A 1-2 win on the road takes the team to 12 points

Sporting Clube de Portugal took a 1-2 away win against FC Famalicão on Liga Portugal Matchday 5, as Pedro Gonçalves and Luís Suárez both found the net on the return from the international break.

Up against a side who had not lost a single home game in 2025, and who had opened the campaign with three wins and a draw, Sporting CP had to make adjustments to the starting lineup. With Rui Silva and Geny Catamo ruled out, along with the previously confirmed absences of Hidemasa Morita, Ousmane Diomande, Daniel Bragança, and Nuno Santos, coach Rui Borges reshuffled the pack: João Virgínia – making his full debut in 2025/26 – occupied the goalkeeping spot, while Geovany Quenda and Georgios Vagiannidis started for the first time this season. Maxi Araújo returned to the squad after injury on the bench, alongside Fotis Ioannidis, who made his first appearance for Sporting CP.

The game began with Sporting CP testing Famalicão's solidity early on. A well-worked set piece saw Hjulmand head into Luís Suárez's path, but his acrobatic finish went over. The home team immediately responded with a powerful shot from Rodrigo Pinheiro, which took a deflection and soared wide.

The game took a turn for Sporting CP after Quenda had been unable to convert a one-on-one with goalkeeper Lazar Carević. FC Famalicão turned a set piece into a goal, thanks to a header from Gustavo Sá, their captain.

However, the 1-0 lead lasted no more than five minutes, and it was a former FC Famalicão player who scored for the first time in 2025/26. In the 22nd minute, Quenda, on the right, found Gonçalves' perfect movement with a through ball. The number 8, having already outmaneuvered the last defender, slotted his shot home between the goalkeeper's legs for his fourth goal of the league season.

Shortly after, following a mistake by FC Famalicão when clearing away, Trincão curled a left footed shot just outside the post.

Suárez then put the ball into the net, but the move was flagged for offside.

Rui Borges's men struggled to make progress through their combinations, and he home side continued to cause problems with dangerous crosses. In one such situation, striker Elisor rose to head the ball not far off target.

To kick off the second half, a shot against the post from Quenda, set up by Ricardo Mangas, got the action underway. Later, following a corner kick, Trincão tried his luck from outside the box, but to no avail.

Sporting CP finally turned the scoreline around through their persistence and Suárez's clinical finishing. Gonçalves and Trincão combined inside, a shot ricocheted back and 'Pote', cleverly, opted to pass wide for Suárez to score.

From then on, the match became more intense, as well as rain making an appearance for the final stretch.

Famalicão tried further crosses to trouble Sporting CP, and Rui Borges brought on Alisson Santos, João Simões, and Eduardo Quaresma -the latter two getting their first minutes of the season -to help freshen up the team.

In stoppage time, a brilliant individual effort by João Simões not only shook off the opposing pressure but also forced Carević to make a save.

After a win on the road in the league, the team are back in action on Thursday night, welcoming Kazakhstan's FC Kairat in the UEFA Champions League.

Sporting CP: João Virgínia [GK], Geovany Quenda, Georgios Vagiannidis, Zeno Debast, Gonçalo Inácio, Ricardo Mangas (Maxi Araújo, 67'), Morten Hjulmand [C], Giorgi Kochorashvili (Fotis Ioannidis, 67'), Francisco Trincão (Eduardo Quaresma, 90+2'), Pedro Gonçalves (Alisson Santos, 88') and Luis Suárez (João Simões, 88').