The team beat Vitória SC 2-0 to retain the title

Sporting Clube de Portugal successfully defended their Liga Portugal title with a 2-0 win against Vitória SC, in the final game of the 2024/25 season. Goals from Pedro Gonçalves and Viktor Gyökeres earned the victory that took the team up to 82 points, two more than closest challengers SL Benfica.

There was a party atmosphere at Alvalade and on the streets after the game, but before came the vital work of taking the win against a Vitória SC who had the intention of spoiling the party.

Rui Borges had to make changes to his starting lineup, including covering for the absence of captain Morten Hjulmand, and he began the game with Rui Silva, Eduardo Quaresma, Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio, Geny Catamo, Hidemasa Morita, Zeno Debast, Maxi Araújo, Francisco Trincão, Viktor Gyökeres and Pedro Gonçalves.

Sporting CP controlled the game from the start, and in the 9th minute Inácio provided the first warning with a header just wide.

Shortly afterwards it was Gyökeres who enjoyed a chance, after receiving the ball from Catamo's hard work on the right, but his shot under pressure went off target.

There were some good moments, but the first half hour of the game was played at a languid pace. Several fouls, free kicks far from both areas and players going down broke up play.

Ousmane Diomande had to be taken off in the 23rd minute, with Jeremiah St. Juste coming on in his place.

Finally, after half an hour, Gyökeres had two occasions in which he came close to scoring, but first he was thwarted by Bruno Varela and then, after a mistake by Villanueva, shot out of play from a narrow angle.

At the other end, Rui Silva had a very calm first half, with the visiting team's most noteworthy opportunity coming close to the 40th minute, but the effort was weak and wide.

The danger was always in the Vitória area, with Sporting CP close to scoring, in the 41st minute, after a corner and Leonina insistence, but Hidemasa Morita was unable to finish in the confusion.

At the end of the first half, Gyökeres pulled out one of his trademark moves, breaking away on the left and getting into the box alone, but Bruno Varela came out to stifle him.

The second half started like the first, with Sporting CP looking to score. Gonçalves had a first-time shot blocked by Miguel Maga. Then, following a corner, Morita headed over at the far post.

Trincão lined up an attempt from the edge of the area, but shot wide, as Sporting CP kept up their constant attacks.

On 55 minutes, Sporting CP finally scored, eliciting the first explosion of joy in Alvalade: Zeno Debast received the ball in the central channel and prepared to shoot, but decided to pass to the left for Maxi Araújo -who cut it back for Gonçalves to finish first time.

Ten minutes later, Catamo almost made it 2-0, striking the ball off the woodwork, followed by another attempt by Gyökeres -who spun in the box but could not get the necessary power on his shot.

With 15 minutes to go, Rui Borges started to make changes to the team and took Morita off, bringing in Geovany Quenda. Shortly after, the youngster was set up by Gyökeres in the area, but Bruno Varela saved.

Two minutes later, the goalkeeper could do nothing to deny a Gyökeres hungry for goals: An excellent individual move by the Swedish striker saw him get past two opponents, round the Vítoria SCgoalkeeper and then finish into the back of the net.

His team 2-0 up and close to the title, Borges then made three substitutions in one go, removing Catamo, Goncalves and Trincão and introducing Matheus Reis, Iván Fresneda and Conrad Harder for the final minutes.

The final whistle came shortly afterwards, to the delight of the crowd. Sporting CP earned their latest league title and were able to enjoy a celebration that lasted long into the night.