FC Porto with the Champions League, Sporting denied three in a row | OneFootball

It’s official. Portugal will have a new champion at the end of the current season. After a 2-2 draw on Wednesday night at home to Tondela, Sporting were officially ruled out of the title race in 2025/26.

It is true that, before this postponed match from the 26th round of the Primeira Liga, the numbers were already not in Sporting’s favour, but the draw against the Beira side, secured only after the 90th minute, left Sporting with no mathematical chance of making history and winning a third straight title for the first time.

With only three rounds left to play in the Primeira Liga, Sporting are nine points behind leaders FC Porto and also trail on head-to-head record. The Lions lost to Porto at Alvalade (2-1) and drew at the Estádio do Dragão (1-1).

But there is more to these calculations. In the very remote event that FC Porto, Benfica and Sporting finish the championship level on the same number of points — 82 in this case — Rui Borges’ side would clearly be at a disadvantage in the mini-league between the three big clubs.

Sporting would in fact be the worst of the three, with only two points taken from their matches against FC Porto and Benfica, while the Dragons and the Eagles have collected six points each.

This draw at Alvalade also settled FC Porto’s place in next season’s European competitions. Mathematically, Porto can no longer drop below second place, so for now their spot in the Champions League qualifiers is secured. Even so, direct qualification remains within reach for Francesco Farioli’s side.

What is left to play before the end of the championship?

The next round could bring the national champion. FC Porto can secure first place and the title as early as Saturday, with two possible ways to do it. The first is by beating Alverca at home at the Estádio do Dragão, since the Dragons are three points away from the crown. The other depends on Benfica.

The Lisbon club visit Famalicão from 6 pm on Saturday. If Benfica fail to win in Minho, FC Porto can be crowned champions with a draw against the Ribatejo side, or with a win, in the match scheduled for 8:30 pm. Sporting, meanwhile, face Vitória SC only on Monday, in the closing match of round 32.

In round 33, which could already see FC Porto as champions, the blue and whites will play away to already relegated AVS, Benfica host Braga, and Sporting travel to face Rio Ave.

The final round includes FC Porto at home to Santa Clara, Benfica away to Estoril, and the clash between Sporting and Gil Vicente at Alvalade.

It should be remembered that FC Porto lead the championship with 82 points, seven more than Benfica and nine more than Sporting.

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