Sporting CP 5 Vitória SC 1

Sporting CP v Vitória SC 
Monday May 4th, 2026
Estadio José Alvalade 
Matchday 32

The warm up 

Every year in Gloucestershire they hold the Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and wake, a dangerous high speed competition where participants chase a 7lb wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down a near-vertical hill. With Sporting CP we have something similar with the anti-Borges brigade who all clammer to be at the front of the queue to stick the knife in charging down the hill as soon as the final whistle goes on any game they don't win. It'll probably come as no surprise to learn that I write this the day after the 1-1 draw away to newly relegated bottom of the table AVS Futebol SAD. I don't remember if I wrote before that game or the forthcoming one to Tondela about how unkind the fixtures were leading up to the next two games but I think I like everyone else naïvely expected us to come away with six points against the two worst sides in the division. Even making five changes to the starting XI yesterday we should have had more than enough to come away with all three points. Now we're looking at Famalicao and asking them to put on their superhero suits for a third straight season and would they mind beating Benfica one more time by 2-0 just for old times sake? In the end we were fortunate to come away with a point after they hit the post with a glorious opportunity late on which should have sealed the win. Gonçalves hit the bar, Geny struck the post and we missed numerous other chances but football is a simple game which involves putting the ball into the back of the net. You could try bemoan the penalty that they were awarded but it was no different to the one we were wrongly awarded against Santa Clara earlier in the season. It is what it is. You can't change it so there's no point in giving yourself a heart attack over it. If you're identity is that tied into that of the football team you support them maybe you need to re-evaluate your life choices. It's a draw that could cost the club millions in lost revenue but it has always been a game of fine margins and as cruel mistresses go she is one of the very worst. But there's always those in worse situations. It's exactly a year to the day since we beat Boavista 5-0 and they've now gone out of business totally so it would seem crass to moan about a 1-1 draw by way of comparison.

The problem with being successful is that it breeds raised expectations as a byproduct. I've written about the variations involved in football matches before so you'll forgive me for briefly repeating myself here but to win a match is of course simply not just a case turning up and going I'll have those three points please. Neither are games won on paper. You've the variables of 22 players, four match officials, substitutes, VAR teams, coaching teams, weather conditions, suspensions, injuries and that's just a quick synopsis. Entire seasons can turn on one single event for better or for worse and yes whilst players are incredibly well numerated it doesn't make them any less human or fallible than the next person. We all suffer from lapses in concentration, most of us thankfully will never have to suffer the ire of irate fans. Yet at Sporting we have gotten to join in the celebrations seen over the past two seasons. Let's not forget what we have achieved coming into this season with back to back to back league titles topped off with last season's epic comeback in Jamor in the Dérbi de Lisboa. They can't take any of those titles away from us. Whereas I've already mentioned they took an entire club away in Boavista. Failure to qualify for the Champions League would be hugely damaging financially but if you're reliant on that money then something is wrong with your blueprint and I'd hope we've learned the lessons of previous administrations and from those mistakes made by clubs such as FC Porto. I'm quite jealous in a way of clubs that play little more than their standard 34 game season which might sound odd but you can have too much of a good thing. What's the famous old expression? Something about eating steak every day would be great but sometimes you just want a fat greasy burger. Or in this case a season that doesn't involve 50 plus games. I write that every year now at this stage, it's not just because of the AVS game. Roll on the end of May and thank you Ireland for losing a penalty shootout so I get an entire summer free of football. 

A league where three clubs routinely dominate the landscape is not healthy and whilst I wasn't exactly jumping for joy when we lost the semi final to Vitória in the Taça da Liga I was still quietly chuffed that they beat out Braga to lift the title and that's nothing to do with my irrational hatred of them which becomes more rational with every season that passes. Fucking Fraggles. It's important to give smaller teams some hope especially in a country like Portugal where even some of the supposed biggest teams are nothing more than minnows if you compared them to clubs in League 2 of the English Pyramid. We've had a season where Porto are trying to referee games they've not been involved in through the courts after the final whistle. If that was allowed to happen in the English game there would be outrage and Portugal need to move fast to stop it ever occuring again. With every communication Porto put out in damages and tarnishes the reputation of the Liga and the Portuguese referees association. Somewhere Pinto da Costa is looking up at André Villas-Boas going well done my boy you're following my playbook perfectly. Do you want to follow a club that acts like that? Would you want Farioli as your coach and André Villas-Boas as Club President compared to Rui Borges and Frederico Varandas? Because if the answers yes, there's good news for you. You can fuck off any time you like. I'm sure blue and white will suit you much better. Don't let the door slam on you on the way out and please don't bother to write because you won't be missed. At the end of the day whatever Bill Shankly’s quote was about the game being more than life and death, I'm sorry but he was wrong. It is just a game with 22 people chasing a ball trying to stick it into a net over the course of 90 minutes. You're riding high in April, shot down in May, albeit in our case this season we were riding high in March and shot down in April but never mind. We are at least off to Jamor for a third straight season.

