A hat trick helps Sporting CP to a 1-4 triumph against CD Nacional

Sporting Clube de Portugal came home with all three points from their trip to Funchal, on the island of Madeira, as they defeated CD Nacional 1-4 on Matchday 3 of the Liga Portugal season. It continued their perfect start to the campaign.

In the third minute, the home team took the lead following a corner kick, and only in the second half, with CD Nacional reduced to ten men, did Sporting CP fight back with a vital contribution from Pedro Gonçalves: He scored the first two goals, provided an assist for Conrad Harder and, completing his hat trick, rounded off the goals.

Up against a side with just one point thus far in 2025/2026, Rui Borges used the same starting XI he had fielded against FC Arouca last time out. Rui Silva, Iván Fresneda, Zeno Debast, Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Mangas, Morten Hjulmand – playing his 100th game for the club –, Hidemasa Morita, Geny Catamo, Francisco Trincão, Pedro Gonçalves, and Luís Suárez all featured on a sunny afternoon at Choupana.

They could have created a significant threat in the opening seconds, with Suárez only denied by a charge when preparing a shot -and no penalty was subsequently awarded.

CD Nacional, meanwhile, did have joy going forward. Their first attack came from a corner kick, and resulted in a goal just three minutes in. At the far post, Léo Santos met Liziero's cross with a header to make it 1-0, as Sporting CP conceded for the first time this season in the league.

After the setback, the visitors immediately upped the intensity, and had chances to equalise within the first ten minutes. Suárez misread a deflection in the box, and shortly after, 'Pote' hit the post with a powerful shot.

Sporting CP monopolised possession and continued to reach the final third, albeit lacking accuracy in front of goal: Catamo, in a good position, sent a weak shot straight into Lucas França's hands, and then neither Trincão, with a first-time right-footed shot, nor Gonçalves, with a curling strike, could find the net.

In the final stretch of the first half, CD Nacional were reduced to ten men. Giorgi Kochorashvili had come off the bench to replace the injured Morita, and the Georgian was clattered into on the edge of the box, resulting in Pablo Ruan's second yellow card and his dismissal.

Hjulmand and 'Pote' had chances to equalise before halftime, but the captain headed wide and his teammate also struck off-target.

A final chance of the first half went to CD Nacional, which Matheus Dias headed over.

A response was imperative, and it arrived quickly at the start of the second half. In the 53rd minute, a beautiful team move culminated in a powerful shot from Gonçalves inside the box, to score his first goal of 2025/26. It had started with an attacking recovery by Trincão, who released the ball for a combination between Catamo and Fresneda before Luis Suárez back-heeled the ball into Gonçalves' path.

The team gained new energy with the introduction of Geovany Quenda and Georgios Vagiannidis on the wings. The Greek fullback only failed to make an immediate impact because, in a move he played a leading role in, which ended in Suárez putting the ball in the net, a VAR check denied the goal for offside.

Gonçalves popped up again to become decisive in the final 15 minutes. After snaking in from the left, he ducked inside and, with a low shot, found the back of the net, making it 1-2.

CD Nacional provided a scare from another set piece, with second-half substitute Lucas João appearing in the goalmouth but heading over.

Conrad Harder came on to replace Catamo, and soon left his mark on the game. From a low cross from 'Pote', the Dane slid to the ground to turn the ball in.

Shortly after, Suárez showed his generosity by laying the ball off to Gonçalves, but an opposition defender managed to clear away.

In stoppage time, Gonçalves rounded off his hat trick, striking from the edge of the area off an assist by Suárez.

The game ended 1-4, and Rui Borges has now gone 22 consecutive league games unbeaten as coach of Sporting CP.

Next up for Sporting CP is a big game against FC Porto at the Estádio José Alvalade on Matchday 4.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Iván Fresneda (Georgios Vagiannidis, 64’), Zeno Debast, Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Mangas (Geovany Quenda, 64’), Morten Hjulmand [C], Hidemasa Morita (Giorgi Kochorashvili, 32’), Geny Catamo (Conrad Harder, 77’), Francisco Trincão, Pedro Gonçalves, Luís Suárez.