Miguel A. Lopes / Lusa
First points lost by Sporting in the Primeira Liga, first defeat in the competition and then at home. After the defeat suffered in Alvalade against Arsenal in the Champions League, the Leonine team lost 1-0 to Santa Clara.
The great superiority of the Lisbon team throughout the match was of no use, as the team’s defensive solidity was not accompanied by creativity, movement and joy in attack.
Sporting appeared nervouswithout enthusiasm and the Azoreans took the opportunity to score with the only shot they took in the first half. Santa Clara is fourth.
Difficult life for Sporting in the first part. The “lions” completely dominated, with a lot of the ball (73% possession), but they tried to do everything very quickly, with heart, with little foresight, which helped Santa Clara to solve problems in their area.
Of the 11 Leonine shots, only one was framedwhile on the Azoreans’ side, their only shot, a “bomb” from Vinícius Lopes, resulted in a goal and the away team’s advantage.
Sporting’s superiority continued to be total in the second half, with lots of ball and competence avoiding visitors’ transitions, but at the front there was little mobility, the combinations and imbalance bids did not happenand Gyökeres and Harder played a lot side by side up front, without creating breakthrough movements.
Gyökeres missed with a header in the 69th minutea goal sung, the referee even scored penalty against Maxi Araújo, but reversedDaniel Borges lost 2-0 in incredible fashion and Sporting added the second consecutive defeatthe first in the 24/25 League.
The Game in 5 Facts
1. Leo uninspired
Sporting’s attack appeared static, without ideas and joy, but also without inspiration. The clearest example of this reality was the goal that Gyökeres missed in the 69th minute, with a header. The glaring opportunity wasted by the Swede had a chance of success of 61% (xG).
2. Too many ineffective crossovers
Faced with Santa Clara’s retreat and with two attackers up front (Gyökeres and Harder), Sporting clearly bet on crosses from open ball, equaling their maximum of the season (21). The worst part was that he was only efficient in three of them, all by Geny Catamo (in nine).
3. Too much entry into the area
Sporting pressed a lot and managed to enter the Azorean area many times, registering a relevant 44 actions with the ball in that area of the field. Santa Clara only got five.
4. “Leão” much better in duels
It wasn’t for lack of effort that Sporting didn’t win. The Leo players won 71 individual duels (compared to 56 for the visitors), their highest record of the season in the League and well above the average of around 56 per challenge.
5. Impenetrable Azorean wall
Until this round, Santa Clara recorded an average of 1.7 shot blocks per game. Faced with the many leonine shots, the Azoreans doubled the maximum number of these shots, from the previous four to eight.
Best of the Field
The Leonine superiority is also evident in the hard work that Santa Clara’s goalkeeper put in. Gabriel Batista he was the best on the field, as he kept his goal untouched with four defenders, all shooting in his penalty area and prevented 0.5 goals (saves – xSaves).
Summary