Back to the game at hand forthcoming against Vitória. Of course not only victors of the lions in the Taça da Liga but the previous club of the mister Rui Borges. A club that when he left was second in the Europa Conference League table only to the billionaire playground of Chelsea. He clearly left good enough foundations to build on to win the Taça da Liga in turn. Yet some will tell you he's the worst coach in the world. Why some find it hard to give the man some respect, even begrudgingly so is a mystery to me right up there with the majority of women I've ever met. 

We find them looking for a third straight win in the league but truthfully their season is done bar the shouting. They've nothing to play for but pride. They sit 7th, played 31, won 12, drawn 6, lost 13. GF 38, GA 43. 

Their season began under Luis Pinto but he left last month and are now coached by Gil Lameiras who was previously in charge of their second eleven. Eleventh best away record in the division it reads played 15, won 4, drawn 2, lost 9. GF 12, GA 25. Even a child will be able to point out when you're conceding twice as many as scoring away from home you're always going to have problems. 

Of their 38 goals scored, 22 have come from open play, 9 set pieces, 1 free kick, 5 penalties and 1 own goal. They sit just about right with their XG of 37.8. Top scorer is Samu with 7, Gustavo Silva and Oumar Camara have 5 apiece and Nélson Oliveira has 3. Fourteen others not including our old friend own goal have contributed either one or two goals apiece. They've scoring on average 1.2 goals per game the leagues ninth best, whilst conceding 1.4 goals on average which is also the ninth best record. They average 4 shots on target per game and are guilty of missing 33 Opta defined big chances which is 30 less than the lions have been guilty of missing, which in turn is the highest in the league. Only four clubs have missed fewer chances overall. They've benefited from being awarded 6 penalties converting 83.3%. 

They have 10 clean sheets to their name which is the 7th highest total kept of all sides. They're slightly above their Xg conceded 43 to 41.7. Along with Sporting and Benfica they've conceded just 4 penalties with the conversion rate 75%. Only Rio Ave and Porto have conceded fewer with 2 apiece. But remember folks, especially after last night's AVS penalty it's the lions who have the referees in our pockets. Don't be fooled. Don't cast your mind back twelve months where Benfica didn't incur a single sending off either across an entire league campaign. Nothing to see here, these aren't the droids you're looking for, you can go about your business, move along. 

Fifth highest for average fouls per game with 14.7. they've seen 69 bookings and 3 red cards. They brought in just one new signing in the winter window striker Ejike Opara on a free from Novi Pazar. He's been put with the B side presumably for development purposes. Rodrigo Duarte joined Paços de Ferreira on loan and Vando Felix went on loan to Vojvodina. 

The last league meeting between the two sides was on December 23rd as Sporting once more scored 4 in Guimarães. Thankfully this season not conceding 4, just the 1. Goals from Trincão, Araújo, Ioannidis and a Castillo own goal. Vitória failed to create a single big chance, Sporting in addition to scoring 4 also missed two of their four big chances. 

Because of the Taça da Liga semi finals on January 6th unlike the last Tondela post, you get a much abbreviated club catch up on their season since the two last met. We pick back up with the final.

Taca da Liga Final – Braga (N) Dorgeles opened the scoring for Braga on 16 minutes. Samu made it 1-1 from the penalty spot on 58 minutes, Ndoye with what would be the winner for the side from Guimaraes on 82 to make it 2-1. Zalazar has the chance to make the scores level but missed a penalty 10 minutes into time added on at the end of the 90 Joao Mendes received his second booking and marching orders for VSC on 90+6 and Nélson Oliveira was shown an Esgaio on 90+11, by which I mean he was also sent off without being on the pitch. However neither incident could dampen the celebrations and Portugal had a new title winner. Xg 1.55 to 2.50. VSC scored two of their three big chances, Braga missed all 3 of theirs.

Matchday 18 – Porto (H) Despite Aghehowa missing a penalty on 26 minutes, the league leaders came away with all 3 points thanks to a Varela penalty 6 minutes before the end of the 90 for a 1-0 away win. Telmo Arancjo saw red for the home side 8 minutes into additional time.

Matchday 19 – Estoril (A) Samu gave VSC the lead on 26, Bergraoui equalised two minutes later for 1-1. Mitrovic restored the visitors lead on 33 and Vitoria went into the break 2-1 up. Marques made it 2-2 ten minutes into the second half, then made it 3-1 on 64 before Bergraoui also completed his brace on 77 to give the home side a 4-2 win. XG 2.01 to 1.94. Estoril scored 2 of their 3 big chances whereas VSC missed all four of theirs.

