The comprehensive result keeps the team top

Sporting Clube de Portugal beat Boavista FC 6-1 in a Sunday night home fixture on Liga Portugal Matchday 26, thanks to a hat trick from Viktor Gyökeres, a brace from Paulinho and a goal from Nuno Santos. The win maintains the team's perfect home record in the league after 13 games at the Estádio José Alvalade.

To face Boavista FC, who started the game in tenth place (28 points), coach Rúben Amorim made five changes to the starting eleven from the match against Atalanta BC. The injured Pedro Gonçalves and Marcus Edwards were out, with Sebastián Coates and Hidemasa Morita returning directly to the starting lineup and Nuno Santos, Geny Catamo and Paulinho also selected.

Although the away team had gone two games without losing (1-1 with FC Famalicão and 1-0 against Moreirense FC), as visitors they were on a run of four games without a victory (2D 2L).

Before the action got underway, Matheus Reis was honoured for reaching the milestone of 150 games for Sporting CP.

The game had a difficult start, as after the third minute, at the edge of the area, Gaius Makouta took advantage of a ball cleared by Franco Israel to make it 0-1 to Boavista FC.

A few moments later, Sporting CP had a goal flagged offside to deny Francisco Trincão. Soon after, Paulinho and Matheus Reis both called goalkeeper João Gonçalves into action with crosses that swerved towards goal, and Viktor Gyökeres struck an effort over the crossbar.

Little by little, Sporting CP pushed Boavista FC back and began to impose their game. In the best opportunity of this spell, Ousmane Diomande and Paulinho combined and Gyökeres' shot failed to find the target.

In turn, the visitors from the city of Porto started to waste time, and also did not shy away from accumulating fouls and breaking, whenever possible, the rhythm of the match.

After half an hour, referee António Nobre decided to show a yellow card to each side – for Salvador Agra and Morten Hjulmand – which provoked strong protests from the hosts.

After much insistence, Sporting CP equalised just before halftime. After Paulinho narrowly missed a cross from Gyökeres and Trincão shot from distance to produces a good save from João Gonçalves, the deserved goal to make it 1-1 finally came.

The roles were reversed and this time it was Paulinho, on the left, setting up his Swedish teammate, who sent the ball into the net.

Amorim immediately brought on midfielder Daniel Bragança in the second half in place of Hjulmand, and Sporting CP went out in search of completing the turnaround, maintaining the total dominance with which they ended the first half. In the 49th minute a double opportunity came their way, but Coates' header was saved and on the rebound Diomande hit the ball badly and missed the target.

The goal to take the score to 2-1 didn't take much longer in coming, and in the 54th minute, Geny Catamo sent a perfect, arcing cross into the area and found Paulinho for the finish.

Gonçalo Inácio replaced Matheus Reis after the goal, as the home side pushed for more.

In the area, Gyökeres pulled inside and shot low into the back of the net in the 68th minute and, around ten minutes later, sealed his hat trick by converting a penalty for his 22nd league goal.

Between Gyökeres' two goals, Paulinho had also had an attempt with a header, but was denied by João Gonçalves.

With Eduardo Quaresma, Ricardo Esgaio and Koba Koindredi on the pitch, the action continued with further goals.

It was Nuno Santos' opportunism inside the area, pushing a ball across the line, which made it 5-1, then Paulinho rounded off the night with the final strike.

With the final score at 6-1, league leaders Sporting CP reinforced their status as the most successful attack in the league, with 75 goals scored.

After the international break, they travel to take on CF Estrela da Amadora.

Sporting CP: Franco Israel [GK], Geny Catamo, Ousmane Diomande (Eduardo Quaresma, 72’), Sebastián Coates [C], Matheus Reis (Gonçalo Inácio, 55’), Morten Hjulmand (Daniel Bragança, 46’), Hidemasa Morita (Koba Koindredi, 84’), Francisco Trincão (Ricardo Esgaio, 84’), Paulinho e Viktor Gyökeres.

The coach is impressed by the reaction of his side against Boavista FC

After the 0-3 triumph over Boavista FC, Sporting Clube de Portugal coach Rúben Amorim analysed the performance and praised the response from his players.

"We were more like the team that we are used to being. We weren't that aggressive when we got into the box, but we had several balls in the first half that saw our three forwards facing up to the Boavista FC defence, and we created problems there. We got the opening goal in one of the few opportunities we had, but we were always in control of the game. We had another opportunity for Pablo [Sarabia] in the first period, and in the second half we controlled the game better, we found more space and we didn't let Boavista FC go on the attack," he began by telling journalists, before recognising that his team had some problems stopping Boavista FC's Gorré in the first half.

"[Gorré] created some difficulties for us, because he dropped back a lot to defend and when he had the ball he showed the ability to drive through, forcing Palhinha to help out in that space. In the second half that didn't happen, and we clearly controlled the game, created opportunities and the players who came on helped the team a lot: Manu [Ugarte] gave stability, Dani [Bragança] brought the quality he usually gives, just like Tabata, and [Rúben] Vinagre was very aggressive in looking for space."

