cross to the far post trying to find Nel headed out for a corner nearside 

69 Hjulmand read my script but his flicked header sent out for a throw in 

70 Vagiannidis beats the offside trap and shanks the ball out of play 

70 ➡️⬅️ Klismahn off for Darlan Mendes and Silva off for Brenner. Oh my Darlan, oh my Darlan, oh my Darlan Clementine …

72 It's good from Vinícius from 27 yards for the field goal

73 This game needs a goal at either end just to make it worth watching for the last twenty or so minutes 

74 Simões booked for a shirt pull

75 Vagiannidis booked for an elbow into the chest of Vinícius and free kick awarded 30 yards from goal

76 Whipped free kick found the head of Lima who could only send it into the arms of Silva. Big chance missed 

76 ➡️ ⬅️ Fernando off for Paciência. That's all five substitutes made by the visitors 

78 Cries of Rui as he's off his line and out to the edge of his area to head away the danger 

79 Free kick awarded for a trip on Faye. Natives restless again as the player isn't booked and whistles ring out 

80 Nuts on Quaresma who turns and recovers to poke the ball out for a corner 

81 GOAL Sporting CP 3 Santa Clara 2. Paciência leaves Vagiannidis flat footed and slots home into the far corner from 8 yards.

83 Referee is running to the monitor to check on a foul on Faye in the buildup who clearly has his legs kicked from under him. This is surely going to be overturned 

84 Referee slowly struts to the centre circle. Look of disbelief on the face of Paciência. No goal 

84 Yellow to Petit and a red to one of the coaching staff behind him 

86 Well we can't have a game against Santa Clara with zero controversy can we now? Porto statement incoming 

87 Huge cheers as Vinícius slips on his arse. This is like a pantomime as first Nel is fouled and no free kick awarded to whistles and then Araújo is penalised for actually what was probably a bookable offence as he clothes lined someone 

87 ➡️ ⬅️ Geny for Gonçalves 

88 GOAL Sporting CP 3 Santa Clara 2. Paciência absolutely mugs Debast off with dancing feet to then slot home from 10 yards 

89 Yellow shown to Tavares for an arm into the back of Hjulmand 

Plus seven minutes shown 

90 I'm starting to wish I didn't write this game needed a goal to either side to wake it up 

+1 Debast hyper extends to put the ball out for a corner far side, gets up and goes straight back down. That doesn't look good 

+1 The Belgian thankfully back on his feet. Maybe his acting was the best of the night. Had me fooled. 

+2 Silva punches clear and the whistles ring round as Faye goes down and we play on 

+3 The Stadium lifts the volume once more as we're treated to a close up of the Casio watch on the arm of the mister Rui Borges 

+4 Faye with all the time in the world spanks it over from 15 yards. Fuck me 

+4 GOAL Sporting CP 4 Santa Clara 2. Nel spares his teammates blushes for that miss as he runs onto a perfectly weighted pass, carries his run into the area and smashes the ball into the bottom left hand corner from 14 yards 

+6 Double yellow first to Hjulmand and to Paciência for handbags in the centre circle. The referee I think was trying to usher Nel away so the game could restart. The Santa goalscorer you imagine had to have said something for the Dane to feel the need to walk towards him whilst the referee was walking Nel out of the centre circle and then it all got handbags at six paces with several players crowded around. 

+7’46 Final whistle blows 

Full time 

Sporting CP 4 Santa Clara 2

The final word

Be careful what you wish for is one of the most repeated bits of advice quoted on a daily basis all around the world and clearly one that I choose to ignore when I wrote that this game needs a goal from either side to make interesting. Will I learn my lesson? Probably not but we got a box office finish to a stale second half. This fixture cannot be played without controversy and you imagine someone at Porto was sat laptop open typing their communication as soon as the referee disallowed the first goal. Petit, Porto and Santa Clara can moan all they like because there was nothing wrong with any of the four Sporting goals and last time I checked 4-3 still beats 4-2 and even if the disallowed goal is awarded then the third isn't scored so they can shove it up their collective bum holes. Petit needs to have a look at himself in the mirror though and question why he leaves his top scorer on the bench and for that matter Paciência who danced twice through the lions defence to score even if one of them didn't count. He looks about six and a half feet tall and yet has an incredible set of dancing shoes on the end of each leg. 

A lot of positives to take away from that performance but equally if Sporting's first string defence was to perform in the same manner against Arsenal then they'd have their arses handed to them on a plate. Some of the defending for all three goals whether they counted or not was as bad as we've seen in an awfully long time. That being said this was a second string eleven that started and they deserved the three points even if they made it harder than it needed to be in the end. 