Matchday 20 – Moreirense (H) Back to winning ways as a Samu penalty on 65 minutes enough for all 3 points in a 1-0 win.  Xg 1.79 to 0.57. The visitors missed both their big chances, Samu’s penalty was the only one created by the home side but it proved decisive.

Matchday 21 – Arouca (A) Despite taking a 2-0 lead through goals from Saviolo on 25 and Camara on 29, goals from Trezza on the stroke of half time, Barbero on 55 and Lee on 73 gave Arouca a 3-2 win. Xg 1.72 to 1.75. Arouca score 3 of their 4 big chances, Victoria scored both of theirs.

Matchday 22 – Estrela (H) Moreira gave the visitors the lead after just 9 minutes before Balieiro equalised on 63 and Sousa made sure of a 2-1 win on 67. Xg 1.42 to 1.22. Both sides missed one of their 2 big chances.

Matchday 23 – Braga (A) Zalazar made no mistake with his penalty as he had done in the Taca final to give Braga the lead on 16 minutes. Barisic put into his own net however to level just 2 minutes later. Horta restored the lead on 31 only to see Silva make it 2-2 8 minutes after the restart. It took Braga just 3 minutes to restore their lead as Zalazar completed his brace and Braga gained revenge with a 3-2 win. Xg 2.68 to 1.19. Braga miss 3 of 6 big chances, VSC miss 1 of 2.

Matchday 24 – Alverca (H) Samu scores within a minute of the half time break to put the home side 1-0 up. Figueiredo makes it 1-1 on 64 and the sides shared a point. Xg 1.50 to 1.97. Both sides guilty of missing 2 of 3 big chances.

Matchday 25 – Santa Clara (A) Lima puts the islanders 1-0 up on 5. A Charles own goal on 13 the only other goal of the game in a 2-0 win. Xg 0.78 to 0.99. 1 of 2 big chances either scored or missed for Santa depending on your outlook in life. 1 of 1 missed for VSC

Matchday 26 – Famalicão (H) De Haas puts Fama 1-0 up on 16. Samu equalises just 6 minutes later. Sorisso scores the Fama winner just a minute into the second half. 1-2 the final result. Xg 0.49 to 1.40. 0 big chances created by Gil Lameiras’ side. Fama score 2 of their 3.

Matchday 27 – Benfica (A) Prestianni makes it 1-0 on 13 minutes, Pavlidis 2-0 on 54 and a Beni own goal on 73 completes the visitors misery for a 3-0 defeat. XG 2.34 to 0.75. $ of 6 big chances missed by Benfica. 1 of 1 for the visitors.

Matchday 28 – Tondela (H) Vitória secure their first win in 6 games as they finally put to bed their worst run of results this campaign with a thumping 5-0 win against relegation threatened Tondela.

Matchday 29 – AVS (A) Despite taking the lead on 23 minutes through Silva, Tomané makes it 1-1 just 3 minutes later and the leagues bottom side secured a vital point as they look to surpass the all time lowest points record held by FC Penafiel. Xg 0.90 to 2.37. AVS miss 2 of 2 big chances. VSC miss 3 of 4.

Matchday 30 – Gil Vicente (A) A Silva goal on 65 gives the visitors all 3 points with a 1-0 win, that coming after his effort on 32 minutes was rule out. Xg 1.38 to 0.82. Gil miss both their big chances, VSC their only 1.

Matchday 31 – Rio Ave (H) Goals from Samu on 71 and Strata 4 minutes past the 90 secure a 2-0 win. Xg 1.13 to 0.59. Ave miss both their big chances, Vitória 1 of 2.

Saturday update - Famalicão come from two goals behind at home to Benfica to draw 2-2. The draw means Sporting can draw level on points with Benfica with a win on Monday night however they'd still need to win all their remaining games and hope the neighbours slip up somewhere in their remaining games as they hold the better head to head record.

Sunday update - With what appears to be their second soft penalty award of the week Tondela beat Casa Pia 1-0 to close the gap between them both to just 1 point which means at least the lions collapse on Wednesday at least carries some degree of purpose for one side as they continue to battle to avoid relegation alongside AVS. Speaking of whom they won their second game of the season to finally overtake FC Penafiel's lowest ever points total in the Liga. 

Sporting B

Sporting CP v Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Friday May 1st, 2026

Matchday 32

One of two Dérbi de Lisboa's on the same day. 

Starting XI 

F. Silva, Mota, Muniz, Moreira, Dias, Rayan, Justo, Cardoso, Couto, Anjos and Gonçalves.

Substitutes Used

Felicíssimo, Ramos, Mendonça, Mendoza and Besugo.

