Sporting put six past Setúbal, with Bruno César debut double
Sporting dished out an absolute thrashing of Vitória de Setúbal this Wednesday night, with braces from Slimani and Bruno César and strikes from João Mário and Alberto Aquilani securing a 6-0 win. With FC Porto also held to a draw by Rio Ave, the team from Alvalade now extend their lead at the top of Liga NOS to four points.
With Bruno César handed his debut, João Mário down the right and Bryan Ruiz again featuring off Slimani in attack, Jorge Jesus' made it clear early on that Lukas Raeder was going to be given a busy night in the hosts' goal. Slimani has the first chance of the encounter with a header that lacked power and Ruiz followed up with a decent opportunity after a cross by Bruno César knocked on by Adrien, but the Costa Rican's shot was deflected over.
It really looked like just a matter of time before the evening's opening goal and Slimani obliged in the 18th minute, converting on a cross from Bruno César after Jefferson released the Alvalade newcomer down the wing. Sporting set up camp in the Setúbal half and chances naturally followed, next with Paulo Oliveira pulling a stop out of Raeder with a shot following a corner.
Bruno César, who had already done his fair share on his debut by setting up Slimani's opener, began what would go on to become a dream start in a sporting shirt with a goal of his own, after João Mário linked up with Slimani charging forward. Possession ended up with the Brazilian and he obliged with a great strike three minutes before the break.
Vitória introduced Vasco Costa to the action alongside Suk in attack (in place of Paulo Tavares), but the change did little to alter the hosts fortunes against a rampant Sporting. In the 52nd minute Slimani struck again, heading in after some brilliant team play and a pinpoint cross from Bryan Ruiz.
The third goal finally broke the Setúbal's resistance and Sporting turned on the flare. Next on the scoresheet was João Mário, bursting away down the left and into the middle, leaving defenders trailing and finding the net from range. Not to be outdone, Bruno César again struck (61') with another unstoppable leftfoot from the edge of the area.
With the win comfortably secured, Jesus made the most of the dying stages to bring on Gelson, Aquilani and Matheus Pereira (for Bruno César, Adrien and Bryan Ruiz, respectively). However, not even the change in personnel slowed down the Alvalade attack and after Slimani saw his hattrick denied by Lukas Raeder's instinctive save, it was the recently introduced Italian who rounded off the scoring with five minutes left on the clock, beating the keeper with a classy finish after João Mário had danced his way into the area.
