This Saturday, Sporting defeated Santa Clara (3-0) with goals from Paulinho, Trincão and Marcus Edwards and added three important points in the battle for second place in the championship and subsequent entry into the Champions League next season. It was the Lions’ ninth unbeaten run, in what is the team’s best record since December 2021.
In the match of the 26th round of the I Liga, the Lions already showed their superiority against an injured team from the Azores with no arguments for more. Two shots (one on the iron, by Andrezinho) in 90 minutes and 25% possession is (very) little for anyone who wants to protect themselves from relegation and saw Estoril win and Paços de Ferreira drew in this round. Santa Clara has played 13 consecutive games without winning in the championship (11 losses and two draws), the worst record ever for the Azores.
With Paulinho and Adán back in the league, Rúben Amorim opted for Arthur Gomes on the right wing, in the absence of Bellerín and Esgaio. Sporting came in very strongly both with and without the ball and reached the goal early. In the 14th minute, Paulinho took advantage of a dead ball to make it 1–0. It is the first time that the striker has scored in 3 consecutive games with a lion on his chest. On 22 minutes, Trincão scored the Lions’ second of the night and on his way back from the changing rooms Marcus Edwards made it 3-0 and settled the matter. The Brit participated in 20 goals for Sporting this season: 11 goals and 9 assists in 41 games.
With the score at 3-0, to it was enough for Luís Neto to return to the lawns. The central defender has not played for seven months due to two serious injuries. He played the last game for the lions, against Portimonense, last September. Neto replaced Matheus Reis and was given the captain’s armband by Adán.
Source: DN