O-0 at half time. A double change on 58 as Felicíssimo and Ramos were introduced for Rayan and Mota. The deadlock was finally broken in the 61st minute by Diogo Prioste. Another double change on 72 with Mendonça and Mendoza introduced for Couto and Anjos. Besugo the final substitute coming on for Dias on 82. The lions unable to find an equaliser and lost the game 1-0. To compound their misery Ramos was given a straight red card in the 8th minute of time added on after the 90. The loss leaves Sporting 22th, six points above the drop zone.

Sporting CP Feminino 

Sport Lisboa e Benfica v Sporting CP 

Friday May 1st, 2026

Estádio da Luz

Matchday 17

Starting XI 

Wozniak, Eaton-Collins, Barron, Cherry, Cancelinha, Pérez, Martins, Neto, Hernandez Gray, Santiago and Encarnação 

All credit to the neighbours who continue to offer up the men's stadium for their ladies biggest game of the season, the Dérbi de Lisboa. Marit Lund put the league leaders ahead after just 5 minutes played with a stunning curled effort from 25 yards out. The lionesses hopes of getting something from the match lifted when Cherry made it 1-1 two minutes before the 45. The goal came from a free kick on the right curled into the six yard box. The bounce caught everyone but Cherry out who headed home from close range. However a penalty was conceded and converted 4 minutes into additional time and they went into half time trailing 2-1. Wozniak left on her knees banging her hand in frustration. You might remember this was the keeper Sporting brought on for penalties in Europe and got nowhere near them.

Just after the hour mark Martins and Encarnação were withdrawn for Arques and Bonseguendo. Another double change on 74 when Neto and Hernandez Gray were withdrawn for Fonseca and Armengol. One final change on 85 saw Pérez brought off for Bravo. Despite making all five substitutions the lionesses unable to find an equaliser and suffered a third goal on 88 through Chandra Davidson as she made the most of poor defending and goalkeeping to slot home. Full time 3-1. Benfica are champions. Sporting will finish second. Just Racing Power to play in the final round. The lionesses desperately need a new goalkeeper after Anna Wellmann confirmed her move to Bayern München.

In the markets

Sporting CP 6/25

Draw 9/2

Vitória 10/1

Team News 

Starting XI 

Silva, Araújo, Debast, Inácio, Quaresma, Bragança, Morita, Geny, Trincão, Gonçalves and Suárez 

Substitutes 

Virgínia, Vagiannidis, Diomande, Mangas, Santos, Kochorashvili, Quenda, Guilherme, and Nel.

Two changes from the draw last midweek at home to Tondela. Inácio comes back in replacing Vagiannidis. He will be one or the starting centre backs with Quaresma pushed wide right of the four where the Greek defender began. Quenda is replaced by Trincão and once more a positional swap as Gonçalves will move to the left of a three behind Suárez. After his own goal Wednesday night the youngster Blopa has been taken out of the firing line and doesn't form part of the matchday squad. Quenda and Vagiannidis do however both drop to the bench. It seems fitting a year to the day after Quaresma scored the winner against Gil Vicente that he has the chance to repeat his heroics. 

Vitória SC Starting XI 

27 Charles

13 Mendes

28 Baleiro

4 Rivas

66 Strata

16 Beni

23 Sousa

88 Nogueira

20 Samu

48 Saviolo

11 Silva

Gil Lameiras makes two changes from their win over 2-0 Rio Ave. No making America Great Again as Maga drops out for Strata and Noguiera replaces Camara

First Half

A warm embrace from the two misters who presumably know each other from Borges time as Vitória.

A third different captain since Hjulmand’s injury sustained in O Clássico against FC Porto. Inácio takes over the role, following Trincão against AVS and Bragança against Tondela. Quaresma with a presentation shirt from Varandas before kick off. Vitória kick off, Sporting attack right to left. They wear their traditional kit of green and white horizontal stripes. Vitória in a quite lurid gold and grey number. 

