The team rebound from cup disappointment with a thrashing of Casa Pia AC

Returning to the Estádio José Alvalade after three consecutive away games, Sporting Clube de Portugal brushed aside Casa Pia AC in a comprehensive 8-0 win on Liga Portugal Matchday 19. After their defeat and elimination in the semifinal of the Taça da Liga, which had interrupted a run of eight wins on the bounce, they responded with a devastating attacking display.

Against the side 13th in the division, who had won their last two away fixtures, coach Rúben Amorim repeated the ten outfield players in his starting lineup from the loss to SC Braga. Only goalkeeper Antonio Adán returned in goal. Furthermore, this game marked Geny Catamo's comeback for the squad, after having represented Mozambique in the African Cup of Nations.

Os Leões were going for their 15th victory in 16 games this season in Alvalade, and did not take long to test the opposing defence. Viktor Gyökeres hunted a long ball and headed it into the hands of goalkeeper Ricardo Baptista, who shortly afterwards had his reflexes tested by a shot off the left foot of Marcus Edwards.

It was before a quarter of an hour had been played, from a dead ball, that Sporting CP made it 1-0. Nuno Santos hit a free-kick perfectly into the area and Sebastián Coates rose to head into the back of the net.

Then, in the space of just two minutes (the 23rd and 25th), Sporting CP tripled their lead in front of their 32,869 fans in attendance. Firstly, through a quick move off a recovery by Francisco Trincão, which was continued by Gonçalo Inácio and Pedro Gonçalves, Gyökeres finished at will. Soon after, Morten Hjulmand, under no pressure, clipped the ball cleverly over the Casa Pia AC defense and isolated ‘Pote’, who slotted in from the one-on-one.

After half an hour of play, Gyökeres made an unstoppable move inside from the left, and was only stopped when he was fouled inside the area: He himself stepped up for the spot kick, and put it away for his 15th goal in the league this term.

Immediately, Casa Pia AC coach Pedro Moreira made the first substitution, but the bleeding was not stemmed and his side were increasingly defenceless. Trincão shot wide and Coates was bested by Ricardo Baptista in a series of chances.

Next up it was Edwards who entered the visiting area at full speed and, just when it looked like he had been disarmed, the ball fell to Trincão, who showed precision with a low shot to add his name to the scoresheet.

For the second half, Amorim brought on Daniel Bragança and took off Gonçalves, who had contributed a goal and an assist. Before the hour was out, Geny Catamo and Paulinho came on for Ricardo Esgaio and Edwards, respectively.

Sporting CP insisted on continuing to control the pace. With the team camped out in the opposition midfield, Coates hit the bar in search of his second goal of the night.

Geny Catamo made it 6-0 with a great hit, inspiring Amorim to replace Inácio with Matheus Reis and Hjulmand with Dário Essugo to give them minutes.

Captain Coates got his second half goal, and Trincão also scored his brace, rounding off an outstanding 8-0 result.

Sporting CP now have 49 points and remain outright leaders by 1 point over SL Benfica and 5 over FC Porto. Next up, the team travel to play FC Famalicão.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Ricardo Esgaio (Geny Catamo, 58’), Eduardo Quaresma, Sebastián Coates [C], Gonçalo Inácio (Matheus Reis, 73’), Nuno Santos, Morten Hjulmand (Dário Essugo, 86’), Pedro Gonçalves (Daniel Bragança, 46’), Marcus Edwards (Paulinho, 58‘), Francisco Trincão and Viktor Gyökeres.