Francisco Trincão and João Simões get the goals in a 2-0 victory for Sporting CP

Sporting Clube de Portugal beat CD Nacional 2-0 on Liga Portugal Matchday 19, and continue to lead the way in the standings. The first home game of 2025, held in front of 42,420 spectators, saw goals from Francisco Trincão and João Simões.

To face CD Nacional, a side in 13th place (with 19 points) and boosted by two recent victories - one of them against FC Porto- Rui Borges made five changes to the team he fielded in the Champions League in midweek. Rui Silva – debuting at home-, Gonçalo Inácio, Hidemasa Morita, Daniel Bragança and Viktor Gyökeres returned to the starting lineup, occupying the places of Franco Israel, Jeremiah St. Juste, Zeno Debast, Geny Catamo and Conrad Harder.

Captain Morten Hjulmand entered the pitch accompanied by two neurodivergent people, and the names on the shirts of all the players were written in Braille. This, among other details, were to highlight the inauguration of “The Green Box”, an inclusive space equipped with specific technologies to provide the best experience for disabled, blind, deaf and neurodivergent people.

Os Leões started off determined, but CD Nacional managed to stifle all of the initial attempts. After a more lukewarm phase of play, a series of fouls from the opposition spiked the atmosphere, then Gonçalo Inácio had the first opportunity with a header -but it was saved by Lucas França.

The action in the first half took place entirely in CD Nacional's defence and midfield, however it proved to be an impossible task to break through and cause real damage. Just when it seemed like the score would remain 0-0 at half-time, Sporting CP finally opened their account.

In stoppage time, from very far away, Francisco Trincão unleashed a powerful shot for his eighth goal of the season, making it 1-0.

Afterwards, there was still time for another great chance, but Lucas França blocked Gyökeres' cross-shot.

During the break, there was lots of applause from the stands for the club's triathlon athletes and women's swimming team, who went out onto the pitch to celebrate their most recent achievements in national competitions.

When the action resumed, Quenda went on a mazy dribble but was unable to finish well, then Trincão shot slightly over the crossbar in an attempt to repeat his first half goal.

Iván Fresneda was very close to getting his side's second, but his flick on ended up being saved by the goalkeeper.

Rui Borges refreshed the midfield with the entry of Zeno Debast in place of Morita, having already brought on Geny Catamo for Daniel Bragança.

Sporting CP would take the score to 2-0 just after the 90th minute, when Catamo crossed low and João Simões -also recently introduced to the action–  appeared in the area to bury his effort. It was the academy graduate's first senior goal for the club.

With their 2-0 win, Sporting CP took advantage of SL Benfica's slip-up away to Casa Pia AC and are now six points clear of their rivals.

Next up is a meeting with Bologna FC 1909 on the final day of the UEFA Champions League league phase, and then follows the clash with SC Farense in Liga Portugal.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Iván Fresneda, Ousmane Diomande, Gonçalo Inácio, Maxi Araújo (Matheus Reis, 89'), Morten Hjulmand [C], Hidemasa Morita (Zeno Debast, 68'), Francisco Trincão (João Simões, 89'), Geovany Quenda, Daniel Bragança (Geny Catamo, 60') and Viktor Gyökeres (Conrad Harder, 89').