1 Pinball football inside the Sporting box as a cross from the left ricochets off several defenders before finally being cleared 

1 Sousa curls the first effort of the game from the right of the area 20 yards out into the arms of Rui Silva 

2 Mendes from 26 yards blasts wide of the left of Silva's goal 

4 Vitória defending with a line of 5, they clear from Suárez on the edge of the 18 yard by box. It's the first time the lions have been in the final third of the VSC half in the opening exchanges 

5 Geny falls under a challenge but the referee uninterested in his appeals for a foul 

6 Geny's attempted pass inside the box can only find a Vitória defdner 

6 Sousa shown a yellow for a foul on Bragança. He caught the midfielder on the shin with his studs but Bragança had slid in first and in fairness the Vitória player tried to avoid contact. Booking felt harsh 

7 GOAL Free kick 32 yards out. Gonçalves went to the far left hand side of the six yard box. Suárez clipped the ball up to the head of Inácio who headed home from 5 yards. Brilliantly worked set piece. The replay shows the bended run of Inácio. Clearly something that had been worked on in training. Sporting CP 1 Vitória SC 0

10 Morita catches the top of Silva's foot. Free kick given 34 yards out. It goes out for a goal kick

11 Gil Lameiras on the bench clearly not happy with something he's seen on the little monitor in front of him flings his arms out in disgust

12 As Vitória break they hold a 4-3-3

13 Sparse crowd once more inside the Estádio José Alvalade. What a difference twelve months make 

14 Gonçalves hunts down a ball on the left but is turned three of four times by the Vitória player who clears 

15 Vitória break down the right ends with a poor pass from Nogueira into the six yard box which was collected by Silva

15 Suárez fouled just outside the centre circle. Free kick awarded. 

16 Hjulmand watches on from the stands 

16 Debast goes long looking for Geny. The defender however plays it off the winger for a goal kick 

17 Borges in what one assumes is a club jumper. Still grey though. No gilet. I think it said Devoçao

18 Araújo concedes a corner near side as Nogueira ran into the box 

18 The move ends in an offside call. Second time we've seen that from a corner in two games with a side trying to be clever against the lions 

20 Replay off the corner shows the initial ball rolling up onto knee of Araújo. presumably a suggestion it had been his hand 

21 Charles off his line to clear with Gonçalves charging down. Offside called against Pote anyway 

22 Good run out from Quaresma found Morita. His quick pass found Araújo and then finally Gonçalves. He knocks the ball past Sousa in a lovely move but the defender recovers to knock the ball back off Pote for a goal kick. Some great football being played tonight 

23 GOAL Sporting CP 2 Vitória 0. Hjulmand and Fresneda applaud watching on as Bragança lifts the ball over Charles from 11 yards. That was beach football with a series of passes where the ball didn't even touch the ground 

25 Gonçalves left in a heap down the left. Free kick awarded 

27 Vitória now defending with an incredibly high line which feels like an invitation to the lions if there ever was one 

28 Debast goes down 24 yards out. He gets up as Vitória continue an attack. Sporting conceded a corner nearside and the Belgian down again inside the area. He got clattered into his side in the original challenge 

29 Corner failed to beat the first man and headed clear. Ball came back into the area and Gonçalves clears for another corner 

30 Silva heads over from 7 yards 

31 Bragança with what would have been one of the goals of the season. Araújo cuts out a stray pass. His ball found Bragança who dribbled past three defenders starting from the edge of the box only to see his shot from six yards saved 

32 So close to another goal. That gap behind the defenders I was highlighting exposed as Morita found Trincão and he clips an effort past Charles from 7 yards which agonisingly went wide of the far post. He finishes with his now trademark move when he misses hunched over the advertising hoarding as if to say for fucks sakes 

33 Gonçalves rifles a shot from 26 yards into the arms of Charles who got his body behind the ball 

34 Cross from the right to the far post headed back and Gonçalves dithers on the ball and Samu took advantage and poked it goalwards from 8 yards into the hands of Rui Silva 

35 Long range effort deflected off the head of Morita for a corner far side. Nogueira it was with the initial effort 

38 Blocked shot from 16 yards by Silva

39 Suárez caught on the top of the foot. Play continued. Vitória in the end played the ball out sportingly 

39 Araújo dispossessed in the final third, the Uruguayan however uses his strength to send the Vitória player flying and wins possession back 

40 Big save from Rui Silva. Flying to his right he palms the ball away mid air with his left hand. Curled effort from the right, 17 yards out from Nogueira. Best effort from the visitors to date 

41 Suárez fires over from 16 yards. There's that space at the back I was talking about earlier. Geny broke, squares to the Columbian who got it all wrong 

43 Devoção is the message on Borges top. What it means I've no idea. Devotion? 

44 We're treated to a slow motion replay of Nogueira's effort. That's some save from every angle 

Plus one shown 

+1 Debast 12 yards inside his own half found the run of Araújo. He drops his marker inside the box and slid home from 10 yards. Assistant flagged offside. VAR is checking 

+2 GOAL Sporting CP 3 Vitória SC 0. VAR says the man from Uruguay was 8 cms inside

+3 Close up of the Vitória coach who looks like he'd rather be anywhere else in the world right now 

