Sporting continue their impressive form this season and perhaps claimed one of their most important three points of the campaign. Taking points off your closest rivals could be pivotal in a title race and Sporting did just search as they seek to take the title off current holders Porto.
The game looked to be headed for a goalless stalemate but there was a late decider still to come. The latest three points for Ruben Amorim’s men came courtesy of a Matheus Nunes header in stoppage time.
Given the fact that Porto already won Rio Ave 2-0 in an earlier fixture, it saw both teams fuel their efforts to win and try to keep up the pace.
Talentless and with bags of potential, the winning goal came from an unlikely source in Matheus. The 22-year-old was only even afforded a start over João Palhinha who has been a constant name in the derby in recent time.
Since getting his promotion to the Sporting first team in May 2020, the Brazilian has shown in little time that he is headed for the top.
The versatility he brings to the Sporting midfield sees him offer a different dimension than Idrissa Doumbia. He can play centrally and also further in attack which makes him a very tactical player under Ruben Amorim’s disposal.
Matheus is already ammasing decent game-time for Sporting and has seen over a 1000 minutes of action for Sporting across 23 appearances this term. In that time, he has scored two goals (including the latest winner against fierce rivals Benfica).
With the victory, Sporting remain the only unbeaten side in the Primeira Liga this season, winning six out of their last eight games. They are currently top of the table with 42 points, four ahead of second-place Porto and a whopping nine points ahead of Benfica.