Rui Silva had a big performance at times and wasn't helped by his defence at others. The defending for all the goals was poor if in fact you could call it that at all. Unfortunately that's what you get when you field a weakened team. I doubt we'd have seen the same from a full strength eleven but you can't sugarcoat it, you have to call it for what it was. Maybe you can caveat it by pointing out that the likes of Vagiannidis and Debast are severely lacking in game time and the Belgian has just come back from an injury but the Greek defender has struggled whenever he's been given the opportunity and those Fresneda haters should be eating their words and the only thing we saw tonight is why he's the first choice right back. Quaresma doesn't escape the criticism either, he looked off the pace at points though wonderful through ball for the fourth goal and the statistics will say I'm talking out my arse but he was a yard off to the eye. Couple of times including the nutmeg in the second half that was clear as Evian water. Mangas didn't cover himself in glory once more looking like he's playing in clown shoes with his final touch. 

Big opening 45 from Morita who was like a Rolla Royce at points and could have had a goal where it not for an incredible save from Batista and in truth like all the players they powered down for much of the second half trying to conserve energy for midweek. Bragança amongst the goals once more which is always a positive sign. Poor old Faye with a miss he won't want to see again with a touch of the Suárez's with too much time on his hands to think, where had it landed to him with someone close to him he'd probably have hit the target. Step forward Rafael Nel however whose finish for the fourth goal demonstrated a maturity way beyond his tender 20 years and showed Suárez again what should be done when you're out through one on one. Mágico finish and he's done his future chances of progressing with the first team no harm at all. Twice we saw him spin his marker, one in either half and draw a foul and two goals in two appearances might finally stop me asking how is it that we can't ever produce a half decent forward from an academy that never stops rolling out an abundance of defenders and midfielders. 

Araújo looked like a man whose spent too much time in the air over the last few days but he'll have shaken off some rust with 45 minutes if nothing else. Expect some form of communication against Hjulmand from Porto for walking towards the Santa player when they were trying to kick off again. I look forward to seeing what type of nonsense they can spin it into. Even Rumpelstiltskin would struggle but they'll give it a go no doubt. Flávio Gonçalves not on long enough to really make a difference and Simões suffered the same malaise as many of his colleagues. 

Back to the positives. Superbly taken penalty from Pedro Gonçalves and a timely reminder of how good he is from the penalty spot and should probably still be first choice to take them albeit Suárez hasn't missed one yet. I hope I've not just put the kiss of death on him there. His spacial awareness was brilliant in what turned out to be a cameo 45 minute appearance even if his finishing other than the penalty wasn't. The Bragança goal as I've previously mentioned above was wonderful and actually some of the passing at the start of the second half shouldn't go amiss in my summary. If you drew a line from the passes it was a perfectly executed zig zag and a different type of goal to those we normally see from the lions and personally I'd say that we need other options like that stemming from the centre of midfield. The fact that we scored four times with a weakened team and one suffering the effects of an international break is huge. Game rhythm is equally important though and we'll see how Borges decision to rest many of his starters for Arsenal works out. None of us are taking the game for granted and few fans can really be expecting us to beat the Premier League leaders over 180 minutes of football. They'll no doubt do the same for their cup game against Southampton resting as many players as possible. We have to hope we can take something back to the second leg in London where they then face Manchester City the game after and we'll find out where their priorities lie. I'm not buying into their eleven players withdrawn from internationals through injury being anything more than gamesmanship on the part of Arteta but this isn't the Arsenal preview so back to tonight's game. 

Choice of four for man of the match. Got to have a mention for Morita who is signing off his stay as a lion with a bow. Big summer ahead for him potentially at the World Cup and wherever he ends up we'll wish him well and he's been one of the best euro for euro signings the club has made in recent years. 

Second vote goes to Geny who was electric again on the right hand side and caused their defence to triple team him at one stage in the second half. Again another player that's going to be a huge loss if they let him go in the summer. 

Third vote goes to Trincão who ran the show in attack and was the joined up writing in the final third when his defence was trying to write their names in block capitals with a crayon in hand. Fourth and final vote goes to the youngster Rafael Nel. Santa players tried throughout to verbally and physically intimidate the 20 year old and he took it all in his stride and his goal was superbly taken. He'll take the popular vote no doubt but I'm too old for sentimentality with these things. My vote goes to Trincão. 

So on go Arsenal we go. Last time we played Santa Clara and Arsenal in the same week we got thumped 5-1 and then lost the following weekend 1-0 both under the stewardship of João Pereira. Borges has one win, I won't pin too much hope on making it a second but I don't think we'll get spanked by any stretch of the imagination.