The team win 1-0 against Villarreal CF in their preseason preparation game

Precisely two months after finishing their 2024/25 with a cup triumph at the Estádio Nacional in Jamor, Sporting CP returned to the ground as hosts in what is their new ‘borrowed home.' The occasion was the traditional Troféu Cinco Violinos game, which they won 1-0 against Villarreal CF.

An early goal from captain Morten Hjulmand ended up deciding a game in which Rui Borges’ team proved well-rehearsed and solid, especially in the first half.

As usual in this annual fixture -celebrating its 13th edition-, before the game the squad and their numbers for the new season were unveiled: Rui Silva (1), Matheus Reis (2), Jeremiah St. Juste (3), Hidemasa Morita (5), Zeno Debast (6), Geovany Quenda (7), Pedro Gonçalves (8), Conrad Harder (9), Geny Catamo (10), Nuno Santos (11), the newly-signed João Virgínia (12), Giorgi Kochorashvili (14), Francisco Trincão (17), Diogo Travassos (19), Maxi Araújo (20), Iván Fresneda (22), Daniel Bragança (23), Gonçalo Inácio (25), Ousmane Diomande (26), Alisson Santos (27), Rodrigo Ribeiro (28), Diego Callai (41), Ricardo Esgaio (47), João Simões (52), Eduardo Quaresma (72), Francisco Silva (99) and Morten Hjulmand (42) went out onto the pitch, followed by the coaching staff led by Rui Borges and made up of Fernando Morato, Ricardo Chaves, Tiago Aguiar, José Meireles, Gonçalo Álvaro, Tiago Ferreira, Hugo Tecelão and Luís Neto.

To start the match, Borges went with João Virgínia in goal, Fresneda, Diomande and Inácio in the defensive line, Matheus Reis and Geny Catamo on the wings, with Hjulmand and Morita in midfield and Trincão and Pedro Gonçalves in support of striker Harder. Rui Silva and Maxi Araújo joined Nuno Santos and Daniel Bragança in being unavailable for the match.

The very first incursion into the opposition area led to a penalty, as a handball by Kambwala resulted in a spot kick. It was dispatched by Hjulmand with great composure, past goalkeeper Luiz Júnior.

Villarreal CF tried to respond immediately with a shot wide from outside the area by Yéremy Pino, but had a lot of difficulty in the following minutes; the mobility of Sporting CP's right wing, through Catamo's dynamism and the positional freedom of Fresneda, created overloads for the Mozambican international and Trincão to exploit.

Close to half-time, Sporting CP began to look threatening again. On 42 minutes, Trincão got to the line to cross for Harder, whose header went over the crossbar. In stoppage time, Catamo did everything right off a solo move bar a shot slightly wide.

João Virgínia was very attentive in controlling the long balls from the opposition, and had a quiet first period. The score remained 1-0 going into the break.

For the second half, Debast replaced Diomande and the team debuted their new all-black away kit.

Villarreal made several changes and also came very close to scoring after the restart. Striker Etta Eyong hit the woodwork and the newly introduced Alberto Moleiro shot just wide of the post, all in the first few minutes.

Rui Borges brought on St. Juste and Quenda, followed by Eduardo Quaresma, Ricardo Esgaio and Alisson Santos to refresh the team, against a Villarreal CF that controlled the ball more and did not allow Sporting CP to attack.

When the home team began to get longer possessions, the Spaniards' attacking spark also dissipated as the minutes went by.

In the final ten minutes, youngsters João Simões, Rayan Lucas and Rodrigo Ribeiro also took to the field for Sporting CP, gaining more valuable minutes.

The last chance of the game came in injury time, when AlbertoMoleiro sent a headed attempt slightly wide of the post. The contest concluded 1-0.

Next up, on Thursday, July 31st (8:45 pm), Sporting CP play SL Benfica, at the Estádio Algarve, in the Super Taça.

Sporting CP: João Virgínia [GK], Geny Catamo (Alisson Santos, 70’), Iván Fresneda (Eduardo Quaresma, 70’), Ousmane Diomande (Zeno Debast, 46’), Gonçalo Inácio (Jeremiah St. Juste, 55’), Matheus Reis (Ricardo Esgaio, 70’), Morten Hjulmand [C], Hidemasa Morita (Rayan Lucas, 79’), Francisco Trincão (João Simões, 79’), Pedro Gonçalves (Geovany Quenda, 55’) and Conrad Harder (Rodrigo Ribeiro, 79’).