Sporting Portuguese football champion for the 20th time

In an almost perfect season in the I Liga, Sporting celebrates this Sunday its twentieth victory after defeating its rival in Famalicão. Reinforcement Viktor Gyokeres is the great figure of this championship who had a dream season managing to score more than 40 goals in all competitions.

From very early on, Rúben Amorim’s team showed itself strong and was almost always at the top of the championship. After a fourth place last season, Sporting made surgical hires to improve the team they already had.

The Alvalade team benefited greatly from the arrivals of Viktor Gyokeres and Morten Hjulmand. The defense was consolidated with Gonçalo Inácio, Coates and Diomandé and the verticality of the Swedish forward brought the depth that had been missing in the Lion.

The Estádio da Alvalade proved to be a stronghold for Rúben Amorim’s team. To date, Sporting has not lost any match at its own stadium, with highlights being triumphs over FC Porto, Benfica and the record rout against Casa Pia.

In addition to the attacking front, Rúben Amorim also showed confidence in players like Morita, Pedro Gonçalves, Trincão, Nuno Santos, Paulinho, Marcus Edwards, Geny Catamo or Eduardo Quaresma.

In thirty-two matches, Sporting won 27 games, drawing three and losing two: in Luz, in the first round, against Benfica, and in Guimarães against the local Vitória. The goal difference is +63 goals (92 goals scored, 29 goals conceded).

After reaching the final of the Portuguese Cup, the eternal derby against Benfica proved to be decisive for the championship won by the green and whites. Playing in Alvalade, Geny Catamo was a hero by scoring two goals, opening and closing the match.

The advantage of Rúben Amorim’s team increased to four points, at a time when they still had one game in hand. In Famalicão, the scene of Benfica’s defeat that gave Sporting the title, Sporting suffered but managed to win by the smallest margin.

After gaining a seven-point lead over second place, Rúben Amorim knew how to manage results and even a controversial trip to England to negotiate with West Ham. After the my fault coach and a hard-fought draw at Estádio do Dragão, Sporting delivered against Portimonense.

In a full Alvalade Stadium, Sporting started to press and goals from Paulinho, Trincão and Gyokeres put the pressure on their rival on the other side of the Second Circular. Benfica wasted opportunities and Famalicão scored twice.

With two rounds to go, Sporting has 84 points, eight more than Benfica, with just six points left to play for.