40 years ago, Sporting was essential for FC Porto… to become European champions

Benfica was preparing a party for the Lisbon derby. But it went wrong in that game and the next. Portistas were grateful.

The title seems strange, or exaggerated, but here we go.

First, 2026: we are in a week where the FC Porto you can go back to the titles. The Porto players will be national champions next Saturday if they win at home Alverca. Or even sooner, if Sporting and Benfica “slip up” against Tondela and Famalicão, respectively.

There is already a party atmosphere at Dragão: sold out for the duel with Alverca, tickets for 1,315 euros on sale online.

FC Porto fans hope not to repeat, firstly, the final stretch of their coach from last season: Francesco Farioli and his Ajax had the title “guaranteed”, with 7 points more than PSV with just 5 rounds remaining. But they didn’t win any of the next 4 games…PSV were champions. The coach’s tears became famous after the last game.

And they also hope not to repeat the party that turned into a “tragedy” when FC Porto was on the other side: celebrating.

April 1986

O Benfica starts this month at the top of the championship. They win at the difficult Restelo Stadium and this 1-0 victory against Belenenses keeps the Luz team ahead.

They are 2 points more than FC Porto. Two journeys for the championship to end. But the two remaining games were against… Sporting and Boavista. In other words, third and fifth place at the time.

Penultimate round, classic day and euphoria in Luz. If Benfica defeated Sporting and if FC Porto didn’t win in Setúbal, Benfica would already be champions.

Confidence reigned among the Reds: leaders of the championship, they had not lost since September of the previous year, Sporting had not won at Luz since 1965 and a month earlier Benfica had beaten Sporting 5-0 in the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup.

But every game is different. Even with Jordão on the bench, the Sporting won 2-1 in Luz, with goals from Morato, Manuel Fernandes and Manniche.

On the same day, the FC Porto defeated Vitória de Setúbal 1-0 (goal by Paulo Futre).

Suddenly, 47 points for both teams. But with advantage for the portistas, who had beaten Benfica in Antas and drawn in Luz.

In the last round, on April 20, 1986, practically 40 years ago, FC Porto was still losing but got the better of Sporting da Covilhã (4-2), while the neighbor Boavista – which he didn’t even need – he helped with the party, with win in Bessa the Benfica by 1-0.

That is, the FC Porto was national champion in 1985/86.

In other words, FC Porto qualified for the European Champions Cup of the following season… which won.

Today almost no one remembers but, in addition to the undefeated second round, Sporting was essential in the beginning of FC Porto’s European championship in 1987. With a reassuring touch that came from Boavista.