FC Porto survived a late surge from Sporting CP to claim a crucial 2-1 victory at Estádio do Dragão on Sunday, extending their unbeaten streak against their Lisbon rivals to six matches and tightening the Primeira Liga title race.
Mehdi Taremi broke the deadlock in the 34th minute with a clinical finish from close range after Otávio’s cross deflected off Sporting defender Gonçalo Inácio. The Iranian striker’s 11th league goal of the season came at the perfect moment for Porto, who had dominated possession but struggled to break down Sporting’s compact defensive setup.
Dragons Double Their Lead
Porto doubled their advantage just before halftime when Pepê curled a magnificent effort into the top corner from 20 yards out. The Brazilian winger’s third goal in his last four appearances showcased the technical quality that has made him indispensable to Sérgio Conceição’s attack this season.
“We executed our game plan perfectly in the first half,” Conceição said after the match. “The players showed great intensity and focus when it mattered most.”
Sporting CP responded with more urgency after the break, pushing higher up the pitch and creating several dangerous opportunities. Their persistence paid off in the 72nd minute when Viktor Gyökeres converted from the penalty spot after being fouled by Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
Lions’ Late Push Falls Short
The Swedish striker’s 16th league goal of the campaign set up a tense final 18 minutes as Sporting threw numbers forward in search of an equalizer. Rúben Amorim’s side came closest in the 85th minute when Pedro Gonçalves rattled the crossbar with a fierce drive from the edge of the area.
Sporting dominated the closing stages with 68% possession and registered five shots on target compared to Porto’s three, but Costa made two crucial saves to preserve the narrow advantage for the hosts.
The victory moves Porto to 38 points from 16 matches, pulling within two points of league leaders Benfica and maintaining pressure at the top of the table. Sporting remains third with 34 points, having now dropped points in three of their last five league outings.
Title Race Implications
This result could prove pivotal in the championship picture as Porto demonstrated they remain serious contenders despite an inconsistent start to the campaign. The Dragons have now collected 13 points from their last five matches, with their only defeat coming against Benfica in October.
For Sporting, the loss represents a missed opportunity to keep pace with the top two. Amorim’s squad has struggled for consistency since their impressive Champions League campaign ended, managing just one victory in their last three league matches.
“We created enough chances to get something from this game,” Amorim reflected. “The players gave everything, but we need to be more clinical in these big moments.”
The statistics tell the story of a closely contested affair: Sporting registered 14 shots to Porto’s 11, but the hosts were more efficient with their opportunities. Porto’s defensive organization, anchored by Pepe and David Carmo, limited Sporting to long-range efforts for much of the contest.
Both teams now turn their attention to midweek European commitments before resuming domestic action. Porto hosts Boavista on December 22nd, while Sporting travels to face Vitória de Guimarães three days later.