Half time 

Sporting CP 3 Vitória SC 0

I wouldn't be lying if I said it could have been 5-1 at half time. We've had the sensational save from Silva at one end, three goals scored, the brilliance from Bragança who saw his effort saved from six yards and the clip past Charles far post from Trincão. Vitória started the better side in the opening five minutes but with every goal their defence has moved forward five yards and the lions have for once not looked a gift horse in the mouth. If ever a picture was needed of the lions dominance towards the end of the half it was to be shown on the face of the opposing mister who looked royally fed up and as if he can't wait to get on the coach home again and back to Guimarães. The lions laying down a marker that they're not to be discounted in the race for second place. They're back level on points. I'm going early with 45 minutes to play which feels brave given the 4-4 in Guimarães but it's a hill I will die on. The side owed the fans a performance after the draws against AVS and Tondela. It shows that unlike those two sides Vitória are on the beach. Though watch the second goal back and you'd be forgiven Sporting were playing samba football on the beach of Rio de Janeiro. 

Second Half 

Guilherme is stripped and ready to go on the sides. Both sides finally make their way out for the second 45. We see the couple of hundred away fans who've made the trip looking glum. 

➡️⬅️ Morita for Guilherme 

The lions get us back underway. We'll see where the Brazilian plays as the half develops

46 Araújo from the edge of the area clipped the ball looking for Geny but Vitória head the danger clear. Great move down the left in the buildup again 

46 Quaresma wins the physical battle and mops up at the back and leaves his man on the floor 

48 Total commitment from the Sporting players who are hunting down every pass made from Vitória 

49 Guilherme has started wide left 

49 Quaresma with the dancing feet again, this time to get himself clear in midfield 

50 Gonçalves looks like the player who has dropped back into midfield 

50 Not sure if Silva tried a long range effort on Rui Silva and it must have been long range. I looked up to see the Sporting keeper jump to collect the ball and saw the Vitória man run away. Football app suggests he shot from just inside the Sporting half. File that one under ambitious 

53 Sporting maybe with one eye on Rio Ave have taken their foot of the gas and who can blame them 3-0 up

54 Beautiful turn from Trincão and a crisp pass between two Vitória players 

55 Big miss from the visitors. Sousa shanks his effort wide from 7 yards 

56 Trincão fouled outside the box. Free kick centrally 29 yards out 

56 Three man wall. Gonçalves puts the ball into the arms of Charles

58 ➡️ ⬅️ Nogueira for Sousa flashes up on the screen. Missed that change. Wasn't shown 

59 Yellow is brandished at Baleiro for a clumsy challenge on Geny. Trincão with a deft flick sent him away and he took no prisoners bringing him down 

60 Sporting CP 4 Vitória SC 0. Suárez runs from six yards inside the Vitória half and finally scores a 1 on 1 smashing the ball home from 11 yards 

61 ➡️ ⬅️ Nogueira for Camara. Hang on they said he went off 3 minutes ago. Presumably that's why we didn't see it. Someone's getting fired. Silva for Ndoye

62 Geny fouled again. Free kick on the right hand side 27 yards out. 

63 Corner far side. Suárez with a jinking run on the far side tried to lose his marker 

64 Oh no. Quaresma had the ball in the net. He flicked it up, swivelled and volleyed home on the turn from 16 yards but the offside flag was up

65 Gonçalves takes a hit to the face and looks like he's got little birds floating around as he gets back up 

67 Aww Quaresma has to help Inácio with the captain's armband 

68 Gonçalves run checked. Referee shrugs comically at him 

69 ➡️ ⬅️ Geny for Nuno Santos. Presumably he'll go wide left, Guilherme will come wide right 

70 Araújo with his hands down his shorts having a good rummage checks something is still there. Corner far side to Vitória punched clear by Silva. Hundred quid says you don't get details like that on any other minute by minute worldwide 

71 Close up of Samu shows every season he plays he has a bit more face to wash, the sides of his hair vanishing quickly. Nuno Santos feels your pain I'm sure 

72 Speaking of whom, first touch like a trampoline sends the ball out on the left wing having been sent clear 

73 GOAL Sporting CP 5 Vitória SC 0. Hjulmand stood arms wide in celebration. Guilherme this time allowed to run one on one and unlike his miss against Porto makes no mistake and slots home from 16 yards. Suárez with the pass from inside his own half. Guilherme made his run from the halfway line. Shake of the head from the opposition coach 

75 Kochorashvili and Quenda get their last instructions 

75 Vitória still holding their defensive line on the halfway line. Feels suicidal 

76 ➡️ ⬅️ Gonçalves and Trincão for Kochorashvili and Quenda

77 Borges might not be in a gilet but his assistant looks like a mini version of how he normally dresses 

78 Corner far side to Vitória as Quaresma took no chances from a cross far side despite being under no pressure 

78 ➡️ ⬅️ Arcanjo on for Saviolo

79 Sporting head clear for another corner near side. Seventh for the visitors on the night 

80 Oh my word the ball just will not go in for the sixth. Suárez with an acrobatic effort from 8 yards is somehow palmed away by the finger tips of Charles and I mean the finger tips. Keeper really didn't know much about it and was caught flat footed and found his right arm out in the general direction of the ball which somehow went past the far post and not into the net 

