Sporting put five past Arouca on Liga NOS matchday 27

Sporting CP breezed past the visiting Arouca this Saturday, with two goals from Téo Gutiérrez and João Mário and a strike from Bryan Ruiz closing out what was an easier than expected win against the league's 5th place side.

Arouca looked dangerous in the earlier stages, but it was Sporting who created the first chances on goal, with Bryan Ruiz putting a header just wide in the 4th minute after a cross from Bruno César. Next it was Ruiz turned creator, when the Costa Rican floated a ball across to the far post that Slimani came just inches from converting on. A goal looked to be only a matter of time coming and Arouca finally broke for the first time in the 16th minute, when Coates nodded a header on following a corner from Bruno César. The effort looked to be heading goalwards, but Teo made sure with an easy tap in. Walter González broke away almost immediately following the restart and could havelevelled, but Rui Patrício stood firm and made a comfortable save.

Lito Vidigal's side hadn't conceded a single goal for five straight matches, but the tone had been set for what would be one of Sporting's most clinical attacking displays of the season. Teo Gutiérrez broke away down the right and dragged a pass across to João Mário down the middle and the Portuguese international obliged with a thunderous effort to make it 2-0 after just 19 minutes.

Arouca simply looked lost after the second, particularly with João Mário continuously thundering forward and terrorising the visiting defence. Slimani picked out the midfielder with a delicious back heel, but the final effort finished up high of the cross bar. Not to be dissuaded, a beautiful link up between Adrien saw the Sporting captain dribble past three defenders and release João Mãrio at a tight ankle just inside the 18-yard box and the finish that followed was simple sensational, with the midfielder arching the ball around the Arouca keeper and into the back of the net to make it 3-0.

Sporting's destruction of Arouca didn't stop there and Teo wasn't about to let João Mário claim the title of the evening's best finisher. Another corner from Bruno César was this time flicked on by William Carvalho and the Colombian striker was in the right place at the right time to poke into the back of the net.

The second-half got underway with a break forward from Slimani, but the Algerian was only able to fire into the side netting after being forced into a tight angle. Just after it had been announced that 46,014 fans had packed out Alvalade for what was the third best crowd of the season, Bryan Ruiz produced a bit of his usual magic with a curled shot beyond the reach of the Arouca keeper. Arouca responded with a counter-attack from Ivo Rodrigues, but Rui Patrício made a fine save, before Gegé headed a goal back for the visitors. Sporting could have made it six just before the final whistle, but Gelson Martins was unable to keep his shot down after a fine bit of play between Teo and Aquilani.