Sporting 2-0 Porto
Sporting returned to the top of the table after an Islam Slimani brace sealed the win in a fast-paced and absorbing clássico.
The Primeira Liga took another turn when Sporting regained their lead they lost to Porto after losing against União da Madeira two weeks ago.
Despite this being the first defeat in the league for almost a year for Porto, it served to amplify the criticism of Julen Lopetegui from some Portistas. Porto’s lack of creation, despite getting the ball in good positions, will be a big concern for the team and the fans.
For Jorge Jesus however, it’s 4 victories in 4 clássico games this season.
William Carvalho was fit enough to return to the Sporting starting line-up, despite picking up an injury over Christmas. Elsewhere, Jesus elected to bring in Matheus Pereira ahead of Gelson Martins.
Porto were much changed from their Taça da Liga defeat to Marítimo but fielded the same starting line-up that beat Académica in the last round of league fixtures.
It was an exciting start to the game, with space on the pitch and both defences looking nervous in front of an electric Estádio José Alvalade.
Slimani heads Sporting ahead
Sporting were the side able to find the openings however and got the lead in the 27th minute. Jefferson’s freekick was fizzed in and Islam Slimani got free of Bruno Martins Indi to power a header past Iker Casillas to put Sporting into the lead.
The home side’s goal seemed to wake the visitors up when Porto had their best chance of the game. Vincent Aboubakar was put through on goal. The Cameroonian, however, was thwarted by a fantastic save from Rui Patrício.
Porto’s best period of the game came in the 15 minutes after the restart when they put more pressure on Jorge Jesus’ side. The likes of Aboubakar, Yacine Brahimi and Jesús Corona, however, were unable to find the final ball to really threaten the Sporting defence.Naldo, in particular, was a rock for Sporting.
Porto’s increased attacking pressure allowed Sporting to counter well, especially after the introduction of the speedy Gelson Martins. Indeed, Islam Slimani almost doubled his tally when João Mário crossed in and the Algerian’s header thundered onto the bar. Bryan Ruiz tried converting from the rebound from long range but Casillas made the stop.
The woodwork stopped Sporting again in the 70th minute when Adrien Silva’s drive from outside the box hit the inside of the post. João Mário was the first onto the rebound but he could only shoot over with an almost empty goal to aim for.
Lopetegui’s changes failed to make an impact with André Silva and Cristian Tello unable to reverse the Dragões' fortunes.
Slimani strikes again
Sporting sealed the victory in the 85th minute when a tiring Bryan Ruiz placed a fantastic pass through the Porto defence for Islam Slimani to make it 2-0 and send Sporting back to the top of the table.
Porto’s night was summed up late on in the game when Maxi Pereira should have been sent off for elbowing Naldo in the face. The Uruguayan, as he so often seems to do, managed to escape punishment.
This victory demonstrates just how much has changed in Portuguese football since Cristian Tello dismantled Sporting back in March of last season. Though Sporting have a tough test in their next 2 games to solidify their spot at the top of the table with 5th place Setúbal and 4th place Braga to worry about.
Julen Lopetegui will see himself come under scrutiny but it’s still only January and there are plenty of twists and turns left in the table, Benfica’s win against Guimarães narrowing the gap between the top 3 to just 4 points and we’re not even halfway through the season yet.
by Richard Cole
Sporting: Rui Patrício; João Pereira, Paulo Oliveira, Naldo, Jefferson; William Carvalho, Adrien Silva (Alberto Aquilani, 90’); João Mário, Bryan Ruiz, Matheus Pereira (Gelson Martins, 62’); Islam Slimani
Porto: Iker Casillas; Maxi Pereira, Bruno Martins Indi, Maicon, Miguel Layún; Danilo Pereira, Héctor Herrera (Cristian Tello, 80’), Rúben Neves (André André, 54’); Jesús Corona, Yacine Brahimi, Vincent Aboubakar (André Silva, 71’)
Goals:
[1-0] Islam Slimani, 27’
[2-0] Islam Slimani, 85’