81 ➡️ ⬅️ Inácio for Diomande 

82 Bragança has the captain's armband 

83 Someone takes one in the midriff from Debates pass and went down like a sack of spuds. I think it was Samu. Hjulmand needs a stylist. He has awful taste in clothes 

84 GOAL Sporting CP 5 Vitória SC 1. Debast slots into an empty net from 18 yards as Rui Silva flung himself at it desperately trying to get back. Good job they had a five goal advantage tonight. If Silva has a clean sheet bonus then the Belgian is paying it out of his own pocket 

85 ➡️ ⬅️ Samu for Blanco

86 Nuno Santos sends the ball into the arms of Charles from 18 yards 

87 Quenda kops the ball square in the face and is down on his knees. Bizarrely Kochorashvili tried to find him with a pass in the follow up play 

88 Shot driven low by Strata from 22 yards saved low to the left by Silva 

89 Wonderful disguised pass by Suárez on the edge of the area but the chance breaks down 

89 Nuno Santos finds Suárez on the edge of the six yard box but he can only guide his header wide 

Plus three shown 

90 Surely nowhere near enough time added on for the ten substitutions made 

+2 Strata brings another low save from 22 yards in a carbon copy effort from a couple of minutes before. You'd be forgiven for thinking it was a replay 

+2 Guilherme flashes the ball across the six yard box but there's no one on the end of it 

Full time 

Sporting CP 5 Vitória SC 1 

The final word 

Not even a smile from Borges as he makes his way onto the pitch to thank the match official in the centre. Words of comfort for the opposition mister as we switch to an advert break. I don't think I'm being rude to Vitória when I say it could have been 8-1 in the end. Yes they had the big opportunity in the first half but in truth they only found the net from the rush of blood to the head from Debast. Quaresma scored one of the finest goals you've seen in a long time with his flicked up volley to himself only for it to be disallowed. I think there was only maybe just the four players called offside before the ball bounces back to him. Nevermind it made no difference to the scoreline. Well I mean it did I clearly mean to the result. Too many goals equals too much excitement. I've been predicting some big scorelines for weeks. Maybe it's my fault as tonight I went with 2-1. 

I always thought if I had a brain I might be dangerous. For a mister who'd seen his side win I noted Rui Borges didn't seem happy and then the penny drops he's doing the players equivalent of not celebrating after scoring a goal against his old side which shows the humility of the man. As Haaland would have said to him - stay humble.

Proof tonight that if it were ever needed that on their day Sporting Clube de Portugal remain the best footballing side in all of Portugal. They were sublime at points tonight. The scoreline despite being heavily weighted in their favour still flattered the visitors. I feel like a massive weight has been lifted from my shoulders. It could all still be in vain. All eyes on Braga as they hold the key to the lions potentially leapfrogging Benfica back into second place. That said the lions still need to beat Rio Ave and Gil Vicente. On that form though you'd expect them to win both and if Torreense are watching on tonight they've just shit enough bricks to build you an extension on your house. Even the rush of blood to the head from Debast cannot dampen my enthusiasm for tonight's win although I will ask the question of what the fuck the Belgian was doing? Perhaps he felt sorry for the visitors and decided to gift them a goal. 

You know it's a bad night for the visitors when both Guilherme and Suárez scored one on ones with your goalkeeper. Hopefully the goal for the former kick starts his confidence. Quenda seems to be drained of any and his Sporting career is ending with a whimper. Perhaps he'll sign off with a goal in the final at Jamor. But in truth since his return he's made Gonçalves’ return from injury last season look like a spectacular success which is truly saying something. Against Tondela he couldn't trap a ball. Tonight he's taken one full in the face. Should have done what you did with your foot on Wednesday night and get it fully out the way of the ball. 

I think it was Casa Pia when we smashed them 8-0 who refused to sit in a low block and try to keep the score line respectable. Xg currently given as 4.22 to 0.52 and that was from 14 attempts to 13. Sporting created nine… yes read them NINE big chances and missed 5. Vitória missed their only one of the night. When I write that it was as near complete a performance I'm not exaggerating. They truly were superb tonight and put on a performance for those who did bother to attend. It's going to be a long trip home for their fans who travelled down and of course for the players and staff. I'm not sure I've seen a more disconsolate looking away coach all season. Poor old Gil on the away bench he looked a broken man by the end of it all. 

