The title light is on in Alvalade

In a game almost as crazy as the 2-2 Portuguese Cup four days ago, Pote returns.

You joined the Sporting team and did it in style. Almost with the first attacking move of the match, he forces Trubin to accept a slap, which Katamo does not leave unpunished. In just 46 seconds, Sporting takes the lead.

Roger Schmidt repeated the eleven from the Luz game four days ago in Alvalade. It’s like it’s an extension. And the truth is that the early goal did not deprive Benfica of the rotation they had already seen in the Cup. Sporting started the game with a win, but the red was more intense in the first half. In the way he limited the opponent’s lacy structure, and also in the way he knew how to push him away. Because it was Sporting’s midfield that played the most in the first half. Ba’s goal from Di Maria’s free kick (which was spared a sending off) gave credit to the scorer before the break.

In the second half, Sporting improved. He had more ball to play his game. Opportunities were shared: Ghiokeres hit the crossbar, Neres almost scored, Di Maria made Israel shine and Braganca had a Brian Ruiz moment. Emotions before Gini Katamo’s inspired charge to victory.

“It couldn’t have been better”
“It couldn’t have started the game better with an early goal, but even so I found the team anxious, with some turnovers,” said Ruben Amorim this Saturday after the triumph over Benfica that left the Lions top of the league . with a four-point lead and one game less than the Eagles.

Coach Leonina emphasized the fact that the triumph allows Sporting to currently have an advantage in a “direct confrontation” with Benfica in the event of a draw on points. “Despite the four-point lead, there is still room to miss the title. All it takes is one bad day and everything will pass.”

Ruben Amorim also admitted that the game was divided in the second half. “Benfica has high quality. It’s hard to press. Despite this, we defended well. The game was split and could have gone either way. This fell to our lot, and thank God.”

Regarding Katamo’s tears after the two goals, he emphasized: “He is not the first to cry, but these are the players who had a hard time. It’s growing.” Asked if he would stay at Sporting if they win, the coach returned to the defensive game: “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“The title is in the hands of Sporting”
Roger Schmidt admitted this Saturday that the league victory for rival Alvalade is already in full swing: “I think Sporting have the title in their hands.”

The German coach admitted that both teams could have won a “very balanced” game. “This is not about fairness. It was a split game. Both teams could have won. They scored two goals, won and deserved it. If we had scored, it would have been equally deserved. We had moments when we could make a decision. We lost the ball unnecessarily and Pote showed his quality and scored from the rebound. We had so many of the same set pieces that we could have kicked the second ball and scored a goal. But that’s why they won,” he emphasized.

The coach admitted that the group was “disappointed” with the result. “We showed that we want to win. We played two good games today [este sábado] and on Tuesday, but the results were not what we wanted,” said Roger Schmidt, who did not want to talk about the judging panel: “Today [este sábado] I don’t comment.”

POSITIVE
A FACT THAT WILL BRING YOU TO TEARS
Gini Katamo had a dream. One goal is to open the game, the other is to close it, ensuring his team wins and moves them closer to the title. The tears streaming down his face are justified.

NEGATIVE
BAD GENIUS DI MARIA
There was Zhenya Katamo and there was the genius of Di Maria. In a double sense. The winger left the lamp several times but his bad character was evident as he closed his hand to hit Pote.

ARBITRATION
FORGIVEN EXILE
The work of Soares Dias was marked by a very serious mistake: he saved Di Maria from elimination (Pote’s kick attack). There was another mistake, in the second half, when he did not show Yulmand the second yellow (and red). Bad.

AND
ESCAPE EXILE
In the 32nd minute, as he was about to take a corner and passed the ball to Pote, Di Maria hit the Sporting player in the face. Arthur Soares Dias was still waiting for word from VAR but eventually issued only a verbal warning to the Argentine international, who played his 100th league match yesterday.

Drawn Clash
If Sporting and Benfica finish the league in a draw with each team winning 2-1 head-to-head, the league-wide “goal average” will determine the title.

“THEY DESCRIBE EVERYTHING”
Zheni Katamo was emotional on the field: “This means a lot to me and the group. Winning is important. Tears describe everything. I have no words, I am very happy about the victory and three points. I dedicate the goals to my son and my pregnant wife. I dedicate it to both of them. At home I hope to get a kiss.”

Ba is disappointed
“We played well and deserved more. We have to keep fighting until the end,” said Benfica’s Bach, speaking of the 2-1 win at the end: “It hurts.”