Sporting CP regain Liga NOS top spot and guarantee Champions League spot
Sporting CP beat U. Madeira 2-0 this Saturday, claiming a three points that not only moved Jesus' side back to the top of the Liga NOS pile, but which also secured automatic qualification for next year's Champions League.
It was obvious from early on that Sporting would go on the attack and it wasn't long before U. Madeira were on the back foot, with some sensational play between William, João Mário and Teo Gutiérrez ending up in a pass that was just out of Slimani's reach. However, the afternoon's visitors gathered their thoughts and rallied down the other end, with Danilo Dias firing a warning shot toward's goal.
U. Madeira actually looked relatively well organised in defence, with a backline sitting deep in preparation for the coming Sporting onslaught. Jorge Jesus' charges of course proved more than capable of dismantling their well organised visitors, with well drilled set pieces looking particularly venomous. It was from a set piece that the game's first goal materialised, when João Mário found Bruno César with a corner. The Brazilian obliged with a pass to the edge of the box for Adrien, who released Marvin down the wing for cross that Teo Gutiérrez headed home. To their credit, U. Madeira picked themselves up and two minutes later Danilo Dias could well have leveled, where it not for an absolutely superb diving save from Rui Patrício to deny Dias' curled effort.
The Visitors' rally did little to phase Sporting and in the 19th minute the ball was again in the back of the net, this time with João Mário converting on another killer cross from Marvin Zeegelaar. Some tight defending from Sporting smartly denied U. Madeira's hopes going forward, while long spells of possession through the middle and speed down the wings kept the opportunities on goal coming. Slimani (28’) and Teo Gutiérrez (38’) both fired shots over the bar before the break and Coates deserved a goal after a tantalising dribble forward and shot that the visitor's keeper managed to keep out.
The second-half started with a nervy moment for Jesus' side, when Rúben Semedo almost the ball into the back of his own net. Down the other end, Schelotto found Slimani, but the Algerian sliced the resulting shot wide. Possibly the game's clearest opportunity came in the 52nd minute, when Slimani battled back possession and put the ball out wide to Adrien. The Sporting skipper responded with a cross timed to perfection and Teo fired towards goal, but Gudiño somehow managed to parry away for a corner.
Fully aware of the importance of the coming visit to FC Porto, Jorge Jesus used the two-goal cushion as a chance to manage his squad, bringing on Bryan Ruiz for João Mário. The Costa Rican almost responded to his introduction with one of his typically sensational moments, but his 61st minute overhead kick lacked power. Adrien had the whole stadium out of their seats six minutes later with a looping volley that crashed against the post and harmlessly away.
