Highlights from yesterday’s Sporting v FC Porto derby: ‘Hulk, is that you?’ | OneFootball

While Sporting fans were singing at the top of their lungs 'The World knows that...', in a hymn announcing another lion's day, the Dragon was already working early in the morning, with 'hands in the dough', showing before the first whistle its purpose: kick-off, long pass, control of the first and second balls, Borja Sainz's bicycle kick and a friendly post, returning the ball to Rui Silva.

It is likely that many of the 50,946 spectators who filled Alvalade did not even witness this moment of authority, the demonstration of a FC Porto transformed for the better this season.

The individual zone markings implemented by Francesco Farioli stifled the scoring vein of Rui Borges (12 goals in the previous three games), left the two-time champion without connection and made the incursions to the goal defended by Diogo Costa more difficult.

It was in FC Porto's mistakes that Sporting's best opportunities arose, nullified by the solidarity and sacrifice of a Porto team that seems to have rediscovered its DNA. Alberto Costa, a Porto fan since childhood, showed grit with a monumental sprint to destroy a three-against-zero situation, then turned into a three-against-one - fantastic cut to Pote's shot. Nehuén Pérez also threw himself on the ball to aid his teammate Bednarek, after a loss of ball by the Polish center back in the area.

The break brought a renewed Sporting for the second half, capable of overcoming the blue and white pressure and always finding a free player to progress. They pressed, shot and insisted, until they suffered a cold shower: triangulation between Froholdt, William Gomes and Alberto Costa on the right, cross from the young Portuguese to Luuk de Jong, who in the small area only had to push at 60 minutes. Easy goal.

The new face of this Dragon stood out at the 64th minute, at the decisive moment of the match. More than the goal itself, the way the team built the play impressed. Sporting pressed; Zaidu showed calm to find Alan Varela in the center, who immediately opened to the opposite flank, where William Gomes appeared, surpassed two players and shot in an arc from outside the area, in a goal worthy of any stadium.

Nehuén Pérez's own goal at 74 minutes left Sporting with time to look for the draw. The team had improved with a new right - Vagianidis and Quenda instead of Fresneda and Geny Catamo - dominated, but lacked players capable of unbalancing. Luiz Suárez and Trincão tried to assume this role; Diogo Costa took care of denying them the night.

In the end, the game and the result left Sporting with a clear indication that reinforcement is needed: at least one more unbalancing winger and, perhaps, a midfielder to complement Hjulmand - with defensive responsibilities but also creativity in the intermediate corridor, for more demanding matches.

FC Porto, even without three starters, showed arguments in its first serious test. There is a new Dragon in Invicta and the credit goes to a philosophy graduate, born 36 years ago in Barga, Italy.

At 64 minutes, three after opening the scoring, FC Porto managed to overcome Sporting's pressure, connect the game and create superiority on the opposite flank. The rest was pure magic from William: he received on the right, turned inside, left two opponents behind and applied a 'banana' in the shot, reminiscent of Givanildo de Sousa - aka Hulk - whose power and magic with the left foot left memories in Invicta. What a goal! He had already warned last week, when he scored almost the same against Casa Pia.

The figure: William Gomes

In the 1-0, it is William Gomes who combines with Froholdt and finds Alberto Costa in the area, allowing the fullback to serve Luuk de Jong for the goal. In the first half, he gave Ricardo Mangas a lot of work, with speed and dribbling. He assumed the position after Pepê's injury and left a signal to the coach: he wants to fight for the spot. A nice problem for the Italian coach.

Other highlights:

At 35 years old, Luuk de Jong may raise doubts, but in a few games he has already proven useful for FC Porto: very important in aerial duels and in the connection with the interior midfielders when he dropped back to play first, breaking the lion's pressure. He scored a goal as a striker and made it clear that

Alberto Costa was not always perfect in deciding in the final third, but his commitment and delivery were crucial for the three points. Defensively, he didn't give Sporting many chances; attacking, he served Luuk de Jong to unlock the game - his fourth assist in four rounds in the I Liga. The memory of the frantic run at the end of the first half to prevent a lion goal in a three-against-one situation remains.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.