 "The game went well, we gave few chances to Boavista FC, we created chances of our own and we were competent," summed up the coach.

Despite the slip-ups by FC Porto and SL Benfica on this matchday, Amorim said that he would stay true to his previous statements about the title fight.

"We knew it was very difficult and obviously it will be hard, but it's not worth thinking about the games in which we dropped points. It was good to get back to winning ways and move closer and closer to UEFA Champions League qualification, to keep our project going and focus on growth. I think that in the title race it doesn't change anything, but it's always good to cut the gap and the longer we keep things alive, the better for us," he underlined, adding: "We are there in the fight for second place and trying to delay the title being decided as much as possible."

Returning to his explanation of the game, Amorim emphasised his satisfaction with the team's adjustments.

"We were competent. When we have to defend, we all do it. We won and we didn't concede goals, so that was the response I expected after some bad times and everything that was said during the week. We focused on what we had to do, that's what we did and it's an excellent sign from the team."

He also passed comment on the performance of winter signing Marcus Edwards.

"Every time he has played, he has done very well. In the semifinal of the cup, he felt the rhythm of the game a lot and it was noticeable. I think he can give us much more, he knows that and he is still adapting to our way of working, but he is already approaching that. He was very good defensively too, in his pressing and covering spaces."

The team take a 3-0 triumph on the road in Liga Portugal

Sporting Clube de Portugal returned to Porto on Monday night for a league game against Boavista FC, won 0-3 by Os Leões. After a difficult week, they produced a consistent and effective response to get back to winning ways and close the gap to first place – now standing at six points.

In addition, the team are just one point away from clinching second place in Liga Portugal, which would take them directly into next season's UEFA Champions League group stage.

In changes from the game against FC Porto in the Taça de Portugal, coach Rúben Amorim left out the suspended Matheus Reis, Pedro Porro and Paulinho, as well as Manuel Ugarte, bringing in Nuno Santos, Ricardo Esgaio, João Palhinha and Marcus Edwards. In addition, Zouhair Feddal returned to the squad after an injury, joining youngsters Gonçalo Esteves and Rodrigo Ribeiro on the bench.

Sporting CP took the early initiative and played with plenty of width, and their first chance came from Esgaio down the right; Nunes, on the edge of the box, hit the ball badly, however. Fluid movement between the front three, regularly exchanging position, helped keep the team mobile and unpredictable.

Boavista FC were missing their top scorer, Petar Musa, and one of their most used players in Sebastián Pérez. They tried to stay organised and quickly go on the attack after each ball recovered - mainly through Kenji Gorré.

Sporting CP enjoyed 64% of the possession in the first half, and converted it into chances for the likes of Pedro Gonçalves, who shot off a rebound and had his effort blocked by Rafael Bracali.

They would open the scoring with another move created from the left channel, with Nuno Santos putting in a cross and Gonçalves bringing the ball down, Nunes striking with a low shot into the net for his fourth league goal of the season.

In the 40th minute, Sarabia tested Bracali from outside the area, but the goalkeeper sent out the Spaniard's swerving shot for a corner. 

The second half brought with it a more daring Boavista FC. In the 50th minute, Antonio Adán made his first save, holding off a long shot from Jeriel De Santis, whilst Makouta shot just wide. Amorim decided to make his first change shortly after, bringing in Ugarte in place of Nunes.

The second goal arrived immediately afterwards: To culminate a good collective move, Edwards' cross took a swerve off a deflection from Rodrigo Abascal, the ball hitting the post before completely crossing the line.

Further switches saw Rúben Vinagre and Bruno Tabata enter for Nuno Santos and Pedro Gonçalves. With less than a quarter of an hour to go, Amorim also introduced Feddal – back in action after more than a month sidelined – and also Daniel Bragança. 

Sporting CP hit the crossbar through a Paulinha header, as a third goal seemed ever closer. It would finally come when Tabata was fouled in the box, and he himself would convert the penalty as Os Leões won 0-3.

Currently on 76 points, Sporting CP are six points behind FC Porto and eight ahead of third-placed SL Benfica. Next up, they take on Gil Vicente FC at the Estádio José Alvalade on Sunday.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán, Nuno Santos (Rúben Vinagre 68'), Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates [C] (Zouhair Feddal 78'), Luís Neto, Ricardo Esgaio, João Palhinha, Matheus Nunes (Manuel Ugarte 57'), Pedro Gonçalves (Bruno Tabata 68'), Marcus Edwards and Pablo Sarabia (Daniel Bragança 78').

The 2-0 triumph maintains the team's position in Liga Portugal

Sporting Clube de Portugal won their Matchday 14 away game against Boavista FC 2-0 at the Estádio José Alvalade, as Pablo Sarabia and Nuno Santos struck in the second half for the reigning champions.

