Sporting largely beat Benfica (3-1) this Friday during the 13th day of the Portuguese championship. A quick goal from Pablo Sarabia rocked a Lisbon derby, marked by many faults and great intensity. Paulinho and Matheus Nunes secured the Lions victory.

Sporting Portugal put on a series of good performances week after week. Qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League in the pool of Ajax and Dortmund, the Lisbon club continues to play the leading roles in the league. And this Friday, the proteges of Ruben Amorim signed a capital victory in the derby on the lawn of Benfica (3-1).

First scorer of the meeting, Pablo Sarabia allows his team to remain co-leader with FC Porto, winner of Portimonense (0-3) earlier in the evening.

Sarabia goes on

On loan to Sporting by PSG in the last moments of the summer transfer window, Pablo Sarabia had a little trouble finding his rhythm in Lisbon. But in recent weeks, the 29-year-old Spaniard has been increasing his remarkable performances and decisive goals. After shining in his team’s three successes in C1 with two goals and an assist, the Sporting winger scored for the second straight league meeting.

As against Tondela (2-0), the former Getafe and Sevilla FC did not drag to start the night of the Lions. On a nice cross from Pedro Gonçalves, Pablo Sarabia adjusted the Greek Odysseas Vlachodimos with a good volley without control (1-0, 8th). If success then fled, the Spaniard loaned by PSG does seem to have launched his season in the Portuguese first division.

A tense match

After this quick opening of the scoring, Benfica tried in vain to revolt but without ever being really dangerous. On both sides, the tension of the derby took over the game and the yellow cards rocketed. Six for Sporting, including five in the first period and two for Benfica. Note the very special treatment reserved at the start of the match for Joao Mario. Trained at Sporting, the 28-year-old midfielder made a free entry with Jorge Jesus’ Eagles during the summer transfer window.

Despite a futile attempt by Benfica to return to this match, Paulinho believed he scored the goal of the break a few seconds before half-time on a good sequence. A slight offside and the intervention of the VAR deprived the international of its sixth but of the season.

The good shot of Sporting

Far from appeasing the spirits, half-time has like remotivated the players of the two rival clubs. But the big rhythm driven back from the locker room was not rewarded by a single other but. In the wake of a Benfica post on a Darwin Nunez header, Paulinho signed the 2-0 goal with a small stung ball (0-2, 62nd).

On a counter and after a new crossbar from Rafa Silva, Matheus Nunes killed all suspense with a nice shot at close range (0-3, 68th). The courageous spectators, who came to the stadium despite the emergence of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and the need to present a negative test in addition to the vaccination pass, attended a derby. But this Friday, only Sporting supporters are shared with a smile despite Pizzi’s goal in the last moments of the match (1-3, 96th).

By winning, the Lions remain unbeaten in thirteen games (11 wins and 2 draws) and remain in contact with FC Porto with 35 points. Above all, this success in the derby makes it possible to distance Benfica. A week after their crazy victory against a Belenenses SAD decimated by the Covid-19 (0-7), the Eagles bow for the second time this season in the league and are already four lengths behind the leading duo.