There was a feel of a goal of the month competition between the players for all five goals. The opener a brilliantly worked team goal from a set piece routine. Wonderful to see given how this writer is always bemoaning their lack of quality from set pieces. Bragança’s goal that he did score had an air of samba beach football to it. A series of passes with the ball kept in the air and a superb dinked finish. His slalom run past three defenders which saw his effort saved would have been hallmarked for a contender for goal of the season had it gone in. Quaresma’s finish was exquisite and I'm heartbroken there were so many players offside in the original play and it didn't count. May the 4th would have been earmarked as Quaresma day after his goal 12 months to the day against Gil Vicente. Araújo's skill to sit the defender down and slot home was maybe a parting gift as rumours circle about his possible departure. You hope he's one of those who says I'll have one more season boss. I'm not leaving with Porto unworthy champions. I want to leave with another title to my name. Give him what he wants to stay another season. Wishful thinking? Sure. But why not?

We finally see Suárez not fall to pieces like a jigsaw when one on one. Will wonders never cease? Superb finish though for once in that situation. Same goes for Guilherme and each of the five goals as I write has a real touch of genuine quality about them. When you can write that then you can forgive Debast his rush of blood to the head. As I wrote in the minute by minute if Rui Silva has a clean sheet bonus then the Belgian is writing him a cheque.

Choosing a man of the match for the past two games has been a struggle. It will be again tonight but thankfully for very different reasons. 

Morita, Gonçalves, Suárez and Debast all claimed assists. Inácio, Araújo, Bragança, Suárez and Guilherme all claiming goals. Where does this writer even start to unpack it all to find his final choice of four? 

We'll discount Diomande, Nuno Santos, Quenda and Kochorashvili from the bench for starters. Apologies to Rui Silva. You were outstanding and fully deserved a clean sheet that you didn't get because of a Belgian waffle but you'll understand on a night when five goals go in the other end I don't want your name appearing in my final four choices. What a save in the first half though. 

No Geny on my list tonight. Not that he had a bad game either. Was on the end of some hefty challenges which underlined his potential danger and the efforts Vitória needed to stop him on the right. Trincão treated us to moments of artistry like a master with a brush but again nothing to warrant a place in my final four choices. I can't have Debast in my final four but again other than his bizarre own goal he didn't do a lot wrong. Same with Gonçalves. Solid 7, Morita again solid 6.5  maybe 7 with an assist. Respectable. 

Inácio goes on the reverse logic of Debast. Just because you score doesn't push you into the final four but I've zero complaints about his performance, it's not like they were over ran as a central pairing throughout the 90 minutes.

First vote to Quaresma. I'm going to keep banging the drum for him to be a starting midfielder next season. That kid has bubblegum boots and dancing feet. Bit like Debast whilst defensively solid for 98% of the game it's the 2% you worry about and my God if you're a forward next season you'd want their service feeding you. Absolute joy to watch. Second vote goes to Araújo. There's something extra special about watching a player sit another professional down on the floor and watching them then slot the ball home. It's a particular perversion I've just highlighted in my personality that I didn't know existed until twenty seconds ago. I can only remember him losing possession once and he went straight back and corrected his mistake with some aplomb. What a bargain that kid has been since he signed. I bet all the social media posts saying there was something dodgy about the fee paid for him got deleted a very long time ago now. Kudos to Guilherme for a cameo performance capped with a goal. Not good enough for my final four but both goals he has scored this season have been crackers. I think he's a confidence player. Performances like they will do him the world of good. Big shoes to fill with the promise Alisson had. Step forward Daniel Bragança. I always say if he was as good as he thinks he is in his head then he'd be worth €100m. I always enjoy when players make me eat my words and for once he did tonight. Brilliantly taken goal and his run through their defence was one of the best pieces of skill from any player all season long in a Sporting shirt. Final vote goes to Luis Suárez. He's been atrocious in recent weeks and taken the lions share of my criticism. Brilliant tonight, put in a shift. Worked for his teammates which we didn't always see when he joined. Well taken goal. Ran the defenders ragged. Finessed with some wonderful disguised passes. For the first time in a very long time he's my man of the match and having kicked him out the door last match report if we see that version of him for the majority of a campaign I've no qualms in keeping him. But only if we see that version. The one in recent weeks was frankly a disgrace to the Sporting shirt. Still, all told he's my man of the match. Off to Rio Ave we go with our tails back up. I've got far too much adrenaline inside me. It's going to be a long night ahead. Sleep is so overrated. So the new era under Rui Borges begins with a 5-1 mauling. Great way to rubber stamp your renewal. The RBBBB gone back into hiding for another week. Crying shame.