Sporting CP lose to SL Benfica despite dominating the game

Sporting Clube de Portugal suffered a 0-1 defeat to SL Benfica in the Supertaça, missing out on a first trophy of the season in what was a harsh result.

At the end of a very sunny and hot day, Sporting CP fans - who quickly sold out their allotted tickets - turned out in force at the Estádio Algarve and created a great atmosphere.

SL Benfica's Kerem Aktürkoğlu had the first shot of the game, with the ball sailing well over Rui Silva's goal. Sporting CP found the back of the net soon after, when Pedro Gonçalves finished off a phenomenal collective move, but a VAR review saw the goal ruled out due to an offside call against Conrad Harder.

The game was slow, typical of the first encounter of the season, but Sporting CP were in the ascendancy, gaining more and more dominance until halftime. On 17 minutes, Francisco Trincão shot wide and, shortly after, Harder appeared on the right side and had his shot saved by goalkeeper Trubin.

In the 28th minute, Iván Fresneda found his way into the area -a move that he repeated several times- and passed to Harder, who ended up not being able to get a shot off when he was in an excellent position. In the aftermath, Pedro Gonçalves tried his luck, but the ball was deflected out for a corner.

For SL Benfica, the biggest highlight was a Richard Ríos effort off target, while Sporting CP, in the 34th minute, threatened again: Geny Catamo finished off a counterattack with a shot that narrowly missed the target. The Mozambique international was once again involved when, just before the interval, he produced a quality run and tried to tee up Harder, who arrived too late.

Os Leões came out better after the break and created the first opportunity, when Harder attempted to convert a move conjured up by Gonçalves and Hidemasa Morita.

SL Benfica managed to open the scoring through Pavlidis in the 50th minute, firmly against the run of play.

Shortly after, the Greek striker had a shot saved by Rui Silva, and Enzo Barrenechea, from distance, missed the target.

Rui Borges made three substitutions in the 68th minute, bringing on Giorgi Kochorashvili, Luis Suárez and Zeno Debast in place of Morita, Harder and Ousmane Diomande. For the Georgian midfielder and the Colombian striker, it was their official debuts in a Sporting CP shirt.

Five minutes later, Geovany Quenda replaced Maxi Araújo and Sporting CP began to enjoy more opportunities on goal. Trincão launched a piledriver that Trubin saved and, in the 77th minute, crossed for Gonçalves to head on target -into the hands of the opposition goalkeeper.

Next, it was Luis Suárez' turn, but he was also denied.

Five minutes from time, Geny Catamo came off and Ricardo Esgaio came on, but there was no change in the scoreline. Sporting CP missed out on the 2025/26 Supertaça by the slimmest of margins.

The team will now turn their focus to the start of their Liga Portugal title defence, which takes place on August 8th away to Casa Pia FC.

Sporting CP: Rui Silva [GK], Ivan Fresneda, Ousmane Diomande (Zeno Debast, 68'), Gonçalo Inácio, Maxi Araújo (Geovany Quenda, 73'), Morten Hjulmand [C], Hidemasa Morita (Giorgi Kochorashvili, 68'), Francisco Trincao, Geny Catamo (Ricardo Esgaio, 85'), Pedro Gonçalves and Conrad Harder (Luis Suárez, 68').