Sporting CP draw positives from their 1-1 stalemate

Close to 24 hours after a 1-1 draw with Royale Union Saint-Guilloise, Sporting Clube de Portugal had another game and another stalemate - this time with Villarreal CF. Os Leões performed at a high level against last season's Champions League semifinalists, and took the lead in the first half through Pedro Gonçalves. However, a goal conceded in the 76th minute meant the game ended 1-1.

The previous day, several new faces and a lot of young talent from the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo had featured. On Thursday, coach Rúben Amorim chose a starting XI composed of several of the most frequently used players. New signing Francisco Trincão and youngster Rodrigo Ribeiro were on the bench for the first time in the Algarve, joined by goalkeepers Franco Israel and André Paulo and youth players Hevertton Santos, Diogo Travassos, Dário Essugo and Renato Veiga.

The first opportunities on goal arrived immediately, and Villarreal CF came very close when Antonio Adán made a save and Manu Trigueros put the rebound wide. Sporting CP's response didn't take long in coming, and before the eight minute mark a pass by Gonçalves was not quite finished off by Paulinho in the six-yard-box.

Then Etienne Capoue and Trigueros, for the Spaniards, and Gonçalves for Sporting CP, tried their luck from mid-range, but without success. The opening fifteen minutes saw quick and constant approaches by both sides, with Sporting CP the more patient in possession.

Gonçalves shot wide off a beautiful move, then finally made it 1-0 moments later. Cutting inside with a feint, he struck from close to the 'D' with a shot that went in off the post.

Paulinho and Nuno Santos also had good opportunities, but the score remained 1-0 at half-time.

When the two teams came back out for the second half, Villarreal enjoyed a chance in the 51st minute, but Adán covered well to save.

From the hour mark onwards, various substitutions began to be made by both teams. Dário Essugo, Hevertton Santos and Francisco Trincão were first in for Sporting CP, Gonçalo Inácio, Manuel Ugarte and Matheus Nunes coming off. Esgaio moved to the midfield three and Tabata retreated to the middle.

Misplaced passes increased as the match drew to a close, and the pace was clearly slower, but Sporting CP continued to have more of the ball, trying to keep the game under control. They would be caught out, however, from a long pass that Alex Baena latched onto for an unexpected equaliser.

The team will remain in Lagos until July 20th, but before that they will play AS Roma on July 19th.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK] [C], Ricardo Esgaio, Gonçalo Inácio (Hevertton Santos 65'), José Marsà, Matheus Reis, Nuno Santos, Manuel Ugarte (Dário Essugo 65'), Matheus Nunes (Francisco Trincão 65') , Pedro Gonçalves (Renato Veiga 87'), Bruno Tabata and Paulinho (Rodrigo Ribeiro 78').