Os Leões beat FC Porto 2-0 at home in Liga Portugal

Sporting Clube de Portugal made a statement of intent in Liga Portugal on Matchday 14, winning 2-0 against FC Porto in O Clássico. Rúben Amorim's men dominated for most of the match and were always the more dangerous of the two sides, and got the goals through Viktor Gyökeres and Pedro Gonçalves.

The previous match for Sporting CP had been a Europa League dead rubber against SK Sturm Graz, and Amorim made eight changes from the starting XI used in that game. Absent was captain Sebastián Coates, due to myalgia in his left leg.

The thousands of Sportinguistas who sold out the Estádio José Alvalade welcomed their team with deafening support and a colourful green and white combination of a mosaic and fireworks. They also paid tribute to Pedro Gonçalves, who was honoured for having completed the milestone of 150 games with the club by receiving a trophy and a shirt from President Frederico Varandas.

The home side had more possession of the ball in the initial moments, trying to explore the flanks and find space behind the defence. From precisely one such movement, 11 minutes in, Sporting CP took the lead. Matheus Reis sent Gyökeres through, the Swede took on FC Porto defender Pepe and found space to shoot, placing the ball between the near post and goalkeeper Diogo Costa to the euphoria of the fans.

After making it 1-0, they kept up the frenetic pace, and it was practically all Sporting CP, with Os Leões creating a lot of danger whenever the ball went to either Marcus Edwards or Gyökeres. The best scoring opportunity in the remainder of the first half hour came from Diomande, who could have extended the lead with a header in a free kick but missed the 2-0.

In the final stretch of the first half, FC Porto began to have more of the ball, but always had serious difficulties breaking down Sporting CP's solid defensive organisation. Only a Galeno header, masterfully saved by Adán, presented any real problems. That was right after Gyökeres had put the ball in the net but had his goal disallowed due to an alleged foul by Eduardo Quaresma.

During the interval, another tribute to Sporting CP athletes was made, celebrating the handball team's fourth Supertaça win after beating FC Porto in the semi-final and SL Benfica in the final the previous weekend.

The second half was barely underway before Pepe was sent off, reducing FC Porto to ten men. Sporting CP continued to press and, after Edwards had forced Diogo Costa into a big save, Gyökeres found himself in space and set up an easy tap in for Pedro Gonçalves, who only had to knock the ball across the line to make it 2-0.

Amorim made a change on the hour, bringing on Nuno Santos in exchange for Eduardo Quaresma. Shortly afterwards, Gonçalves came close to extending the lead and, off the resulting counterattack, Evanilson almost reduced the advantage.

Even with their numerical inferiority, FC Porto still managed to threaten, and had a goal for Evanilson disallowed for offside against the Brazilian.

Sporting CP's response didn't take long in coming, with Gyökeres starting the move again and serving up for Gonçalves. One-on-one with the goalkeeper, 'Pote' shot off-target.

In the second minute of added time, Paulinho could have made it 3-0, off a pass from the recently introduced Daniel Bragança, but once again the goal was disallowed for a foul by the midfielder.

Sporting CP took a victory that puts them back as outright leaders in Liga Portugal. Next up, they take on CD Tondela away from home, on Saturday, December 23rd, in Group C of the Taça da Liga.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio, Eduardo Quaresma (Nuno Santos, 61’), Geny Catamo (Ricardo Esgaio, 75’), Hidemasa Morita (Daniel Bragança, 84’), Morten Hjulmand, Matheus Reis, Marcus Edwards (Paulinho, 75’), Pedro Gonçalves (Francisco Trincão, 84’) and Viktor Gyökeres.