Rúben Amorim made several changes to the starting XI from the youthful team that took to the pitch against AFC Ajax in Amsterdam in midweek. Antonio Adán, Sebastián Coates, Pedro Porro, Matheus Nunes, Pedro Gonçalves and Pablo Sarabia were brought back in, whilst Flávio Nazinho made his starting debut.

The game kicked off with an animated opening quarter hour, with chances for both sides. In the seventh minute, Pedro Gonçalves crossed and Sebastián Coates -returning from a spell out with Covid-19- forced a save from Alireza Beiranvand. In response, shortly thereafter, Gorré found space and shot, met by an excellent intervention by Antonio Adán.

After a great opportunity for the home team, in which Pedro Porro shot, was called back for offside, Boavista FC started to provide further scares. Jackson Porozo attempted to set up Yusupha, who narrowly missed the ball across to him.

However, from there it was one-way traffic in the first half. Pedro Porro crossed for Nuno Santos from the right, with Beiranvand again making a save. From the corner kick that followed, Gonçalo Inácio headed over, and shortly thereafter a counterattack ended with a shot from Pedro Gonçalves that went inches outside the post.

Around half an hour into the game, Pablo Sarabia sent a cross into the heart of the area, but after a scramble nobody managed to shoot on goal. Matheus Reis also came close, five minutes later.

Sporting CP managed to put the ball into the net in the 43rd minute, when a great move on the left side put Matheus Nunes through. He player to Porro, who scored, before VAR disallowed the goal for offside against Nunes.

After a goalless first half, the opening 15 minutes of the second half turned out to be decisive for the final outcome. Before the goals, however, Manuel Ugarte threatened with a shot that just missed the target.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 53rd minute, as a quick attack saw Gonçalves launch the ball to Nuno Santos, who crossed for Pablo Sarabia to score inside the box. It was his third consecutive league game on the scoresheet, and handed a 1-0 lead to Sporting CP.

Less than ten minutes later, Sarabia returned the favour, picking out Nuno Santos to make it 2-0.

A great opportunity to increase the lead came on 81 minutes, off a counter from which Sarabia laid up the ball to Gonçalves. The latter missed with an imprecise shot, in his last contribution before being replaced by Bruno Tabata.

Before the end, Reis shot wide and Tabata had a strike saved by the Boavista goalkeeper, but Sporting CP would claim the three points and remain Liga Portugal leaders. Next up is a game against FC Penafiel in the Taça da Liga.

Sporting CP: Antonio Adán [GK], Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates [C], Matheus Reis, Pedro Porro (Ricardo Esgaio, 45'), Manuel Ugarte (Daniel Bragança, 67'), Matheus Nunes, Flávio Nazinho (Luís Neto, 75'), Pedro Gonçalves (Bruno Tabata, 85'), Nuno Santos (Tiago Tomás, 67') and Pablo Sarabia.

The coach's reaction to the Liga NOS title win

The man who led Sporting CP to their first Liga NOS title in 19 seasons, Rúben Amorim, donned the club shirt for his post-match press conference following the 1-0 win against Boavista FC that confirmed the league was theirs. He was not alone in the press room at the Estádio José Alvalade, however: His coaching staff were alongside him, with Amorim's reasoning being that "When you win, everyone should be here."

The coach began by saying that "The journey is still ongoing," with two games still remaining.

"It has been a good season, but now we have to finish it off. I thank the Sportinguistas for their support. We have to focus and stick together, people have no idea of the club that we are when everyone is united."

Sporting CP did not start the campaign as title favourites, and Amorim acknowledged that it was only late on that they began to see it as a possibility.

"Towards the end of the season we started to have the notion that we could do it, and started doing the maths. However, in the moment that we became more relaxed we began to drop points -and from there everything changed. We felt some doubts about the team, but we turned things around. Congratulations to the players, the coaching staff and the club, because we were able to handle the difficult times."

In addition, he noted the motivational factor that a lack of belief from others provided.

"Every time that people doubted us in public, I showed it to the players, it helped us a lot to motivate the team, so these criticisms were actually part of this success."

"The bond between them and the connection between the young players and the veterans was key to our success. We had a very compact structure, a Sporting Director who knows me well, a close connection with the coaching staff. This is a great club and everything went well."

"They are very happy players; here and there they felt their inexperience, and that even happened in today's game -with the way we played and when the final whistle started to approach, the team's nervousness was very noticeable. That youth also took a lot of pressure off us at more difficult moments, however. It was part of the season, but it was a very important factor in our achievement."

The coach -in his first full season in a dugout- will now get a chance to guide Sporting CP in Europe's top club competition. He intends to stick around for the challenge.

"Next year there is the Champions League. We have a path to follow, but if this year was one of suffering, the next one will be even more -but we will be prepared for that. I will coach Sporting CP. I have a contract, I am very happy here and I will continue here," he promised.

The press room was invaded by several members of the squad, who doused their coach in water and celebrated with him at the end of a memorable night.