The team now led by João Pereira put an end to their unbeaten run of 29 home games in the championship, by losing to Santa Clara (0-1), losing the unprecedented opportunity to start an edition with 12 consecutive victories.
Sporting will seek to return to their triumphs in the Portuguese First Football League, in Moreira de Cónegos, against Moreirense, in the opening of the 13th round, in which FC Porto and Benfica face Famalicão and Vitória de Guimarães.
The team now led by João Pereira put an end to their unbeaten run of 29 home games in the championship, by losing to Santa Clara (0-1), losing the unprecedented opportunity to start an edition with 12 consecutive victories.
The leader of the I League, with 33 points, has won for 22 consecutive rounds, five of which in 2024/25, after a total of 17 victories last season, and needs to react now in Moreira de Cónegos to maintain, at least, the advantage of three points for FC Porto, second placed, and five for third place Benfica, who have one game to play.
Despite having been defeated in the last round, at Rio Ave (3-2), the team coached by César Peixoto, in eighth place, has not yet lost at Parque Joaquim de Almeida Freitas, where they reached a draw with Benfica (1- 1), at the end of August, an outcome that led to Roger Schmidt’s departure as coach, and, more recently, eliminated FC Porto (2-0) from the Portuguese Cup.
FC Porto kicked off the crisis at home to Casa Pia (2-0), on Monday, after four matches without winning in all competitions – defeats to Lazio (2-1), Benfica (4-1 ), Moreirense (2-1) and draw with Anderlecht (2-2).
However, in Famalicão, on Saturday, from 8:30 pm onwards, the Porto mission is not going to be easy, although the Famalicense team (seventh placed) comes from two less good challenges, as they drew with Arouca (0-0) and were defeated by Estoril Praia (2 to 1).
Earlier, at 6pm, Benfica, which has won seven consecutive victories in the competition, welcomes Vitória de Guimarães to Luz, sixth placed and motivated by the defeat imposed on Gil Vicente (4-0), and is expected to continue the good moment he is going through, in order to put pressure on his rivals.
Since being defeated in Munich, by Bayern (1-0), in the Champions League, a month ago, the team led by Bruno Lage beat FC Porto (4-1), defeated Estrela da Amadora (7- 0) of the Portuguese Cup, prevailed at Monaco for the ‘Champions’ (3 to 2) and triumphed in Arouca (2 to 0).
On Friday, fifth-placed Sporting de Braga will host Estoril Praia and a triumph in Minho will place Carlos Carvalhal’s side in fourth place, in exchange for Santa Clara, who host Rio Ave on Saturday. , the day on which Gil Vicente (13th) and Nacional (16th) meet in Barcelos.
On Sunday, the round continues with the Boavista-Farense and Casa Pia–AVS duels, while the round ends on Monday, with the reception of Estrela da Amadora (15th) against Arouca (17th).
13th round program:
Thursday, December 5th:
Moreirense – Sporting, 20:15
Friday, December 6th:
Sporting de Braga – Estoril Praia, 20:15
Saturday, December 7th:
Gil Vicente – National, 15:30
Santa Clara – Rio Ave, 17:00 local time (18:00 in Lisbon)
Benfica – Vitória de Guimarães, 18:00
Famalicão – FC Porto, 20:30
Sunday, December 8th:
Boavista – Farense, 15:30
Casa Pia – AVS, 18:00
Monday, December 9th:
Estrela da Amadora – Arouca, 20:15.
