The bar was high. But it was quite on hand and the Lions were very close to breaking all records for last season at the end of the first round of the championship. Looking at the numbers, with a little balancing in those first 17 rounds, you could almost tell perfection was lacking in the last… two games.

We haven’t lost anything, apart from that, by the way, but the tough victory over Portimonense (3-2) and the recent defeat against Santa Clara (2-3) have marred an almost immaculate trajectory so far. Starting with points. The defeat in the Azores left Sporting one point less than the previous season. In addition, it should be noted that the Lions doubled last year in one of the most comfortable positions ever, apart from their competitors, where at the end of the first round, they were top of the table by six points from their direct. The contender, Porto, nine SC Braga and … 11 Benfica.

Completely different from the current scenario, where lions are in second place, in pursuit of dragons.

Even more disturbing, in turn, were the goals conceded in these matches against the Algarve and the Azores. Five in total, what they experienced in the first rounds… 15 rounds. Leonen’s wall collapsed and Sporting also ended up reaching this point with another goal conceded in the same period of 2020/2021.

Finally, in attack, despite the five goals in these last two games, Sporting has four fewer than last season. The second round in which the Lions, in turn, want the same outcome: winning the title …