Sporting CP were crowned Primeira Liga champions for the 21st time on Saturday after a commanding 2-0 victory over Vitoria Guimaraes, concluding a dramatic final day that also settled the relegation picture in Portugal’s top flight.
Goals from Pedro Goncalves and Viktor Gyokeres secured the win for Sporting, who finished the season with 82 points — two ahead of rivals Benfica, who were held to a 1-1 draw at 10-man Sporting Braga. The title marks Sporting’s first back-to-back league championships since their golden era in the early 1950s, when they won four straight from 1951 to 1954.
Sporting entered the final day knowing they only needed to match Benfica’s result due to their superior head-to-head record. The two Lisbon giants had drawn 1-1 last weekend, and Sporting’s 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture back in December proved decisive in the tiebreaker.
After a tense first half where Vitoria Guimaraes goalkeeper Bruno Varela denied clear chances from Gyokeres and Francisco Trincao, Sporting broke the deadlock in the 55th minute. Defender Zeno Debast sent a low cross into the box, which Maximiliano Araujo laid off perfectly for Goncalves to fire in off the left post.
Sporting continued to press and were unlucky not to add a second when Geny Catamo hit the woodwork. However, the breakthrough came in the 82nd minute, as Gyokeres sealed the win with a composed low finish into the bottom right corner — his 39th league goal of a remarkable campaign. The Swedish striker now leads the European Golden Boot race, ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Mohamed Salah, who have each scored 28.
The victory was achieved without captain Morten Hjulmand, suspended following a booking in the previous week’s derby.
Benfica’s Title Bid Falls Short
Benfica, seeking a record-extending 39th Portuguese title, saw their slim hopes dashed after only managing a draw at Braga. Their fate was sealed in the 24th minute when Braga were awarded a penalty following a VAR review, with Rodrigo Zalazar converting confidently.
Vangelis Pavlidis gave Benfica a lifeline in the second half, slotting home from close range after a pinpoint pass from Angel Di Maria. Braga were reduced to ten men in the 66th minute when veteran midfielder João Moutinho received a second yellow, but Benfica failed to find a winner.
Sporting and Benfica will now shift focus to the Portuguese Cup final on May 25, setting up another high-stakes Lisbon derby.
Relegation and Playoff Picture
At the other end of the table, Boavista and Farense were relegated, while 16th-placed AVS will contest a playoff against Vizela, who finished third in the second division. The two-leg tie will determine the final spot in next season’s Primeira Liga.
With a league title secured, a Golden Boot leader in Gyokeres, and a cup final on the horizon, Sporting’s season is on the brink of becoming truly historic.
