Unprecedented visit by the lion as pre-champion – Liga Betclic

Sporting is getting closer and closer to becoming champions again and can even celebrate this Sunday in the classic against FC Porto at Estádio do Dragão.

The lions need to win and also that, the day before, Benfica loses against Sp. Braga to guarantee the title immediately, in a hypothetical scenario that is unprecedented. The Alvalade club never visited the Porto stadium in the last few rounds of the championship with the possibility of celebrating in the event of a victory. Furthermore, the lions never entered their rival’s field as leaders and are one small step away from becoming champions even without winning the classic, which is happening precisely at this time: Rúben Amorim’s team starts with 7 points ahead of the Benfica (2nd) and will have 3 more rounds to resolve the title issue.

The closest scenario to the current one occurred in 1979/80, with the league 16 teams and 2 points for victory. Sporting went to the old Estádio das Antas and also with 4 rounds to go, but at the time they were in 2nd place with 1 minus behind the leader FC Porto. On May 11, 1980, led by Fernando Mendes, who had succeeded Rodrigues Dias, they managed to draw 1-1 and remained alive in the fight: Carlos Freire advanced the lions and Romeu equalized the classic. In the next round, the lions played Beira-Mar in Alvalade (2-0) and took advantage of the Porto team’s draw at Varzim’s home to equalize their rival. In the penultimate round, both played the game – FC Porto won the derby against Boavista (2-0) and Sporting won in Guimarães 1-0 – and everything was decided in the last round. There, the dragons lost 2-0 in Espinho and the Lisbon team beat U. Leiria in Alvalade 3-0, winning the title and putting an end to what was, at the time, the lions’ longest streak without becoming national champions (5 years ).

Sunday’s classic also marks the return of the lions to the Porto home more than 1 year and 8 months later. On August 20, 2022, at the beginning of the season (3rd round), the blue and whites won 3-0 with goals from Evanilson, Uribe and Galeno – the latter from a penalty. It will be the 90th FC Porto-Sporting meeting for the League and the Dragons show clear dominance: 49 wins, 26 draws and 14 defeats.

Last triumph with JJ at the helm

Sporting is looking for a victory at Dragão that has eluded them for almost 8 years. The last one was on April 30, 2016, then in the 32nd and penultimate round of the championship and the lions, led by Jorge Jesus, reached the classic in 2nd place and with 2 points behind leader Benfica, while FC Porto was already out of the fight.

In that duel, the Lisbon team did not tremble and won 3-1, with a double from Islam Slimani and a goal from Bruno César, after Herrera reduced the score. Despite the triumph, and 2 others in the final rounds, Sporting failed to win the title – Benfica didn’t slip – and ended up in 2nd, 2 points behind their rival, who celebrated the trifecta.

Free Tello still made us dream in 2006/07

Of the 14 victories that Sporting have had when visiting FC Porto in the League, the one from the 2006/07 season is one of the most notable. On the 22nd round, Paulo Bento’s lions were in 3rd place, 9 points behind the dragons (leaders) and won 1-0 with a superb free-kick from Rodrigo Tello (71′), a move that the Alvalade club remembered yesterday in the your social networks.

The triumph relaunched Sporting into the fight and the team recorded 9 victories in the last 10 games (drawing at Luz), managing to finish 2nd, just 1 point behind the Porto fans.