Sporting held to goalless draw by Boavista

Sporting missed out on the chance to go clear at the top of I Liga this weekend, after being held to a goalless draw in Estádio do Bessa.

The team from Alvalade had Boavista pinned back in defence almost immediately from the off, with some steady build-up down the flanks holding down long spells of possession but creating very few clear chances on goal. In fact, it was actually the hosts who created the first notable opportunity, when Zé Manuel headed wide following a free-kick.

Sporting continued to dominate possession and were having a relatively easy time in arriving to the edge of the Boavista 18-yard box, but the final penetrating pass was proving hard to come by. On 29 minutes, Slimani did put the ball in the back of the net, but referee Artur Soares Dias ruled out the Algerian’s effort for an alleged foul. Another chance quickly followed when Montero linked up with a cross from João Mário, but Nuno Henrique threw himself in front of the effort to keep the scoreboard blank. Slimani again came close just before the break with a header, but Mika did well to stretch out a hand and keep the scores tied at the break.

The second-half was much of the same, with Sporting holding on to the ball and showing patience in the build-up, but coming up against a Boavista defensive wall in the final third. With Teo Gutiérrez on the pitch in place of Montero, Sporting created a superb chance when Slimani floated a pass to the far post which Gelson Martins put back across goal, but the Colombian forward blazed his shot wide of the mark.

William Carvalho made a long awaited return from injury in the 69th minute, coming on in place of João Mário in midfield. A minute later, Carlos Mané found a rare inch of space, but the Portuguese international was unable to find the target. Slimani followed a couple of minutes later after controlling well, but the Boavista keeper did well to rush out and deny the Algerian from a tight angle. Adrien saw a free-kick deflect off the wall and harmlessly away in the 90^th minute, before João Pereira had the last roll of the dice of the evening with shot that ended up going out for a throw in.

Despite the dropped points, Sporting remains at the top of I Liga, level on 14 points with FC Porto.